ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 3813
Poster No. = 1249


Does Pollen Quality Influence Plant-Pollinator Interactions?


T'ai H. Roulston* and James H. Cane^ (*Dept. of Entomology, Auburn University, Auburn Alabama 36849, USA and ^USDA-ARS Bee Biology and Systematics Lab, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322 USA)


Pollens differ in their nutritional composition, including protein, starch, lipids, and amino acids. Bees develop or survive better on some pollens than others. Thus, we might predict bee performance by measuring nutrient contents of pollen and demonstrating that pollen chemistry may have responded evolutionarily to the dietary needs or floral choices of pollinators. Despite efforts, little progress has been gained on these questions. Using the sweat bee Lasioglossum zephyrum, we compared the body sizes of offspring reared on eight pollens that differed in protein content. We found that body size was strongly associated with the protein content of their pollen diet (r2 = 0.94).


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