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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Consumptive emasculation: The ecological and evolutionary consequences of pollen theft
Biological Reviews, Volume 84, No. 2, Year 2009
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Description
Many of the diverse animals that consume floral rewards act as efficient pollinators; however, others 'steal' rewards without 'paying' for them by pollinating. In contrast to the extensive studies of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of nectar theft, pollen theft and its implications remain largely neglected, even though it affects plant reproduction more directly. Here we review existing studies of pollen theft and find that: (1) most pollen thieves pollinate other plant species, suggesting that theft generally arises from a mismatch between the flower and thief that precludes pollen deposition, (2) bees are the most commonly documented pollen thieves, and (3) the floral traits that typically facilitate pollen theft involve either spatial or temporal separation of sex function within flowers (herkogamy and dichogamy, respectively). Given that herkogamy and dichogamy occur commonly and that bees are globally the most important floral visitors, pollen theft is likely a greatly under-appreciated component of floral ecology and influence on floral evolution. We identify the mechanisms by which pollen theft can affect plant fitness, and review the evidence for theft-induced ecological effects, including pollen limitation. We then explore the consequences of pollen theft for the evolution of floral traits and sexual systems, and conclude by identifying key directions for future research. © 2009 Cambridge Philosophical Society.
Authors & Co-Authors
Hargreaves, Anna L.
Canada, Calgary
University of Calgary
Harder, Lawrence D.
Canada, Calgary
University of Calgary
Johnson, Steven D.
South Africa, Durban
University of Kwazulu-natal
Statistics
Citations: 201
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1469-185X.2008.00074.x
ISSN:
14647931
e-ISSN:
1469185X
Research Areas
Sexual And Reproductive Health