Flowers pollinated by honeybees produce fewer and lower-quality seeds compared to flowers visited by other pollinators.
Honeybees are often the focus of insect conservation efforts due to their importance in pollinating our food supply. However, this study highlights the need to prioritize other pollinators such as wild, native bees, moths, and butterflies in conservation initiatives as well, according to the researchers.
For this study, ecologists Joshua Kohn and Dillon Travis from the University of California, San Diego, meticulously monitored the pollination process of three native plant species – white sage (Salvia apiana), black sage (Salvia mellifera), and Phacelia distans – in San Diego County.
Oftentimes, Travis would spend hours waiting for a single pollinator, whether it was a honeybee or a wild bee, to visit and leave a flower. He would then cover the flower with a mesh bag and return later to collect its seeds. Additionally, he collected seeds from flowers that he manually cross-pollinated or self-pollinated, also ensuring they were covered with a bag to prevent any new visitors.
2023-06-27 18:01:00
Original from www.sciencenews.org