Abstract Detail



Conservation Biology

Handley, Joy [1], Tronstad, Lusha [2].

POLLINATION AND SEED-SET OF BARNEBY’S CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM BARNEBYI).

Barneby’s clover (Trifolium barnebyi) is a Wyoming endemic plant, known from the southeastern foothills of the Wind River Range and southern Beaver Rim in Fremont County. Barneby’s clover is considered a Sensitive Species by the Wyoming Bureau of Land Management. Rare plants often have specialized pollinators and the abundance of these pollinators can regulate the reproductive success of such plants. During the 2019 field season, we investigated the degree to which Barneby’s clover was pollen-limited by recording the number and mass of seeds produced in hand-pollinated (unlimited pollen), open (insect pollinated) and bagged (pollen excluded) blooms. Additionally, we used Tetrazolium staining to estimate the viability of seeds produced in all treatments. An average of two ovules per flower were made and the number did not differ among the three treatments. However, no viable seeds were produced in the bagged treatment plants, indicating no self-fertilization. The open and hand-pollinated treatments did not differ in the number or mass of viable seeds, suggesting that insects are not limiting seed production. Understanding what limits seed production will help manage the perpetuation of this rare plant.


1 - University of Wyoming, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Dept 3605, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
2 - University of Wyoming, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, 1000 E. University Avenue, Dept. 3605 University of Wyoming, Laramie, United States (1), 82071, USA

Keywords:
pollen
pollinator
seed viability.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Conservation Biology Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2020
Time: 5:00 PM Time and date to be determined
Number: PCB003
Abstract ID:138
Candidate for Awards:None


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