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Small Population Persistence in the Floodplain: The Reproductive Strategies of Mimulus ringens L. (Phrymaceae)

Harris, Roger A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1206740924

Abstract Details

2008, Master of Science, University of Akron, Biology.
The response of rhizome production to water level manipulation and seed production to pollinator exclusion were examined in the perennial herbaceous wetland plant Mimulus ringens. This species exhibits clonal growth and reproduction in the form of below ground stoloniferous rhizomes and aerial runners, while producing up to 300,000 seeds per plant from flowers historically recognized as bumblebee pollinated. 52 plants grown from seed and 48 grown from 1 year old ramets were subjected to 4 different water level treatments to determine the effects on rhizome production. Flooded conditions yielded significantly lower below ground rhizome mass and exhibited root and shoot decay that was not evident in plants grown under lower water levels. Plants grown from seed produced significantly greater below ground mass than plants grown from one year old ramets. Neither plant height nor flower production were influenced by water level manipulation and no relationship was observed between sexual and asexual reproduction. Flowers of 5 M. ringens plants were subjected to 3 pollinator exclusion treatments to determine the contribution of pollinators smaller than bumblebees. No statistical difference was found in seed production between flowers exposed to all available pollinators and those exposed only to pollinators not excluded by 3 mm mesh, while seed production was reduced for flowers with all pollinators excluded. These results demonstrate the previously unrecognized contribution of numerous small pollinator species in pollinating M. ringens flowers.
Randall Mitchell, PhD (Advisor)
Francisco Moore, PhD (Committee Member)
Jean Pan, PhD (Committee Member)
34 p.
Biology
Mimulus; ringens; rhizome; reproduction; water level; pollinator

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Harris, R. A. (2008). Small Population Persistence in the Floodplain: The Reproductive Strategies of Mimulus ringens L. (Phrymaceae) [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1206740924

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Harris, Roger. Small Population Persistence in the Floodplain: The Reproductive Strategies of Mimulus ringens L. (Phrymaceae). 2008. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1206740924.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Harris, Roger. "Small Population Persistence in the Floodplain: The Reproductive Strategies of Mimulus ringens L. (Phrymaceae)." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1206740924

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1206740924
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© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.