Nectar guides are markings or patterns seen in flowers of some angiosperm species, that guide pollinators to their rewards. Rewards commonly take the form of nectar, pollen, or both, but various plants produce oil,[1] resins,[2]scents,[3] or waxes. Such patterns also are known as "pollen guides" and "honey guides", though some authorities argue for the abandonment of such terms in favour of floral guides (see for example Dinkel & Lunau[4]). Pollinator visitation can select for various floral traits, including nectar guides through a process called pollinator-mediated selection.
Images of a Mimulus flower in visible light (left) and ultraviolet light (right) showing a dark nectar guide that is visible to bees but not to humans
These patterns are sometimes visible to humans; for instance, the Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria genistifolia) has yellow flowers with orange nectar guides.[5] However, in some plants, such as sunflowers, they are visible only when viewed in ultravioletlight. Under ultraviolet, the flowers have a darker center, where the nectaries are located, and often specific patterns upon the petals as well. This is believed to make the flowers more attractive to pollinators such as honey bees and other insects that can see ultraviolet. This page on butterflies shows an animated comparison of black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) flowers in visible and UV light.[citation needed]
The ultraviolet color, invisible to humans, has been referred to as bee violet, and mixtures of greenish (yellow) wavelengths (roughly 540 nm[6]) with ultraviolet are called bee purple by analogy with purple in human vision.[7]
ReferencesEdit
^Buchmann, SL. (1987). "The ecology of oil flowers and their bees". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 18 (1): 343–70. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.18.110187.002015.
^Reis Mariza G.; de Faria, Aparecida D.; Bittrich, Volker; do Carmo, Maria; Amaral E.; Marsaioli, Anita J. : The Chemistry of Flower Rewards : J. Braz. Chem. Soc., Vol. 11, No. 6, 600-608, 2000.
^Teichert, Holger; Pollination biology of cantharophilous and melittophilous Annonaceae and Cyclanthaceae in French Guiana; Doctoral dissertation at University of Ulm, 2008
^Dinkel T., Lunau K.: How drone flies (Eristalis tenax L., Syrphidae, Diptera) use floral guides to locate food sources. Journal of Insect Physiology Volume 47, Issue 10, September 2001, Pages 1111-1118
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-03-17.
^Briscoe, Adriana D.; Chittka, Lars. The Evolution of Color Vision in Insects. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 2001. 46:471–510
^Charles D. Michener (1974). The Social Behavior of the Bees: A Comparative Study. Harvard University Press. ISBN0-674-81175-5.
External linksEdit
Dalmatian Toadflax from the Southwest Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse. (See archived version on the -- accessed on 2009-03-17).
UltravioletPhotography.com Online library of ultraviolet floral signatures.
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nectar, guide, markings, patterns, seen, flowers, some, angiosperm, species, that, guide, pollinators, their, rewards, rewards, commonly, take, form, nectar, pollen, both, various, plants, produce, resins, scents, waxes, such, patterns, also, known, pollen, gu. Nectar guides are markings or patterns seen in flowers of some angiosperm species that guide pollinators to their rewards Rewards commonly take the form of nectar pollen or both but various plants produce oil 1 resins 2 scents 3 or waxes Such patterns also are known as pollen guides and honey guides though some authorities argue for the abandonment of such terms in favour of floral guides see for example Dinkel amp Lunau 4 Pollinator visitation can select for various floral traits including nectar guides through a process called pollinator mediated selection Images of a Mimulus flower in visible light left and ultraviolet light right showing a dark nectar guide that is visible to bees but not to humansThese patterns are sometimes visible to humans for instance the Dalmatian toadflax Linaria genistifolia has yellow flowers with orange nectar guides 5 However in some plants such as sunflowers they are visible only when viewed in ultraviolet light Under ultraviolet the flowers have a darker center where the nectaries are located and often specific patterns upon the petals as well This is believed to make the flowers more attractive to pollinators such as honey bees and other insects that can see ultraviolet This page on butterflies shows an animated comparison of black eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta flowers in visible and UV light citation needed The ultraviolet color invisible to humans has been referred to as bee violet and mixtures of greenish yellow wavelengths roughly 540 nm 6 with ultraviolet are called bee purple by analogy with purple in human vision 7 References Edit Buchmann SL 1987 The ecology of oil flowers and their bees Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 18 1 343 70 doi 10 1146 annurev es 18 110187 002015 Reis Mariza G de Faria Aparecida D Bittrich Volker do Carmo Maria Amaral E Marsaioli Anita J The Chemistry of Flower Rewards J Braz Chem Soc Vol 11 No 6 600 608 2000 Teichert Holger Pollination biology of cantharophilous and melittophilous Annonaceae and Cyclanthaceae in French Guiana Doctoral dissertation at University of Ulm 2008 Dinkel T Lunau K How drone flies Eristalis tenax L Syrphidae Diptera use floral guides to locate food sources Journal of Insect Physiology Volume 47 Issue 10 September 2001 Pages 1111 1118 Dalmatian Toadflax Internet Archive PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2007 03 17 Briscoe Adriana D Chittka Lars The Evolution of Color Vision in Insects Annu Rev Entomol 2001 46 471 510 Charles D Michener 1974 The Social Behavior of the Bees A Comparative Study Harvard University Press ISBN 0 674 81175 5 External links EditDalmatian Toadflax from the Southwest Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse See archived version on the Internet Archive accessed on 2009 03 17 UltravioletPhotography com Online library of ultraviolet floral signatures nbsp This botany article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nectar guide amp oldid 1146923905, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
