Complex interactions of flower visitors on the water soldier (Stratiotes aloides)

by Jakob Katzenberger & Dietmar Zacharias

Hydrellia tarsata flower visitors on female flower of Stratiotes aloides

Insect pollination is of great importance for the sexual reproduction in numerous plant species. Aquatic plants however often have the ability to reproduce vegetatively, which is also true for the water soldier (Stratiotes aloides). Nevertheless, sexual reproduction is especially important for threatened and declining populations because it retains their adaptive potential to changing environmental conditions. 

Read the whole summary in: English or German!
Read the scientific publication in JPE.

 

Biotic and abiotic factors contribute to cranberry pollination

by Hannah R. Gaines-Day and Claudio Gratton

Recent declines in pollinators raises concern that farmers won’t have enough bees to pollinate their crops.  Some crops can’t produce any fruit without pollinators, but others just produce smaller or misshapen fruit when there aren’t enough bees.  In addition, factors other than bees could contribute to pollination of some crops.  If crops can still produce some fruit without bees, the impact of pollinator decline won’t be as severe.  The goal of this study was to compare cranberry yields when the flowers had been pollinated by biotic factors like bees, abiotic factors like physical agitation of the plants, and self-pollination.

Read the whole summary in: English!
Read the scientific publication in JPE.

 

Cranberry uprights with fruit