| Title: | Ants and ant scent reduce bumblebee pollination of artificial flowers |
| Author(s): | Cembrowski AR; Tan MG; Thomson JD; Frederickson ME; |
| Address: | "Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1537-5323 (Electronic) 0003-0147 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Ants on flowers can disrupt pollination by consuming rewards or harassing pollinators, but it is difficult to disentangle the effects of these exploitative and interference forms of competition on pollinator behavior. Using highly rewarding and quickly replenishing artificial flowers that simulate male or female function, we allowed bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) to forage (1) on flowers with or without ants (Myrmica rubra) and (2) on flowers with or without ant scent cues. Bumblebees transferred significantly more pollen analogue both to and from ant-free flowers, demonstrating that interference competition with ants is sufficient to modify pollinator foraging behavior. Bees also removed significantly less pollen analogue from ant-scented flowers than from controls, making this the first study to show that bees can use ant scent to avoid harassment at flowers. Ant effects on pollinator behavior, possibly in addition to their effects on pollen viability, may contribute to the evolution of floral traits minimizing ant visitation" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Ants/*physiology Bees/*physiology Behavior, Animal Competitive Behavior Flowers/*physiology Pheromones/*physiology Pollination;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineCembrowski, Adam R Tan, Marcus G Thomson, James D Frederickson, Megan E eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2013/12/18 Am Nat. 2014 Jan; 183(1):133-9. doi: 10.1086/674101. Epub 2013 Nov 22" |
