The ethics of theft: Reevaluating the impacts of floral larceny on plant reproductive success.

ABSTRACT: Plants and their interaction partners offer unparalleled views of evolutionary ecology. Nectar larceny, entailing nectar extraction without pollinating, is thought to be an example of a harmful, antagonistic behavior, but the precise consequences of floral larceny on plant reproductive success remain contentious. We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of 153 studies across 120 plant species, using 14 moderators to assess the effects of floral larceny on plant reproductive success and examine the key moderators. We found that floral larceny negatively impacts flower traits, pollinator visitation, pollen deposition, and fruit set, while having a neutral effect on critical female fitness indicators, such as seed set and seed quality, as well as on male fitness. By altering pollinator beha

SUBMITTER: Zhong JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11873629 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature