Peter Lesica

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Madrono

Publication Date

1993

Volume

40

Issue

4

Abstract

The importance of pollinator availability to fitness was investigated for Silene spaldingii, an endangered, hermaphroditic perennial plant of grasslands in northwest Montana. Proportion of fruits matured, seeds per fruit, germination, seedling growth and seedling survival, were all significantly lower for plants from which pollinators were excluded. The overall reduction in fitness for bagged plants was greater than 99%. Loss of fitness attributable to inbreeding depression was at least 97%. These results suggest that the presence of pollinators is critical to the persistence of S. spaldingii at this site. During 65 hours of observation at peak bloom in two different years, Bombus nevadensis was the only visitor observed to enter flowers and carry pollen, suggesting that it is one of, if not the only important pollinator at this site. Management activities that threaten pollinator populations should be avoided in order to protect populations of this endangered plant.

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