Plant-pollinator interactions as a driver of plant performance at various scales

Can pollinators govern the shape of plant communities?

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How can plant species manipulate pollinator decisions?

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What are the conditions that cause the same flower species to switch from competition on pollinators to promotion of pollinators to a neighbor?

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How unique is the effect of smell in plant-pollinator interactions?

Plants characteristics are shaped by the abiotic and biotic environment in which they developed and grow. One of the crucial stages in the plant life cycle is pollination, which dictate the reproductive success of the individual. Animals, and especially insects, are among the most common vectors of pollen transfer in flowering plants, making the interactions between plants and insects a central aspect of plant community dynamics.

In many ecosystems, several plant species rely on share pollination services for their reproductive success. In such a case, the specific traits of the flower (e.g., size, shape, color, nectar amount) are being evaluated relative to the traits of neighboring flowers. This may result in either convergence in divergence of the traits, in accordance with the unique characteristics of the interactions. The outcome of these interactions are strongly affected by the spatial arrangement, the relative abundance and the level of attractiveness of the plant species in the community. Moreover, the impact of different signals may change in relation to the abiotic conditions in which the plants and insects interact.

Interestingly, the signals that serve plants in their communication with pollinators (and herbivores) are not only visual, but often rely on volatile compounds that we will identify as scent. In our current projects, we are venturing to understand whether plant-insect interactions that are mediate by volatile compounds present similar dynamics and can be explained using similar strategic rules as plant – insect interactions that are based on visual signals.

We are currently focusing on the Brassicacea family – one of the most diverse and common family in our region. We employ field observations, growth-room experiments and modelling techniques to assess the impact of the different factors and better understand plant-insect interactions in our region. We also imply modelling techniques to better define the dynamics we study.