The interaction between Xylocopa californica and Chilopsis linearis was used to test the hypothesis that nectar robbing is costly to plants. No evidence for these costs, either in terms of decreased pollination or increased energy demands, was found. In fact, the mean number of seeds per fruit and the mean individual weight of seeds per fruit was higher from fruits that developed from robbed flowers than from fruits that developed from unrobbed flowers, indicating that the presence of Xylocopa californica enhanced pollination. Chilopsis linearis pollen was isolated from the tips of the abdomens of robbing Xylocopa californica and it was determined that these bees could be transferring pollen from flower to flower as they position themselves to rob. This association was found to be one of mutual benefit rather than one of exploitation.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/277005 |
| Date | January 1989 |
| Creators | Pfister, Rachel Walker, 1940- |
| Contributors | Strauss, Richard E. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
Page generated in 0.0024 seconds