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1 August 2018 Nonnative honeybee functions as pollinator for rare, native lily (Lilium michiganense, Liliaceae) in fragmented tallgrass prairie
Ian Harkreader, Nanci J. Ross
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Abstract

Lilium michiganense Farw. (Michigan lily) is a rare species native to the even rarer tallgrass prairie biome. In Iowa, extensive conversion of native prairie lands for agriculture has led to tallgrass plant communities existing only in scattered fragments. Fragmented landscapes provide challenges for animal-pollinated species, especially for rare plant species. Unfortunately, there is little published literature about the reproductive biology of many species, including the Michigan lily. We recorded pollinators of Michigan lily in three remnant prairies in northwest Iowa. We also examined nine 10- ×10-m tallgrass prairie plots, including Michigan lilies for plant species composition, because that may influence pollinator availability. Species composition (analysis of similarity, R = 0.93, P = 0.04) of the three prairies was significantly different. Species flowering coincident with Michigan lilies were both bee- and butterfly-pollinated species (floral visitors/pollinators were recorded on individual flowers of Michigan lilies only). This suggests that plant-species composition is not a limiting factor in pollination for the Michigan lily. Indicator species analysis identified distinct indicator species for each prairie; however, neither those species nor the most abundant animal-pollinated species were flowering at the same time as the Michigan lily. The observed pollinator of Michigan lily was the nonnative honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) with an 89% success rate. No other floral visitors to the lilies were observed throughout the study. Additional studies are needed to test for differences in pollinator availability and abundance because of annual weather variability.

©Copyright 2018 by The Torrey Botanical Society
Ian Harkreader and Nanci J. Ross "Nonnative honeybee functions as pollinator for rare, native lily (Lilium michiganense, Liliaceae) in fragmented tallgrass prairie," The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 145(3), 195-201, (1 August 2018). https://doi.org/10.3159/TORREY-D-15-00025
Received: 2 June 2015; Published: 1 August 2018
KEYWORDS
Apis mellifera
fragmentation
honeybee
Lilium michiganense Farw.
Michigan lily
pollination
tallgrass prairie
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