Reduced pollinator service in small populations of Arabidopsis lyrata at its southern range limit.

ABSTRACT: Even though a high fraction of angiosperm plants depends on animal pollinators for sexual reproduction, little is known how pollinator service changes across the ranges of plant species and whether it may contribute to range limits. Here, we tested for variation in pollinator service in the North American Arabidopsis lyrata from its southern to northern range edge and evaluated the driving mechanisms. We monitored insect pollinators using time-lapse cameras in 13 populations over two years and spotted 67 pollinating insect taxa, indicating the generalist nature of this plant-pollinator system. Pollinator service was highest at intermediate local flower densities and higher in large compared to small plant populations. Southern populations had generally smaller population sizes, and visitat

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Castro D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9547784 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature