TAILIEUCHUNG - Yuhina nigrimenta Blyth (Zosteropidae) as a bird pollinator of Brandisia hancei Hook.f. (Scrophulariaceae) during winter

In this study, the flower visitors, flowering phenology, pollinators, breeding system, and nectar availability of B. hancei . were investigated. Results show that the flowering period duration was approximately 3 months for the whole population and more than 10 days per flower. B. hancei . is known to be self-compatible but may need pollinators. | Turkish Journal of Botany Turk J Bot (2017) 41: 476-485 © TÜBİTAK doi: Research Article Yuhina nigrimenta Blyth (Zosteropidae) as a bird pollinator of Brandisia hancei . (Scrophulariaceae) during winter 1,2,3 1,3 3 1,3, Yifan QIAN , Yun Xiang LI , Xuemei ZHANG , Qiu Mei QUAN * College of Environmental Science and Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, . China 2 Nanchong Environmental Monitoring Central Station, Nanchong, Sichuan, . China 3 Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation, College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, . China 1 Received: Accepted/Published Online: Final Version: Abstract: Winter-flowering plants commonly attract an insufficient number of pollinators. Harsh climate conditions, such as low temperature, make it impossible for insects to evolve as reliable pollinators. Birds can buffer against changes in weather to be more reliable pollinators for these kinds of plants, such as Brandisia hancei . (Scrophulariaceae), a shrub endemic to the Northeast Sichuan Basin in China. In this study, the flower visitors, flowering phenology, pollinators, breeding system, and nectar availability of B. hancei . were investigated. Results show that the flowering period duration was approximately 3 months for the whole population and more than 10 days per flower. B. hancei . is known to be self-compatible but may need pollinators. According to our findings, the passerine bird Yuhina nigrimenta Blyth was the only visitor and pollinator attracted by the copious dilute nectar. The birds carried large pollen loads and exhibited high pollen deposition. The seed set from hand-selfing pollination ( ± ) was similar to that of cross-pollination ( ± ), with values significantly higher than those of the control ( ± ). In addition, the

• Nông nghiệp
• Brandisia hancei Hook
• Yuhina nigrimenta Blyth
• Winter flower
• Floral syndrome
• Honey eaters