Effect of climate, anther morphology and pollination syndrome on pollen availability in Penstemon: Factors that affect pollen availability in Penstemon

Rosa A Rodríguez-Peña; Andrea D. Wolfe

doi:10.26786/1920-7603(2023)703

Authors

Rosa A Rodríguez-Peña The Ohio State University
Andrea D. Wolfe Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2023)703

Keywords:

solanoid morphology, climate, open-top-chamber, Penstemon, pollination syndrome, pollen presentation

Abstract

Traditionally, pollen presentation is thought to be a function of pollinator type and visitation frequency. However, despite the repeated observation that pollen presentation is influenced by flower morphology and abiotic factors, these aspects have been little studied in the wild. Here, we evaluated the effect of climate, anther morphology, and pollination syndrome on anther dehiscence time (the length of time an anther takes to fully dehisce after a flower opens). We recorded anther dehiscence time in twelve species of Penstemon including the four major anther types and the two most common pollination syndromes. We also conducted an experiment to measure the effect of humidity and temperature on anther dehiscence. We found that anther morphology was correlated with anther dehiscence time. Anthers with wide openings take the longest time to dehiscence. These results provide some support for the hypothesis that anther dehiscence time has evolved to decrease pollen wastage. Contrary to the assumption that bird-pollinated species have simultaneous pollen presentation, hummingbird-pollinated species had longer anther dehiscence time than most bee-pollinated species. The experiment revealed that high humidity and low temperature increase anther dehiscence time. Our results suggest that pollen presentation is influenced by anther morphology, pollination syndrome, and the physical environment. Optimal pollen presentation presumably maximizes conspecific pollen transfer and reduces pollen thieving.

Author Biographies

Rosa A Rodríguez-Peña, The Ohio State University

¹Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 318 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA

²Institutt for Biovitenskap, Universitetet i Bergen, Thormøhlens gate 53 A/B, Bergen, Norway

Andrea D. Wolfe, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University

Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 318 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA

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