Arnold, Sarah ORCID: 0000-0001-7345-0529, Le Comber, Steven C. and Chittka, Lars (2009) Flower color phenology in European grassland and woodland habitats, through the eyes of pollinators. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences, 57 (3). pp. 211-230. ISSN 0792-9978 (doi:https://doi.org/10.1560/IJPS.57.3.211)

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Abstract

Some studies have claimed that flowers in bloom at particular times of year are more likely to be of particular colors to better attract pollinating insects. To test this, we analyzed a data set collected from five field sites near Strausberg, Germany, which included information on flower color and months of blooming. However, we chose to consider flower color as perceived by bee as well as human visual systems, as well as independent of any color vision system, to reveal whether trends, if present, have any ecological relevance. Using randomization analyses, we were able to consider whether blooming time interacts with flower color, and how this interaction depends upon other factors. Our results show that there is an association between the months of flowering and the colors of flowers — but only when flowers are considered according to human color categories. Further analysis showed that this is merely a consequence of flowers from the same family being more likely to flower at the same time and have similar colors. All these effects disappeared when flowers were considered using bee color categories, and in the analyses of physical spectral reflectances.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Paper published in Israel Journal of Plant Sciences, Vol. 57, Issue 3 (2009) - Special Issue: Developments in Plant-Pollinator Interactions.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	bee vision, color space, flower pigment, pollination syndrome, sensory ecology
Subjects:	Q Science > QK Botany
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Agriculture, Health & Environment Department
Related URLs:	Publisher Organisation Organisation
Last Modified:	24 Oct 2011 16:24
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/6917

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