RUI: Floral Nectar Production: Implications for Pollen Flow and Plant Fitness

尽管传粉者对 许多植物性状，这些反应的性质没有 被深入研究过。 这项研究旨在 调查这样一种反应：收集花蜜， 大黄蜂 这项研究将确定是否自然 自然选择对植物的作用是微妙的 花蜜生产率的变化可能会增加 植物适应性 19个离散但相互关联的假设 会得到考验 这些都是为了让独立的 评估生殖产出。 此外，生殖 将从种子数量和质量两个方面衡量产出。 Polemonium foliosissimum，落基山脉多年生草本植物， 生殖生物学在过去一直被广泛研究 十年，将作为研究生物。 完成 拟议的项目将产生更多有关花蜜的数据 在P. foliosissimum中的产量比目前可用于 其他的taxon

Although it has become axiomatic that pollinators respond to numerous plant traits, the nature of these responses have not been studied in appreciable depth. This research is designed to investigate one such response: the collection of nectar by bumblebees. The research will determine whether natural selection can operate on plants in such a way that subtle changes in rates of nectar production might yield increases in plant fitness. Nineteen descrete, yet interrelated, hypotheses will be tested. These are designed to allow an independent assessment of reproductive output. Additionally, reproductive output will be measured in terms of both seed number and quality. Polemonium foliosissimum, a Rocky Mountain perennial herb whose reproductive biology has been intensely studied for the past decade, will serve as the study organism. Completion of the proposed project will yield more data relating to floral nectar production in P. foliosissimum than is currently available for any other taxon.