Fluorescent dye particles are good pollen analogs for hummingbird-pollinated Silene virginica (Caryophyllaceae)

Abstract

We tested the utility of fluorescent dye particles as pollen analogs for hummingbird-pollinated Silene virginica (Caryophyllaceae) by comparing the movement of pollen and fluorescent dye across sequentially visited emasculated flowers. We found no differences in either the intercept or the slope of the regressions of the two particle types on floral visitation sequence. In addition, the presence of fluorescent powder on the stigmas of a flower was a good indicator of pollen transferred to that flower. Both pollen and dye particles were transported almost identical distances in the flower sequence. These data indicate that fluorescent powder is a good pollen analog for S. virginica. We compare our findings with previous studies examining the utility of fluorescent dye as a pollen analog. Keywords: pollen analog, fluorescent dye, pollen carry-over.