title: Do floral herbivores respond to variation in flower characteristics in Gelsemium sempervirens (Loganiaceae), a distylous vine?
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that traits traditionally thought to function in pollination can also influence attack by floral herbivores. Because distylous species produce two different flower types, we used Gelsemium sempervirens, a distylous vine of southeastern USA, to examine the frequency and pattern of floral herbivory in relation to floral characteristics. Flowers of the short-styled morph had larger corollas but showed no difference in the volume or concentration of nectar produced. Over the 2 yr of this study, 20-30% of plants suffered floral herbivory. The pattern of damage was morph-specific. Long-styled flowers were more likely to have damaged pistils, while stamens were more often damaged in short-styled flowers. In this distylous species, exserted flower organs were more likely to be eaten. Such differential herbivory based on the position of floral organs within a flower may result in reduced fitness via either male (short-styled morph) or female function (long-styled morph).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, P.O. Box 8042, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia 30460 USA.
authors.forename: Lissa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Leege
authors.forename: Lorne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wolfe