Effects of Soil Quality Enhancement on Pollinator-Plant Interactions
Both biotic and abiotic factors can affect soil quality, which can significantly impact plant growth, productivity, and resistance to pests. However, the effects of soil quality on the interactions of plants with beneficial arthropods, such as pollinators, have not been extensively examined. We stud...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/581458 |
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| author | Yasmin J. Cardoza Gabriel K. Harris Christina M. Grozinger |
| author_facet | Yasmin J. Cardoza Gabriel K. Harris Christina M. Grozinger |
| author_sort | Yasmin J. Cardoza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Both biotic and abiotic factors can affect soil quality, which can significantly impact plant growth, productivity, and resistance to pests. However, the effects of soil quality on the interactions of plants with beneficial arthropods, such as pollinators, have not been extensively examined. We studied the effects of vermicompost (earthworm compost, VC) soil amendment on behavioral and physiological responses of pollinators to flowers and floral resources, using cucumbers, Cucumis sativus, as our model system. Results from experiments conducted over three field seasons demonstrated that, in at least two out of three years, VC amendment significantly increased visit length, while reducing the time to first discovery. Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) workers that fed on flowers from VC-amended plants had significantly larger and more active ovaries, a measure of nutritional quality. Pollen fractions of flowers from VC-grown plants had higher protein compared to those of plants grown in chemically fertilized potting soil. Nectar sugar content also tended to be higher in flowers from VC-grown plants, but differences were not statistically significant. In conclusion, soil quality enhancement, as achieved with VC amendment in this study, can significantly affect plant-pollinator interactions and directly influences pollinator nutrition and overall performance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bdabbf83a7b64b10bfc2b6cb52efd76b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0033-2615 1687-7438 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bdabbf83a7b64b10bfc2b6cb52efd76b2025-02-03T01:21:22ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382012-01-01201210.1155/2012/581458581458Effects of Soil Quality Enhancement on Pollinator-Plant InteractionsYasmin J. Cardoza0Gabriel K. Harris1Christina M. Grozinger2Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USADepartment of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7624, USADepartment of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USABoth biotic and abiotic factors can affect soil quality, which can significantly impact plant growth, productivity, and resistance to pests. However, the effects of soil quality on the interactions of plants with beneficial arthropods, such as pollinators, have not been extensively examined. We studied the effects of vermicompost (earthworm compost, VC) soil amendment on behavioral and physiological responses of pollinators to flowers and floral resources, using cucumbers, Cucumis sativus, as our model system. Results from experiments conducted over three field seasons demonstrated that, in at least two out of three years, VC amendment significantly increased visit length, while reducing the time to first discovery. Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) workers that fed on flowers from VC-amended plants had significantly larger and more active ovaries, a measure of nutritional quality. Pollen fractions of flowers from VC-grown plants had higher protein compared to those of plants grown in chemically fertilized potting soil. Nectar sugar content also tended to be higher in flowers from VC-grown plants, but differences were not statistically significant. In conclusion, soil quality enhancement, as achieved with VC amendment in this study, can significantly affect plant-pollinator interactions and directly influences pollinator nutrition and overall performance.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/581458 |
| spellingShingle | Yasmin J. Cardoza Gabriel K. Harris Christina M. Grozinger Effects of Soil Quality Enhancement on Pollinator-Plant Interactions Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| title | Effects of Soil Quality Enhancement on Pollinator-Plant Interactions |
| title_full | Effects of Soil Quality Enhancement on Pollinator-Plant Interactions |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Soil Quality Enhancement on Pollinator-Plant Interactions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Soil Quality Enhancement on Pollinator-Plant Interactions |
| title_short | Effects of Soil Quality Enhancement on Pollinator-Plant Interactions |
| title_sort | effects of soil quality enhancement on pollinator plant interactions |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/581458 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yasminjcardoza effectsofsoilqualityenhancementonpollinatorplantinteractions AT gabrielkharris effectsofsoilqualityenhancementonpollinatorplantinteractions AT christinamgrozinger effectsofsoilqualityenhancementonpollinatorplantinteractions |