ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 2008
Session = 17.5.5


EFFECTS OF HABITAT FRAGMENTATION ON GENERALIZED VERSUS SPECIALIZED POLLINATION SYSTEMS


S. Koptur, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA


For many species, decreases in pollination and fruit set result from habitat fragmentation. Plants with many pollinators may suffer fewer negative consequences than those with few, but not always. Some specialized pollinators are highly vagile, and specialists may be able to survive on non-native plant rewards while traveling among fragments of natural habitat. Pine rockland habitat has been greatly reduced by development in south Florida. The generalized flowers of Jacquemontia curtissii are pollinated and set fruit in all fragments studied, while flowers of Byrsonima lucida, offering oil rewards to Centris bees, are not. Negative effects of fragmentation are not as great as expected because Centris bees visit cultivated Malpighiaceae in the suburban matrix between pine rockland fragments, allowing them to persist in many of the smaller fragments.


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