Abstract：
A central goal of pollination biology is to connect plants with the identity of their pollinator(s). While predictions based on floral syndrome traits are extremely useful, direct observation can reveal further details of a species\' pollination biology. The wildflower Phlox drummondii has a floral syndrome consistent with pollination by Lepidoptera. We tested this prediction using empirical data.
We observed each step of pollination in P. drummondii. First, we observed 55.5 h of floral visitation across the species range. We used temporal pollinator exclusion to determine the contribution of diurnal and nocturnal pollination to reproductive output. We then quantified P. drummondii pollen transfer by the dominant floral visitor, Battus philenor. Finally, we tested the effect of B. philenor visitation on P. drummondii reproduction by quantifying fruit set following single pollinator visits.
Battus philenor is the primary pollinator of P. drummondii. Pollination is largely diurnal, and we observed a variety of lepidopteran visitors during the diurnal period. However, B. philenor was the most frequent visitor, representing 88.5% of all observed visits. Our results show that B. philenor is an extremely common visitor and also an effective pollinator by demonstrating that individuals transfer pollen between flowers and that a single visit can elicit fruit set.
Our data are consistent with the prediction of lepidopteran pollination and further reveal a single butterfly species, B. philenor, as the primary pollinator. Our study demonstrates the importance of empirical pollinator observations, adds to our understanding of pollination mechanics, and offers a specific case study of butterfly pollination.
We observed each step of pollination in P. drummondii. First, we observed 55.5 h of floral visitation across the species range. We used temporal pollinator exclusion to determine the contribution of diurnal and nocturnal pollination to reproductive output. We then quantified P. drummondii pollen transfer by the dominant floral visitor, Battus philenor. Finally, we tested the effect of B. philenor visitation on P. drummondii reproduction by quantifying fruit set following single pollinator visits.
Battus philenor is the primary pollinator of P. drummondii. Pollination is largely diurnal, and we observed a variety of lepidopteran visitors during the diurnal period. However, B. philenor was the most frequent visitor, representing 88.5% of all observed visits. Our results show that B. philenor is an extremely common visitor and also an effective pollinator by demonstrating that individuals transfer pollen between flowers and that a single visit can elicit fruit set.
Our data are consistent with the prediction of lepidopteran pollination and further reveal a single butterfly species, B. philenor, as the primary pollinator. Our study demonstrates the importance of empirical pollinator observations, adds to our understanding of pollination mechanics, and offers a specific case study of butterfly pollination.
摘要：
目的：授粉生物学的中心目标是将植物与传粉者的身份联系起来。虽然基于花卉综合症特征的预测非常有用，直接观察可以揭示物种授粉生物学的更多细节。野花，福禄考Drummondii,患有与鳞翅目授粉一致的花卉综合征。我们使用经验数据来检验这一预测。
方法：我们观察了P.dummondii授粉的每个步骤。首先,我们观察了整个物种范围内55.5小时的花卉参观。我们使用时间授粉媒介排除来确定昼夜和夜间授粉对生殖输出的贡献。然后，我们量化了主要花卉访客的P.dummondii花粉转移，Battusphilenor.最后,我们通过量化单个传粉者访问后的坐果量来测试B.philenor访问对P.dummondii繁殖的影响。
结果：B.philenor是P的主要传粉者。授粉在很大程度上是昼夜的，在此期间，我们观察到各种各样的鳞翅目访客。然而,B.philenor是最频繁的访客，占所有观察到的访问的88.5%。通过证明个体在花之间转移花粉并且一次访问可以引起坐果，我们证明了B.philenor是非常常见的访问者，也是有效的传粉者。
结论：我们的数据与鳞翅目授粉的预测一致，并进一步揭示了单个蝴蝶物种，B.philenor,作为主要的传粉者。我们的研究证明了经验传粉者观察的重要性，增加了我们对授粉机制的理解，并提供了蝴蝶授粉的具体案例研究。本文受版权保护。保留所有权利。
方法：我们观察了P.dummondii授粉的每个步骤。首先,我们观察了整个物种范围内55.5小时的花卉参观。我们使用时间授粉媒介排除来确定昼夜和夜间授粉对生殖输出的贡献。然后，我们量化了主要花卉访客的P.dummondii花粉转移，Battusphilenor.最后,我们通过量化单个传粉者访问后的坐果量来测试B.philenor访问对P.dummondii繁殖的影响。
结果：B.philenor是P的主要传粉者。授粉在很大程度上是昼夜的，在此期间，我们观察到各种各样的鳞翅目访客。然而,B.philenor是最频繁的访客，占所有观察到的访问的88.5%。通过证明个体在花之间转移花粉并且一次访问可以引起坐果，我们证明了B.philenor是非常常见的访问者，也是有效的传粉者。
结论：我们的数据与鳞翅目授粉的预测一致，并进一步揭示了单个蝴蝶物种，B.philenor,作为主要的传粉者。我们的研究证明了经验传粉者观察的重要性，增加了我们对授粉机制的理解，并提供了蝴蝶授粉的具体案例研究。本文受版权保护。保留所有权利。
