DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The effects of nectar robbery on territorial pollinators and plant reproduction

论文研究：花蜜抢劫对领地传粉者和植物繁殖的影响

• 批准号: 1501862
• 负责人: Jordan Karubian
• 金额: $ 1.96万
• 依托单位: Tulane University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-07-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1501862&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; effects; nectar; robbery

Pollination is a critical process for plant reproduction that sustains ecosystems and bolsters global biodiversity. Of all known factors that may impact pollination, nectar robbery is one of the least understood. Nectar robbery refers to when an animal extracts nectar from a flower without providing the reciprocal service of pollen delivery or pollen receipt, and is usually done by creating a small hole in the base of the flower. This research is expected to improve our understanding of how nectar robbery impacts the delicate balance between plants and pollinators. This knowledge will help us to better understand the evolution of nectar robbery and its potential role in the conservation of pollination networks. Undergraduates in the US and Peru will gain experience by participation in the research, and STEM excitement communicated through the Tulane University Girls in Science and Technology program. The research itself promotes the progress of science through improved understanding of the dimensions of pollination, which has implications for national welfare; the project also supports education and diversity in a project with K-12 students. This research will investigate the effects of nectar robbery by Diglossa flowerpiercers (Family: Thraupidae) on the foraging ecology of hummingbird pollinators will be investigated, and the consequences for pollen flow and reproduction of the Andean plant Oreocallis grandiflora (Family: Proteaceae) assessed. The response of territorial hummingbird pollinators to nectar robbery in terms of spatial behavior and foraging ecology will be quantified using radio telemetry tracking. The hypothesis that nectar robbery may have a positive effect on plant reproduction via improved outcrossing rates caused by an increase in visitation by non-resident pollinators in the absence of resident territorial pollinators will be tested. Research experience will be provided to undergraduates in the US and Peru, and the research process will be communicated to K-12 students in the Tulane University Girls in Science and Technology program.

授粉是植物繁殖的关键过程，可维持生态系统并促进全球生物多样性。在所有可能影响授粉的已知因素中，花蜜抢劫是人们最不了解的因素之一。花蜜抢劫是指动物从花朵中提取花蜜，而不提供花粉输送或花粉接收的相互服务，通常是通过在花的基部打一个小孔来完成的。这项研究预计将提高我们对花蜜掠夺如何影响植物和传粉媒介之间微妙平衡的理解。这些知识将帮助我们更好地了解花蜜抢劫的演变及其在保护授粉网络中的潜在作用。 美国和秘鲁的本科生将通过参与研究获得经验，并通过杜兰大学科技女生项目传达 STEM 的兴奋感。 该研究本身通过提高对授粉维度的理解来促进科学进步，这对国家福利具有影响；该项目还支持 K-12 学生项目的教育和多样性。本研究将调查双舌花花刺鸟（科：Thraupidae）掠夺花蜜对蜂鸟传粉者觅食生态的影响，并评估对安第斯植物 Oreocallis grandiflora（科：山龙眼科）的花粉流和繁殖的影响。 将使用无线电遥测跟踪来量化领地蜂鸟传粉者在空间行为和觅食生态方面对花蜜抢劫的反应。假设在没有常驻领地传粉媒介的情况下，非驻留传粉媒介的访问量增加，导致花蜜抢劫可能通过提高异交率而对植物繁殖产生积极影响，这一假设将得到检验。研究经验将提供给美国和秘鲁的本科生，研究过程将传达给杜兰大学科技女生项目的 K-12 学生。