Fluctuations in Plant-Pollinator InteractionsExtreme specialization in pollination interactions is rare, and many pollinators visit multiple flower species. Various lab projects examine pollinator foraging behavior, and how it may vary both spatially and temporally.
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Competition for PollinationMany sympatric plant species share pollinators, and therefore compete for pollination. The lab has multiple projects studying mechanisms that reduce competition for pollination, such as ecological, phenological, ethological, and mechanical barriers.
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Variation in Pollinator ImportanceA plant can be visited by many animals, but not all visitors are true pollinators. This work examines how floral visitors vary in pollination effectiveness, and the different selective pressures they exert on floral evolution.
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Urban Pollinators |
Pesticides and Pollinators |
Urban cities contain many important, but often overlooked, pollinator species. These animals are important for the reproductive success of both naturally-occurring vegetation and intentionally cultivated plant (e.g., in parks and home gardens). We study factors that influence pollinator composition in urban areas.
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Pesticides are known to have negative effects on pollinators, but we know less about the effects of such chemicals on tropical bees. We are studying pollinator composition in organic and conventional guava orchards to assess how pesticides impact insect pollinator abundance and diversity.
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