INVESTIGADORES
AIZEN Marcelo Adrian
artículos
Título:
Proximity to forest edge does not affect crop production despite pollen limitation
Autor/es:
CHACOFF, N.P, M.A. AIZEN Y V. ASCHERO
Revista:
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. SERIES B: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES.
Editorial:
ROYAL SOC
Referencias:
Año: 2008 vol. 275 p. 907 - 913
ISSN:
0962-8452
Resumen:
A decline in pollination function has been linked to agriculture expansion and intensification. In northwest
Argentina, pollinator visits to grapefruit, a self-compatible but pollinator-dependent crop, decline by
approximately 50% at 1 kmfrom forest edges.We evaluated whether this decrease in visitation also reduces
the pollination service in this crop. We analysed the quantity and quality of pollen deposited on stigmas,
and associated limitation of fruit production at increasing distances (edge: 10, 100, 500 and 1000 m) from
the remnants of Yungas forest.We also examined the quantitative and qualitative efficiency of honeybees as
pollen vectors. Pollen receipt and pollen tubes in styles decreased with increasing distance from forest edge;
however, this decline did not affect fruit production. Supplementation of natural pollen with self- and
cross-pollen revealed that both pollen quantity and quality limited fruit production. Despite pollen
limitation, honeybees cannot raise fruit production because they often do not deposit sufficient
high-quality pollen per visit to elicit fruit development. However, declines in visitation frequency well
below seven visits during a flowers lifespan could decrease production beyond current yields. In this
context, the preservation of forest remnants, which act as pollinator sources, could contribute to resilience
in crop production. Like wild plants, pollen limitation of the yield among animal-pollinated crops may be
common and indicative not only of pollinator scarcity, but also of poor pollination quality, whereby
pollinator efficiency, rather than just abundance, can play a broader role than previously appreciated.