Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pollinator effectiveness and fruit set in common ivy, Hedera helix (Araliaceae)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arthropod-Plant Interactions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Flowers of common ivy (Hedera helix L.) provide late season pollen and nectar for several insect groups, and its fruits are a winter and spring food source for frugivorous birds. Ivy benefits from insect pollination in order to set fruit, but it is unknown which flower-visiting insects are the most effective pollinators. Our observations suggest that Vespula wasps are potentially the most effective pollinators since they were frequent visitors, had relatively fast foraging rates, carried large numbers of pollen grains on their bodies and had the highest ‘Pollination potential PP index’ score (a measure of pollinator effectiveness) of all the insect groups examined. There was also a positive linear relationship between the proportion of ivy flowers that set fruit and wasp foraging activity in 0.5 m2 quadrats. Visits by Vespula wasps may therefore be important for ensuring a supply of ivy fruits for birds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler LS, Irwin RE (2006) Comparison of pollen transfer dynamics by multiple floral visitors: experiments with pollen and fluorescent dye. Ann Bot 97:141–150

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aizen MA (2001) Flower sex ratio, pollinator abundance and the seasonal pollination dynamics of a protandrous plant. Ecology 82:127–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akre RD, Hill WB, MacDonald JF (1973) Magnetic recovery of ferrous labels in a capture-recapture system for yellowjackets. J Econ Entomol 66:903–905

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer JW, Dobson RC (1969) Seed count and berry size in relation to pollinator level and harvest date for the highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum. J Econ Entomol 62:1353–1356

    Google Scholar 

  • Briscoe AD, Chittka L (2001) The evolution of colour vision in insects. Annl Rev Entomol 46:471–510

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collett TS (1995) Making learning easy: the acquisition of visual information during the orientation flights of social wasps. J Comp Physiol A 177:737–747

    Google Scholar 

  • Cross IC (2002) Colletes hederae Schmidt and Westrich (Hym. Apidae) new to mainland Britain with notes on its ecology in Dorset. Entomol Mon Mag 138:201–203

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Adamo P, Lozada M (2005) Conspecific and food attraction in the wasp Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and their possible contributions to control. Ann Entomol Soc Am 98:236–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Adamo P, Lozada M (2007) Foraging behaviour related to habitat characteristics in the invasive wasp Vespula germanica. Insect Sci 14:383–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Adamo P, Corley J, Sackmann P, Lozada M (2000) Local enhancement in the wasp Vespula germanica are visual cues all that matter? Insectes Sociaux 47:289–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Adamo P, Corley J, Lozada M (2001) Attraction of Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) foragers by conspecific heads. Ann Entomol Soc Am 94:850–852

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Adamo P, Lozada M, Corley J (2003) Conspecifics enhance attraction of Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Foragers to food baits. Ann Entomol Soc Am 96:685–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Adamo P, Lozada M, Corley J (2004) An attraction pheromone from heads of worker Vespula germanica wasps. J Insect Behav 17:809–821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dirlbeck K (1990) Flowering ivy as a source of food for Dipterous fauna. Acta Pruhon 59:117–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenster CB, Armbruster WS, Wilson P, Dudash MR, Thomson JD (2004) Pollination syndromes and floral specialisation. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 35:375–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrazzi P (1988) Edera. Apic Mod 79:249–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishbein M, Venable DL (1996) Diversity and temporal change in the effective pollinators of Asclepias tuberosa. Ecology 77:1061–1073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Free JB (1970) The behaviour of wasps (Vespula germanica L. and V. vulgaris L.) when foraging. Insect Soc 17:11–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Guitián J (1987) Hedera helix y los pajaros dispersantes de sus semillas: tiempo de estancia en la planta y eficiencia de movilizacion. Ardeola 34:25–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartley PHT (1954) Wild fruits in the diet of British Thrushes. A study in the ecology of closely allied species. British Birds 47:97–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez A (2005) Blackcaps, Sylvia atricapilla and blackbirds Turdus merula feeding their nestlings and fledglings on fleshy fruit. Folia Zool 54:379–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera CM (1981) Fruit variation and competition for dispersers in natural populations of Smilax aspera. Oikos 36:51–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrera CM (1987) Components of pollinator “quality”: comparative analysis of a diverse insect assemblage. Oikos 50:79–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrera CM (1989) Pollinator abundance, morphology, and flower visitation rate: analysis of the “quantity” component in a plant-pollinator system. Oecologia 80:241–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodges D (1974) The pollen loads of the honeybee. The Bee Research Association, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe HF, Vande Kerckhove GA (1980) Nutmeg dispersal by tropical birds. Science 210:925–927

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ivey CT, Martinez P, Wyatt R (2003) Variation in pollinator effectiveness in swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata (Apocynaceae). Am J Bot 90:214–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs JH, Clark SJ, Denholm I, Goulson D, Stoate C, Osborne JL (2009) Pollination biology of fruit-bearing hedgerow plants and the role of flower-visiting insects in fruit set. Ann Bot. doi:10.1093/aob/mcp236

  • Jandt JM, Jeanne RL (2005) German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica) foragers use odours inside the nest to find carbohydrate food sources. Ethology 111:641–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jandt JM, Riel L, Crain B, Jeanne RL (2005) Vespula germanica foragers do not scent-mark carbohydrate food sites. J Insect Behav 18:19–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jennersten O (1984) Flower visitation and pollination efficiency of some North European butterflies. Oecologia 63:80–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jennersten O, Morse DH (1991) The quality of pollination by diurnal and nocturnal insects visiting common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca. Am Midl Nat 125:18–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kandori I (2002) Diverse visitors with various pollinator importance and temporal change in the important pollinators of Geranium thunbergii (Geraniaceae). Ecol Res 17:283–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein A-M, Steffan-Dewenter I, Tscharntke T (2003) Pollination of Coffea canephora in relation to local and regional agroforestry management. J Appl Ecol 40:837–845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knuth P (1908) Handbook of flower pollination: vol II. Clarendon Press, Oxford (Transl. J. A. Davis)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kudo G, Kasagi T (2004) Floral sex allocation in Corydalis ambigua populations visited by different pollinators. Ecoscience 11:218–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsey AH (1984) Reproductive biology of Apiaceae. I. Floral visitors to Thaspium and Zizia and their importance in pollination. Am J Bot 71:375–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metcalfe DJ (2005) Hedera helix L. J Ecol 93:632–648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moermond TC, Denslow JS (1983) Fruit choice in neotropical birds: effects of fruit type and accessibility on selectivity. J Anim Ecol 52:407–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montalvo AM, Ackerman JD (1986) Relative pollinator effectiveness and evolution of floral traits in Spathiphyllum friedrichstalii (Araceae). Am J Bot 73:1665–1676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monzón VH, Bosch J, Retana J (2004) Foraging behaviour and pollinating effectiveness of Osmia cornuta (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) and Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on “Comice” pear. Apidologie 35:575–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moreyra S, D’Adamo P, Lozada M (2006) Odour and visual cues utilised by German yellowjackets (Vespula germanica) while relocating protein or carbohydrate resources. Aus J Zool 54:393–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller A, Kuhlmann M (2008) Pollen hosts of western palearctic bees of the genus Colletes (Hymenoptera: Colletidae): the Asteraceae paradox. Biol J Linn Soc 95:719–733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ollerton J, Killick A, Lamborn E, Watts S, Whiston M (2007) Multiple meanings and modes: on the many ways to be a generalist flower. Taxon 56:717–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Overmyer SL, Jeanne RL (1998) Recruitment to food by the German yellowjacket, Vespula germanica. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 42:17–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palma G, Quezada-Euán JJG, Reyes-Oregel V, Meléndez V, Moo-Valle H (2008) Production of greenhouse tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) using Nannotrigona perilampoides, Bombus impatiens and mechanical vibration (Hym.: Apoidea). J Appl Entomol 132:79–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Payne RW, Murray DA, Harding SA, Baird DB, Soutar DM (2007) GenStat for windows (10th edn) introduction. VSN International, Hemel Hempstead

    Google Scholar 

  • Potts SG, Dafni A, Ne’eman G (2001) Pollination of a core flowering shrub species in Mediterranean phrygana: variation in pollinator diversity, abundance and effectiveness in response to fire. Oikos 92:71–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Primack RB, Silander JA (1975) Measuring the relative importance of different pollinators to plants. Nature 255:143–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proctor M, Yeo P, Lack A (1996) The natural history of pollination. Harper Collins, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Raveret-Richter M (2000) Social wasp (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) foraging behaviour. Annu Rev Entomol 45:121–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sallabanks R (1993) Hierarchical mechanisms of fruit selection by an avian frugivore. Ecology 74:1326–1336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schemske DW, Horvitz CC (1984) Variation among floral visitors in pollination ability: a precondition for mutualism specialization. Science 225:519–521

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Snow B, Snow D (1988) Birds and berries. T & AD Poyser, Calton

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorensen AE (1981) Interactions between birds and fruit in a temperate woodland. Oecologia 50:242–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sorensen AE (1984) Nutrition, energy and passage time: experiments with fruit preference in European blackbirds (Turdus merula). J Anim Ecol 53:545–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spradbery JP (1973) Wasps: an account of the biology and natural history of solitary and social wasps with particular reference to the British Isles. Sidwick and Jackson, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Stout JC (2007) Pollination of invasive Rhododendron ponticum (Ericaceae) in Ireland. Apidologie 38:198–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tepedino VJ, Sipes SD, Griswold TL (1999) The reproductive biology and effective pollinators of the endangered beardtongue Penstemon penlandii (Scrophulariaceae). Plant Syst Evol 219:39–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson JD (1988) Reversal of apparent feeding preferences of bumble bees by aggression from Vespula wasps. Can J Zool 67:2588–2591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson JD, Goodell K (2001) Pollen removal and deposition by honeybee and bumblebee visitors to apple and almond flowers. J Appl Ecol 38:1032–1044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Utelli A-B, Roy AB (2000) Pollinator abundance and behaviour on Aconitum lycoctonum (Ranunculaceae): an analysis of the quantity and quality components of pollination. Oikos 89:461–470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vázquez DP, Morris WF, Jordano P (2005) Interaction frequency as surrogate for the total effect of animal mutualists on plants. Ecol Lett 8:1088–1094

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vezza M, Nepi M, Guarnieri M, Artese D, Rascio N, Pacini E (2006) Ivy (Hedera helix L.) flower nectar and nectary ecophysiology. Int J Plant Sci 167:519–527

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vicens N, Bosch J (2000) Pollinating efficacy of Osmia cornuta and Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae, Apidae) on ‘Red Delicious’ apple. Popul Ecol 29:235–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei S-G, Wang R, Smirle MJ, Xu H-L (2002) Release of Osmia excavata and Osmia jacoti (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) for apple pollination. Can Entomol 134:369–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeboah Gyan K, Woodell SRJ (1987) Analysis of insect pollen loads and pollination efficiency of some common insect visitors of four species of woody Rosaceae. Funct Ecol 1:269–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was done as part of PhD studentship funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the UK and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. Rothamsted Research receives grant-aided support from the BBSRC.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK

    Jennifer H. Jacobs, Ian Denholm & Juliet L. Osborne

  2. Biomathematics and Bioinformatics Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK

    Suzanne J. Clark

  3. School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK

    Dave Goulson

  4. The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Allerton Project, Loddington House, Loddington, Leicestershire, LE7 9XE, UK

    Chris Stoate

Authors
  1. Jennifer H. Jacobs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Suzanne J. Clark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ian Denholm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dave Goulson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chris Stoate
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Juliet L. Osborne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer H. Jacobs.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Neal Williams.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jacobs, J.H., Clark, S.J., Denholm, I. et al. Pollinator effectiveness and fruit set in common ivy, Hedera helix (Araliaceae). Arthropod-Plant Interactions 4, 19–28 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-009-9080-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-009-9080-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation