Pollinator Movement and Pollen Transfer in Hybrid Seed Canola

Production of hybrid seed canola requires the transfer of pollen from hermaphroditic (‘male’) to male-sterile (‘female’) plants, facilitated by managed pollinators (honey and leafcutter bees) and wild pollinators. I assessed pollinators in fields of hybrid seed canola located in Southern Alberta to determine what behaviours and conditions could enhance pollen transfer between male and female plants. I found that managed species were the most common pollinators, that all pollinators exhibited floral constancy to morph (male or female), and that pollinator type, time on flower, pollen on body, and flower of origin influenced pollination effectiveness. Pollinator movement between male and female flowers was positively affected by densities of conspecific pollinators, taxon richness, and relative floral profit. While hybrid seed canola morphs are sexually dimorphic, sufficient quantities of managed pollinators should reduce floral constancy. Wild pollinators can contribute to cross-pollination indirectly by increasing managed pollinator movement via increased diversity.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Waytes, Riley

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Cartar, Ralph
• Hoover, Shelley

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Vamosi, Jana
• Barclay, Robert
• Owen, Robin

• Education--Agricultural
• Education--Sciences
• Ecology

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27379

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/3701