Insect interactions of twelve rare plant species in Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: Generalists or specialists?

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, a unique oasis in the Mojave Desert provides habitat for 12 rare plant species, whose reproductive processes and relationships with insect pollinators are poorly understood. Current studies suggest that most plants and, in particular, rare plants, are more likely to be generalists with a range of insect visitors rather than specialists with only one or maybe two (related) pollinators. Insect visitors of the rare plants of Ash Meadows are being observed during plant blooms to determine whether a lack of pollinators is contributing to plant rarity. Of the 12 plants being studied, seven plants appear to be generalists with a range of insect visitors, one appears to have a possible specialist relationship, and four are currently under observation.