Open AccessIntraseasonal variation in pollination intensity and seed set in an alpine population of Ranunculus acris in southwestern Norway
Author(s) -
Totland Örjan
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1994.tb00089.x
Subject(s) - ranunculus , pollination , biology , pollinator , population , ecology , botany , agronomy , pollen , demography , sociology
I studied aspects of the pollination and reproduction ecology of an alpine population of the circurnpolar Ranunculus acris (Ranunculaceae) at Hardangervidda, southwest Norway Dipteran families, mainly Muscidae and Anthomyudae, were the most frequent flower visitors and pollinators A single visit by these insects resulted in a seed set of c 18% of the total potential Visitation rates were highest early m the flowering season The longevity of individual flowers of early flowering plants was c 3 d shorter than that of mid‐season flowering individuals Insect pollinators moved short distances between flowers and they mostly visited near neighbour plants Expenments showed that Ranunculus acris was self‐incompatible and thus dependent on insect visitation for seed production Early flowering individuals had a very high seed set relative to individuals flowering in mid‐ and late season, suggesting a strong selection pressure for early flowering in the population Seed production in this Ranunculus acris population seems to be limited by severe climatic conditions and a low pollination intensity