Ref ID: 10148
Ref Type: Journal
Authors: Hingston, A. B., McQuillan, P. B., and Potts, B. M.
Pub Date: 2004
Journal Name: Australian Journal of Botany
Volume: 52
Issue:
Start Page: 209
End Page: 222
ISBN/ISSN:
Keywords: Apis mellifera/bee/Chauliognathus/Coleoptera/Eucalyptus/Eucalyptus nitens/Hymenoptera/Myrtaceae/pollination ecology/pollinator/seed/seed orchard/Tasmania/flower/tree/Deane/Maiden/insect/birds/species/pollen/structure/seed production/production/community/branch/pollination/system/flowering/time/Apis/insecticide/near/volume/CSIRO
Abstract: Flowers of the commercially important tree Eucalyptus nitens (Deane & Maiden) Maiden were visited by a diverse array of insects, but not by birds, in Tasmanian seed orchards. Most species of insects that visit the flowers of E. nitens are likely to be effective pollinators because all common species of visitors carried many grains of Eucalyptus pollen, and the open floral structure facilitates frequent insect contact with stigmas. Seed production figures also suggested that a wide variety of insects were effective pollinators because flowers were consistently well pollinated, despite differences in flower visitor communities among orchards and particular branches of flowers. The generalised entomophilous pollination system of E. nitens suggests that effective pollinators should occur in seed orchards of this tree throughout the world, provided that flowering occurs at a time of year conducive to insect activity. Although a wide variety of insects appear to be effective pollinators of E. nitens, introduced honeybees Apis mellifera L. that are often deployed as pollinators in seed orchards were consistently not attracted to the flowers. The reliance on wild insects as pollinators suggests that seed production in E. nitens may benefit from reduced use of broad-spectrum insecticides in, and near, seed orchards.
The full-text link provided is a pre-publication version of an article published in the Australian Journal of Botany in the volume stated in this citation. The publisher of the Australian Journal of Botany is CSIRO Publishing, http://www.publish.csiro.au/?nid=65
Notes: Entered by Andrew B. Hingston (13/1/2003)
Reprint: Not in File
Program: SPF Genetic Improvement
Project: A1
Deliverable: A1-3.1
Confidentiality: Confidential to All Partners
Availability: Authors;
Report: Annual Report 2003/4
Type: Article
Address: hingston@utas.edu.au