TY  - EJOU
AU  - Chen, Lanying 
AU  - Cai, Yifu 
AU  - Quan, Qiumei 
AU  - Li, Yunxiang 

TI  - Interplay of Temporal Variation in Nectar Parameters and Pollinator-Mediated Adaptations in <i>Epimedium wushanense</i>
T2  - Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany

PY  - 2025
VL  - 94
IS  - 5
SN  - 1851-5657

AB  - This study investigates the diurnal patterns of nectar secretion, sugar content, and caloric value in <i>Epimedium wushanense</i>, and their interaction mechanisms with pollinator behavior under varying environmental conditions. Nectar secretion exhibited a diurnal pattern, peaking between 11:00 and 13:00, with progressive increases in both volumes (19.07 ± 1.66 μL/day) and caloric value (6.03 ± 0.55 cal/day) over four consecutive days, culminating in maximal production on Day 4 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Floral bagging significantly altered nectar traits (Mann-Whitney U test, <i>p</i> < 0.05), with bagged inflorescences demonstrating 61.82% higher nectar volume productivity relative to unbagged controls. Pollinator visitation, primarily by <i>Bombus trifasciatus</i> and <i>Bombus grahami</i>, was strongly correlated with nectar sugar concentration and distribution, peaking during midday when temperatures and humidity were optimal. Notably, <i>B. trifasciatus</i> displayed legitimate pollination behavior, while <i>B. grahami</i> exhibited nectar robbing. <i>Bombus grahami</i> peaked at 15:00 (7.67 ± 0.33 visits) under 22.8°C/58% RH, outperforming <i>Bombus trifasciatus</i> (5.67 ± 0.27 at 13:00; <i>p</i> < 0.05), highlighting differential pollinator effectiveness. Temperature negatively impacted unbagged nectar volume and caloric value but positively influenced bagged nectar, suggesting adaptive resource allocation strategies. These findings underscore the intricate relationship between environmental factors, nectar dynamics, and pollinator behavior, revealing how <i>E. wushanense</i> optimizes reproductive success through temporal and ecological adaptations. This study provides critical insights into the ecological mechanisms driving plant-pollinator interactions and resource allocation in changing environments.
KW  - Nectar dynamics; pollinator behavior; environmental adaptation; <i>Epimedium wushanense</i>

DO  - 10.32604/phyton.2025.064112