Can pollinators explain the variation in flower color in the Rocky Mountain Columbine?
Can pollinators explain the variation in flower color in the Rocky Mountain Columbine?
Sunday, November 16, 2014: 8:36 AM
D137-138 (Oregon Convention Center)
Flower color varies within and among populations of the Rocky Mountain columbine, Aquilegia coerulea. The major pollinators of this plant species are diurnal bumble bees and crepuscular hawkmoths. The abundance of these pollinators varies among populations and populations with more white flowers have been associated with the yearly presence of hawkmoths. These correlations suggest that pollinators can influence flower color. This study uses choice assays and experimental arrays to examine color preference of bumble bees and hawkmoths. We seek to understand the role played by these pollinators in maintaining the variation in flower color observed within and among A. coerulea populations.