Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 1983. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-70).

The overall aim of this study was to deepen the knowledge of multi-habitat networks. A broad array of basic aspects of the studied plant-pollinator network at Skalasand on the island of Fårö, Gotland was covered and compared witha similar study at the island of Gotska Sandön. The species composition differs considerably between the two networks. The Skalasand network has a richer faunaof insects belonging to the groups Syrphidaeand Apiformes, while Muscidae-flies constitute a considerable part of the Gotska Sandön network. However, the networks also have resembling modules. The modules are always established around one or a few plant species actingas hubs while animals visiting several habitats work as connectors linking the different modules. The Syrphidae and Apiformes are the two taxonomic groups that are the most generalistic when it comes to interacting in different habitats.

No description available.

One agriculture sector that has been greatly affected by a decline in honeybees in the past 2 decades has been the blueberry industry. Blueberries are flowering plants that are dependent on bees for cross pollination. This project was aimed at contributing to the development of a decision support model to aid wild blueberry farmers in Prince Edward Island to quantify their current production costs and increase their understanding of the links between blueberry yield and bee pollination by species. This was done by a) determining the links between blueberry yield and bee pollination, b) calculating the effects of pesticide use on bee abundance c) creating a baseline budget which tallied all of the farmer’s costs for a 2 year blueberry production cycle, and incorporated links between yield and bee pollination of their fields, and d) validating the results of this study with blueberry farmers. Methods of data collection and analysis were both quantitative, while qualitative methods were used to validate the results. Results showed the native bees (bumblebees and Andrena) were much better pollinators than the managed honeybees and leafcutting bees for wild blueberries. Most pesticides used on these farms were highly toxic to bees. Furthermore, many farmers have limited knowledge of creating baseline budgets and therefore may not even know whether their crops are profitable. I recommended that farmers should put more emphasis on increasing the native bee populations in their fields, switch to using low toxicity pesticides when possible and take the time to learn to use baseline budgets to increase their awareness of the financial status of their fields.

Molecular characterisation of the stigma and style in the Cruciferae has concentrated exclusively on the components of the SI system, and other members of their sequence families, while neglecting other sequences involved in tissue development and compatible pollination. To address this imbalance work has been carried out to isolate expressed gene sequences from the stigma of Brassica oleracea. cDNA clones were isolated from a cDNA library and characterised together with two clones isolated previously. Four out of eleven clones represented previously isolated S-gene and S-related gene sequences which have been extensively studied by other workers. One other sequence that could be positively identified encodes a putative glycine-rich cell wall protein which is expressed strongly in the stigma and more weakly in the style and petal, suggesting that it plays a specific role in the former. Of the other isolated clones, two cross-hybridise with closely related transcripts that are stress- induced in vegetative tissue. This allows parallels to be drawn with the Solanaceae, in which proteins, normally induced by stress, are also expressed in healthy carpels. However, the Brassica species differ from these in that they are expressed in all floral whorls. Neither stress-induced clone can be positively identified although their encoded proteins share homology with the major latex protein of poppy and two bacterial protein sequences. Of the remaining four sequences, two were enriched in stigmas, but contained insufficient sequence data to allow identification. The third sequence was expressed throughout the mature plant, though expression was higher in floral tissue, while expression of the fourth could not be determined. From these sequences no information concerning the molecular basis stigma development and function can be deduced. Therefore other approaches to studying this tissue are discussed.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 190-211).

Thesis (MS)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2008. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Kevin O'Neill. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-102).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, 2006. / Title from title screen (viewed 15 January 2009). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

Little is known about the pollination in the spiderwort family, Commelinaceae. One of the species endemic to Madagascar, Coleotrype madagascarica C. B. Clarke, is an extremely ostentatious plant. With visual attraction such as basally coloured apical leaves, vividly coloured petals and an astounding fuzzy spherical hair structure on the stamens. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pollination system and reveal the effective pollinator of C. madagascarica. Field studies in central Madagascar indicated that the flowers attract a number of species of pollen seeking bees and flies. The pollination of C. madagascarica relies on female bees that buzz the fuzzy bright yellow stamen filament hairs and later deposit pollen on the stigma topping the ventrally protruding hook shaped style of another flower. During a visit, the bee grabs on to the stamens and vibrate its flight muscles to eject pollen from the anthers. Anthophorid bees, especially Amegilla and Pachymelus, were the most frequent visitors and apparent pollinators.

Meadowfoam (cultivar Mermaid) is an entomophilous winter annual oilseed crop that has historically produced an average of only two of five seeds per flower. Reference to inadequate meadowfoam pollination exists in the literature, but quantitative evidence is lacking. Studies were undertaken to: 1) quantify meadowfoam pollination requirements and 2) evaluate the potential of an alternative pollinator. In vivo pollination biology studies tested pollen age, stigma age, stylar restriction, and pollen deposition rate effects on seed set. Yield efficacy of Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson, a native wild bee pollinator, was compared in cages to a honey bee standard and a non-caged honey bee control. Osmia reproductive potential was also tested. Pollen 0-5 days old (postanthesis), stored at 3, 18, or 37°C, did not appear to limit seed set. Stigma age was critical for seed set maximization. Seed set was not influenced by the number of stigmas pollinated per flower, but was limited by less than 25 pollen grains deposited per flower. Seed set and pollen deposition increased with increasing honey bee visits per flower. It was concluded that at least three honey bee colonies per acre should be used for commercial meadowfoam production. Osmia produced comparable individual plant yields to honey bees. Sixty Osmia produced similar solid stand yields to 4000 honey bees. Significantly greater solid stand yields per bee were obtained from Osmia when compared to the honey bee. Osmia survival and female production were negatively correlated with female density, while nest/male/total cell production was positively correlated with female density. Osmia demonstrated yield improvement potential as a meadow-foam pollinator. / Graduation date: 1991