Pollinator functional group abundance and floral heterogeneity in an agroecological context affect mating patterns in a self-incompatible wild plant

Premise

Restoration of seminatural field margins can elevate pollinator activity. However, how they support wild plant gene flow through interactions between pollinators and spatiotemporal gradients in floral resources remains largely unknown.

Methods

Using a farm-scale experiment, we tested how mating outcomes (expected heterozygosity and paternity correlation) of the wild, self-incompatible plant Cyanus segetum transplanted into field margins (sown wildflower or grass-legume strips) were affected by the abundance of different pollinator functional groups (defined by species traits). We also investigated how the maternal plant attractiveness, conspecific pollen donor density, and heterospecific floral richness and density interacted with pollinator functional group abundance to modulate C. segetum mating outcomes.

Results

Multiple paternity increased (=lower paternity correlation) with greater local abundance of hoverflies (syrphids) and female medium-sized wild bees (albeit the latter's effect diminished with decreasing maternal plant attractiveness), and the presence of male bumblebees (Bombus) under low local floral richness. Cyanus segetum progeny genetic diversity increased with male Bombus presence but decreased with greater abundance of syrphids and honey bees (Apis mellifera).

Conclusions

Overall, field margins supported plant-pollinator interactions ensuring multiple paternity and conservation of allelic diversity in C. segetum progeny. The contribution to plant mating outcomes of different pollinator functional groups was dictated by their local abundance or traits affecting pollen transfer efficiency. The local floral richness or maternal plant attractiveness sometimes modulated these relationships. This complex response of wild plant mating patterns to community interactions has implications for the use of field margins to restore functional pollination systems in farmed landscapes.