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Adaptive functions of defensive plant phenolics and a non-linear bee response to nectar components

  1. F. LIU1,
  2. J. CHEN1,
  3. J. CHAI2,
  4. X. ZHANG2,
  5. X. BAI2,
  6. D HE1,
  7. D. W. ROUBIK3,*

Article first published online: 20 OCT 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01200.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 21, Issue 1, pages 96–100, February 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

LIU, F., CHEN, J., CHAI, J., ZHANG, X., BAI, X., HE, D. and ROUBIK, D. W. (2007), Adaptive functions of defensive plant phenolics and a non-linear bee response to nectar components. Functional Ecology, 21: 96–100. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01200.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Kunming Division, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223,

  2. 2

    Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mengzi 661101, P. R. China, and

  3. 3

    Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Unit 0948, APO AA 34002-0948, USA

* †Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: roubikd@si.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 OCT 2006
  2. Article first published online: 20 OCT 2006
  3. Received 15 May 2006; revised 7 August 2006; accepted 11 August 2006Editor: G. Kudo

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Keywords:

  • Apis cerana;
  • bees;
  • nectar constituents;
  • phenolics

Summary

  • 1
    Secondary compounds such as phenolics, usually present in floral nectar, may act in combination with sugar components to influence the evolution of pollination mutualism.
  • 2
    Previous work on the significance of secondary compounds in nectar considers honey bee responses to those compounds alone, but neglects sugar. Our experiments demonstrated that phenolic sugar syrups were attractants to free-flying Asian Apis cerana Fab. when sugar concentrations were 15–35%, but were deterrents below or above this range.
  • 3
    Synergism between nectar phenolics and sugar may thus provide a novel mechanism for plants to encourage pollinating bees and reduce energy investment in nectar, operating as exaptations by co-opting defence mechanisms against herbivores.
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