Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Volume 172, Issue -, Pages 70-75Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.08.009
Keywords
Radish; Apis mellifera; Floral traits; Plant reproduction; Pollen limitation
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Funding
- Department of Entomology at University of California - Riverside
- Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results fellowship (EPA STAR)
- STAR Research Assistance Agreement [F08F20896]
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Selenium (Se) has contaminated areas in the western USA where pollination is critical to the functioning of both agricultural and natural ecosystems, yet we know little about how Se can impact pollinators. In a two-year semi-field study, the weedy plant Raphanus sativus (radish) was exposed to three selenate treatments and two pollination treatments to evaluate the effects on pollinator-plant interactions. Honey bee (Apis mellifera L) pollinators were observed to readily forage on R. sativus for both pollen and nectar despite high floral Se concentrations. Se treatment increased both seed abortion (14%) and decreased plant biomass (8-9%). Herbivory by birds and aphids was reduced on Se-treated plants, indicating a potential reproductive advantage for the plant. Our study sheds light on how pollutants such as Se can impact the pollination ecology of a plant that accumulates even moderate amounts of Se. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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