Abstract
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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 183-190 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Ecology letters |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2013 |
Keywords
- Asymmetrical competition
- Frequency dependence
- Heterospecific pollen transfer
- Limnanthes
- Pollination
- Vernal pools