Pollination ecology of Desmodium setigerum (Fabaceae) in Uganda; do big bees do it better?

by Stanley et al.

Flowers of D. setigerum that have been visited and “tripped”; where they explosively open releasing pollen

Flowers have evolved a whole load of ways to attract and select the best pollinators. They use colour, scent, floral shape and a multitude of other mechanisms to make sure their chances of reproduction are maximised. Desmodium setigerum, a member of pea family that grows in eastern Africa, has evolved two such features that make it of interest to pollination ecologists. 

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

 

Delving deeper: Questioning the decline of long-tongued bumble bees, long-tubed flowers and their mutualisms with climate change

by de Keyzer et al.

An alpine bumble bee  on a daisy

Media coverage and science outreach have brought research on bee declines and climate change to the masses. Given the increased attention to these fields and associated policy implications, we feel it is crucial that the best available science is accurately represented. We critique a recent paper by Miller-Struttmann et al. (2015) that finds striking evidence of tongue length shortening in two North American alpine bumble bee species.


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