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Changes in pollinator assemblages following hurricanes affect the mating system of Laguncularia racemosa (Combretaceae) in Florida, USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 May 2013

Carol L. Landry*
Affiliation:
Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, Ohio, USA
*
Corresponding author. Email: landry.26@osu.edu
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Abstract:

Hurricanes are major disturbance events in Neotropical mangrove communities, potentially affecting the reproductive success of mangrove species. This was the first investigation of changes in mangrove pollinator assemblages following hurricanes, and the effect of these changes on the mating system of Laguncularia racemosa. Insect pollinator assemblages were investigated in three Florida mangrove communities in 2001–2003, 2005 and 2009; two hurricanes affected the area in 2004. Visitation rates were estimated from 1445 insects observed during 272 10-min intervals; the number of flowers visited by each insect was also recorded. Pollinator diversity was estimated with the Shannon Index. Following the hurricanes, species richness was reduced by 43–65% and diversity declined by 36–70%. Significant declines in insect visitation to L. racemosa resulted in reduced outcrossing frequencies in 2005. Laguncularia racemosa flowers autogamously self-pollinate without insect visitors, so fruit set still occurred. Visitation rates returned to pre-hurricane levels by 2009, but foraging behaviours differed from pre-hurricane patterns; outcrossing was further favoured by reduced frequencies of long foraging bouts and increased frequencies of short foraging bouts. The mixed mating system of L. racemosa provides reproductive assurance following hurricane disturbances, when pollinator abundance is low.

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Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 
Figure 0

Figure 1. Map of Florida, USA, showing locations of communities, approximate hurricane tracks and approximate sizes of the hurricane eyes as they passed over the east coast of Florida. Communities (*), listed in geographic order from north to south: Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area, Brevard County; Environmental Learning Center, Wabasso Island, Indian River County; Florida Atlantic University-Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Ft. Pierce, St. Lucie County. Tracks of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne are represented with a single solid line. Circles indicate the furthest extent of the eye-wall of each hurricane as it made landfall: Frances, solid-line circle; Jeanne, dotted-line circle. Hurricane data from NOAA National Hurricane Center Archives (Bevin 2004, Lawrence & Cobb 2005).

Figure 1

Table 1. Laguncularia racemosa pollinator diversity estimates and the number of pollinator species observed (species richness) for all communities before and after Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne (2004). Data from Landry & Rathcke (2012) used for 2001–2003 index values.

Figure 2

Figure 2. Insect visitation rates in three Laguncularia racemosa populations affected by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne (2004): Sebastian Inlet (SEB), Wabasso Island (WAB) and Harbor Branch (HBR). Overall, visitation rates declined significantly between 2001–2003 and 2005, and increased significantly between 2005 and 2009 (P < 0.001). 2001–2003 data from Landry & Rathcke (2012). n = number of 10-min time intervals.

Figure 3

Figure 3. Mean proportion of floral visits made to plants in three Laguncularia racemosa populations during three time periods in each of four categories, representing four quartiles: insects that visited 1–2 flowers per foraging bout, 1st quartile; insects that visited 3 flowers, 2nd quartile; insects that visited 4–7 flowers, 3rd quartile; and insects that visited 8–41 flowers, 4th quartile. There was a significant decline in the frequency of 4th quartile foraging bouts (P = 0.008) and a non-significant increase in the frequency of 1st quartile foraging bouts (P = 0.125) following the hurricanes, which increased outcrossing frequencies. The dotted line represents the expected frequency of foraging bouts in each quartile if the distribution is even. 2001–2003 data from Landry & Rathcke (2012). For each category and year, n = three populations.

Figure 4

Appendix 1. Frequency of insects visiting Laguncularia racemosa flowers in three populations following Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne: Sebastian Inlet (SEB), Wabasso Island (WAB) and Harbor Branch (HBR). n = number of insect visitors.