Feral bee - bird interactions (Aust.)

[Carol Probets <>]

As an aside to this interesting question, I believe that introduced
honeybees will sometimes make a hole in the base of the floral tube of some
bird pollinated plants in order to access the nectar, bypassing the pollen
and thereby reducing seed set. This would especially be the case with
narrow tubular flowers such as epacris and some grevilleas, normally
pollinated by spinebills and other long-billed honeyeaters.

Cheers

Carol Probets


---
>From: Martin  on 04/17/2002 02:19 PM
>To:   
>Subject:  Feral bee - bird interactions (Aust.)
>
[snip]
>  Foraging
>of honeybees could also lead to a reduction in seed set of some native plants
>through nectar competition with their specialised pollinators (eg. rare
>eucalypts and grevilleas).'










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