Pollination Biology of Astragalus Phoenix (Fabaceae) with Notes on the Natural History of Its Pollinator, Anthophora Porterae (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
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Western North American Naturalist Volume 73 Number 3 Article 10 10-21-2013 Pollination biology of Astragalus phoenix (Fabaceae) with notes on the natural history of its pollinator, Anthophora porterae (Hymenoptera: Apidae) David A. Tanner University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, [email protected] Catherine Clark Utah State University, Logan, UT, [email protected] James P. Pitts Utah State University, Logan, UT, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan Part of the Anatomy Commons, Botany Commons, Physiology Commons, and the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Tanner, David A.; Clark, Catherine; and Pitts, James P. (2013) "Pollination biology of Astragalus phoenix (Fabaceae) with notes on the natural history of its pollinator, Anthophora porterae (Hymenoptera: Apidae)," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 73 : No. 3 , Article 10. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol73/iss3/10 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Western North American Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Western North American Naturalist 73(3), © 2013, pp. 373–381 POLLINATION BIOLOGY OF ASTRAGALUS PHOENIX (FABACEAE) WITH NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ITS POLLINATOR, ANTHOPHORA PORTERAE (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) David A. Tanner1,3, Catherine Clark2, and James P. Pitts2 ABSTRACT.—Astragalus (Fabaceae) is a broadly distributed, diverse, and economically important group of plants. Given the number of species and its distribution, it is not surprising that there are many species that are highly restricted and endangered. Among these is the Ash Meadows milkvetch, Astragalus phoenix. Here we investigate the breeding biology of As. phoenix. Our data show that As. phoenix is xenogamous and that Anthophora porterae (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is the most likely pollinator. We also noticed Apis mellifera visiting As. phoenix, though it appears unlikely that Ap. mellifera contributes significantly to the reproductive success of As. phoenix. We located a nesting aggregation of An. porterae and offer a description of its nest architecture. RESUMEN.—Astragalus (Fabaceae) es un grupo de plantas con amplia distribución, muy diverso y de gran importancia económica. Debido a la cantidad de especies y a su distribución, no es sorprendente que muchas especies estén restrin- gidas y en peligro de extinción. Entre dichas especies se encuentran Astragalus phoenix, cuya reproducción estudiamos en esta investigación. La información que obtuvimos muestra que As. phoenix es una especie alógama y que lo más pro- bable es que Anthophora porterae (Hymenoptera: Apidae) sea el polinizador. Observamos que Apis mellifera visitó a As. phoenix, aunque parece poco probable que contribuya significativamente al éxito reproductivo de As. phoenix. Localiza- mos un conjunto de nidos de An. porterae, y ofrecemos una descripción de la estructura de sus nidos. Astragalus (Fabaceae), known as milkvetch, Given the relative size and distribution of this is a large genus with a global distribution genus, it is not surprising that there are many (Frodin 2004). Astragalus is most diverse in geographically restricted and endangered spe - montane regions, such as the Andes Moun- cies of Astragalus (Baskin et al. 1972, Sugden tains, western North America, and the Sino- 1985, Karron 1987, 1989, Gallardo et al. 1993, Himalayan region (Allen and Allen 1981, Isely Geer and Tepedino 1993, Geer et al. 1995, All- 1998). The global impact of Astragalus is 2- phin et al. 2005, Tepedino 2005). Among these fold. Firstly, the family Fabaceae is second is the Ash Meadows milkvetch, Astragalus only to the grasses in economic importance phoenix Barneby. (Watrous and Cane 2011). It is an important Astragalus phoenix appears to be restricted source of ground cover, forage for livestock, to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and food crops (reviewed in Allen and Allen which is located east of California’s Death Val- 1981), although some species known as “loco - ley and represents a relatively rare habitat, the weeds” are toxic to livestock (e.g., James et al. desert wetlands (Haller et al. 1992). A series of 1970). Secondly, Astragalus has ecological im - ephemeral streams and natural springs and a portance as forage for many native and in - high water table keep much of Ash Meadows’ troduced pollinators, particularly bees (Green soils wet throughout the year and cause salts and Bohart 1975, Krombein et al. 1979, Clem - to precipitate and form a thick crust over ent et al. 2006). Additionally, Astragalus is much of the soil. Given the rarity of this habi- currently targeted as a species of importance tat, it is not surprising that Ash Meadows for rehabilitating poorly managed rangeland houses many endemic and endangered organ- (Shaw et al. 2005). isms, including the Devil’s Hole pupfish, Cy - Astragalus also occupies a unique position prinodon diabolis (Wales), which is the ver - in the taxonomy of plants. It is the most spe - tebrate with the most restricted habitat in cies rich of all plant genera, with approxi- the world (Knight and Clemmer 1987). In - mately 3200 described species (Frodin 2004). deed, Ash Meadows has a greater number of 1Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75241. 2Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322. 3E-mail: [email protected] 373 374 WESTERN NORTH AMERICAN NATURALIST [Volume 73 endemic species than do similar habitats that geographically restricted species, such as also occur within the Mojave Desert (Haller As. phoenix, are likely to be self compatible et al. 1992). Among these endemic species be cause propagules that are dispersed long are many rare plants, which some argue war- distances stand a better chance of generating rant government protection, including the sexually viable populations if they are capable threatened species As. phoenix (Beatley 1977a, of self fertilization (Baker 1955, 1967, Allard 1977b, 1977c). et al. 1968, Jain 1976, Lande and Schemske Astragalus phoenix was discovered by C.A. 1985). Additionally, if the population size of Purpus in 1898, collected again in 1966 the rare species fluctuates significantly, self by A. Cronquist, and described by Barneby compatibility will be favored when the popu- (1970). Astragalus phoenix is a long-lived, low- lation size is small (Baker 1955, Stebbins growing, mat-forming perennial composed of 1957, Baker 1967, Allard et al. 1968, Jain spreading branches that form large mounds 1976, Lande and Schemske 1985, Schemske (Knight and Clemmer 1987). Each branch and Lande 1985). Interestingly, As. phoenix may terminate in 1, 2, or 3 flowers. The flow- does not fit either of these criteria; the only ers are 2–2.5 cm long, pink-purple shortly known populations of As. phoenix are in Ash after bloom, and purple once the flower be - Meadows, suggesting that recent dispersal gins to fade (Knight and Clemmer 1987). The events are unlikely. Secondly, As. phoenix is a fruit is small (rarely more than 2 cm long and perennial plant, and there seems to be high 1 cm wide); entirely covered in thick, grayish survivorship between seasons. Consequently, pubescence; and contains approximately 30 there is little yearly variation in population size. seeds (Knight and Clemmer 1987). Astraga - The origins of As. phoenix rarity are un - lus phoenix is officially listed as “threatened” clear. Nevertheless, it may be unlikely that As. and is restricted to the hard alkaline soils in phoenix will become more common if repro- Ash Meadows (Linhart and Grant 1996); it is ductive success is at least partially dependent commonly associated with Distichlis spicata on pollinator services. Previous work on Astra- (L.) Greene (saltgrass), Atriplex confertifolia galus has shown that restricted species receive (Torr. and Frém) S. Watson (shadscale salt- less pollinator attention than sympatric, wide- bush), Mentzelia leucophylla Brandegee (Ash spread congeners (Karron 1987). Other stud- Meadows blazingstar, another plant endemic ies have shown, however, that sympatry be - to Ash Meadows), and Isocoma acradenia tween rare and broadly distributed species (Greene) Green var. acradenia (alkali golden- may facilitate pollination of rare plants be - bush; Knight and Clemmer 1987). cause little fidelity is shown by the pollinators Currently, very little is known about the between plant species (Geer et al. 1995). breeding biology of As. phoenix. A recent This study addresses questions regarding review of the breeding biology of Astragalus the reproductive biology of As. phoenix and showed that there is significant variability the nesting biology of insects that pollinate it. across the genus ranging from autogamous to Namely, we tested the ability of As. phoenix xenogamous (Watrous and Cane 2011). Fur- for autogamy through a series of pollinator ther, this review showed that there is little exclusion experiments. Secondly, we observed relationship between the rarity of the plant the insects that visit As. phoenix. Based on and its degree of autogamy (Watrous and behavioral and pollen load analyses, we deter- Cane 2011). It should be mentioned, however, mined which of the insects offers pollination that the breeding biology is known for <1% services and deduced natural history