The natural history of pollination and mating in bird-pollinated Babiana (Iridaceae)

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dc.contributor.authorDe Waal C.
dc.contributor.authorAnderson B.
dc.contributor.authorBarrett S.C.H.
dc.date.accessioned2012-04-12T08:23:06Z
dc.date.available2012-04-12T08:23:06Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractBackground and Aims Floral variation, pollination biology and mating patterns were investigated in sunbird-pollinated Babiana (Iridaceae) species endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa. The group includes several taxa with specialized bird perches and it has been proposed that these function to promote cross-pollination. Methods Pollinator observations were conducted in 12 populations of five taxa (B. ringens subspp. ringens, australis, B. hirsuta, B. avicularis, B. carminea) and geographic variation in morphological traits investigated in the widespread B. ringens. Experimental pollinations were used to determine the compatibility status, facility for autonomous self-pollination and intensity of pollen limitation in six populations of four taxa. Allozyme markers were employed to investigate mating patterns in four populations of three species. Key Results Sunbirds were the primary pollinators of the five Babiana taxa investigated. Correlated geographical variation in perch size, flower size and stigmaanther separation was evident among B. ringens populations. Experimental pollinations demonstrated that B. ringens and B. avicularis were self-compatible with variation in levels of autonomous self-pollination and weak or no pollen limitation of seed set. In contrast, B. hirsuta was self-incompatible and chronically pollen limited. Estimates of outcrossing rate indicated mixed mating with substantial self-fertilization in all species investigated. Conclusions Despite the possession of specialized bird perches in B. ringens and B. avicularis, these structures do not prevent considerable selfing from occurring, probably as a result of autonomous self-pollination. In eastern populations of B. ringens, smaller flowers and reduced herkogamy appear to be associated with a shift to predominant selfing. Relaxed selection on perch function due to increased selfing may explain the increased incidence of apical flowers in some populations. © The Author 2011.
dc.identifier.citationAnnals of Botany
dc.identifier.citation109
dc.identifier.citation3
dc.identifier.citation667
dc.identifier.citation679
dc.identifier.issn3057364
dc.identifier.other10.1093/aob/mcr172
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20622
dc.subjectBabiana
dc.subjectbird perch
dc.subjectfloral variation
dc.subjectmating
dc.subjectpollen limitation
dc.subjectrelaxed selection
dc.subjectsunbird pollination
dc.titleThe natural history of pollination and mating in bird-pollinated Babiana (Iridaceae)
dc.typeReview
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