The compounding effects of high pollen limitation, selfing rates and inbreeding depression leave a New Zealand tree with few viable offspring.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Interactions between species are especially sensitive to environmental changes. The interaction between plants and pollinators is of particular interest given the potential current global decline in pollinators. Reduced pollinator services can be compensated for in some plant species by self-pollination. However, if inbreeding depression is high, selfed progeny could die prior to reaching adulthood, leading to cryptic recruitment failure.

Methods

To examine this scenario, pollinator abundance, pollen limitation, selfing rates and inbreeding depression were examined in 12 populations of varying disturbance levels in Sophora microphylla (Fabaceae), an endemic New Zealand tree species.

Key results

High pollen limitation was found in all populations (a

SUBMITTER: Van Etten ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4590329 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature