Thesis Title
Graduation Year
2017
Date of Thesis Acceptance
Spring 5-5-2017
Major Department or Program
Biology
Advisor(s)
Susanne Altermann
Abstract
Many plants exhibit within-species reproductive diversity, with populations self-fertilizing at varying rates throughout geographic space. This study explores the ecological drivers of the autogamy (within-flower self-fertilization) rate variation among populations of Campanula americana. Individuals from eight C. americana populations with a range of previously described autogamy levels were exposed to both high (sun) and low (shade) pollination environments. We found that population autogamy level was not associated with pollen limitation. We also found more pollen limitation in the shade than in the sun. Lower pollen limitation in the sun was likely due to more bumblebees which visit many more flowers/foraging bout. Dichogamy decreased with increased visitation and herkogamy decreased in populations with greater autogamy rates. However, neither dichogamy nor herkogamy were associated with pollen limitation.
Page Count
46
Subject Headings
Plants -- Adaption, Flowering of Plants, Self-pollination, Fertilization (Biology), Campanula -- American bellflower, Pollination -- Environment, Pollen -- Morphology, Flowers -- Anatomy, Pollinators, Whitman College 2017 -- Dissertation collection -- Biology Department
Document Type
Public Accessible Thesis
Recommended Citation
Leibman, Lia Elizabeth, "Mating system ecology of the American Bellflower" (2017). Honors Theses. 348.
http://arminda.whitman.edu/theses/348
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