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Asymmetric and frequency‐dependent pollinator‐mediated interactions may influence competitive displacement in two vernal pool plants
Author(s) -
Runquist Ryan Briscoe,
Stanton Maureen L.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.12026
Subject(s) - pollinator , interspecific competition , intraspecific competition , biology , competition (biology) , sympatry , character displacement , ecology , storage effect , pollen , pollination , sympatric speciation
A plant species immigrating into a community may experience a rarity disadvantage due to competition for the services of pollinators. These negative reproductive interactions have the potential to lead to competitive displacement or exclusion of a species from a site. In this study, we used one‐ and two‐species arrays of potted plants to test for density and frequency dependence in pollinator‐mediated and above‐ground intraspecific and interspecific competition between two species of Limnanthes that have overlapping ranges, but rarely occur in close sympatry. There were asymmetric competitive effects; the species responded differently to their frequency within 16‐plant replacement series arrays. Limnanthes douglasii rosea experienced stronger reductions in lifetime and per‐flower fertility, likely due to pollinator‐mediated competition with Limnanthes alba . This effect may be linked to asymmetrical competition through heterospecific pollen transfer. This study demonstrates that pollinator‐mediated competition may discourage establishment of L. d. rosea in sites already occupied by its congener.