[The flower and blossom morphology of Asteraceae correlates with composition of their pollinators].
The correlation between flower morphology and share of different insect groups visiting them was studied for 15 Asteraceae species. We measured length and width of corolla tube of 100 flowers of each plant species and determined proportions of main groups of anthophilous insects during all blooming period. According to corolla length species under study ranged more or less uniformly from 2.16 mm (Tripleurospermum inodorum) up to 21.06 mm (Cirsium heterophyllum). The correlation between share of long-tongued bees (mainly bumblebees) among all visitors of inflorescens and corolla length was positive (r = 0.737, P < 0.01) while for short-tongued flies (Syrphidae, Muscidae, Calliphoridae) it was negative (r = -0.869, P < 0.01). It is interesting, that the point of crossing of regression lines (12 mm) approximately coincides with change in inflorescences coloration. Plants with corolla length less than 10 mm have yellow or white inflorescences that are visited primarily by flies, while the plants with longer corolla have violet or dark blue inflorescences, by bumblebees. The dependence of proportion of short-tongued solitary bees (Andrenidae, Halictidae) on a corolla length was non-linear. It increased with increase in corolla length in an interval of 2.16-6.26 mm (r = 0.930, P < 0.1), but decreased for longer corollas (r = -0.680, P < 0.05). The correlation between corolla length and proportions of beetles and butterflies were insignificant.
Dlusskiĭ
G M
GM
Glazunova
K P
KP
Lavrova
N V
NV
D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D011058:Pollen; D011156:Population Density; D012426:Russia; D013045:Species Specificity