Spatial occupancy patterns of the nursery pollinator Derelomus chamaeropis at its host plant, Chamaerops humilis (Arecaceae)

Weevil Derelomus on the dwarf palm Chamaerops

By Moreno et al.

This study investigated how the weevil Derelomus chamaeropis—a specialist pollinator—and its host, the dioecious (individuals with separated sexes) dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis), interact in nature. In particular, we evaluated how the spatial arrangement of these palms affects pollination and fruit production. We discovered that weevils prefer female palms and while the small-scale clustering of palms affects where weevils choose to settle, the dense groups of palms help improve fruiting. This study highlights how both the behavior of pollinators and the way plants are arranged can significantly influence pollination outcomes. 

Read the scientific publication in JPE.