Concept explainers
Who’s the Pollinator? Massonia depressa is a low-growing succulent plant native to the desert of South Africa. The dull-colored flowers of this
A The dull, petalless, ground-level flowers of Massonia depressa are accessible to rodents, who push their heads through the stamens to reach the nectar at the bottom of floral cups. Note the pollen on the gerbil’s snout.
Type of rodent | Number caught | # With pollen on snout | # with pollen in feces |
Namaqua rock rat | A | 3 | 2 |
Cape spiny mouse | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Hairy-footed gerbil | A | 2 | A |
Cape short-eared gerbil | 1 | 0 | 1 |
African pygmy mouse | 1 | 0 | 0 |
B Evidence of Visits to M. depressa by rodents.
Mammals allowed | Mammals excluded | |
access to plants | from plants | |
Percent of plants that set fruit | 30.4 | 4.3 |
Average number of fruits par plant | 1.39 | 0.47 |
Average number of seeds per plant | 20.0 | 1.95 |
C Fruit and seed production of M. depressa with and without visits by mammals. Mammals are excluded from plants by wire cages with openings large enough for insects to pass through. Twenty-three plants were tested in each group.
FIGURE 29.20 Testing pollination of M. depressa by rodents.
4. Do these data support the hypothesis that rodents are required for pollination of M. depressa? Why or why not?
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Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
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