XVI International Botanical Congess

Herbivory may differentially affect male and female plant fitness by reducing resource allocation to pollinator attraction structures. Reports on the effect of herbivory on flower traits and pollinator attraction are limited. This study explored the relationship herbivory-flower traits-pollinator response. In an experiment with the monoecious wild C. sororia, we applied three defoliation levels (0, 25 and 75%) and measured flower nectar and pollen production, and frequency of visits/foraging time of pollinators. Herbivory reduced nectar production (but not pollen production) and frequency of visitation in the direction 0>25=75%. Thus herbivory reduced visitation rate due to effects on flower reward. We argue that, given a direct relationship between visitation rate and plant fitness, herbivory may affect, disproportionately more, this component of male fitness than female fitness.