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A sensitivity analysis of pollen-dispensing schedules

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Abstract

Without changing their allocation to male function, plants can increase male fitness by increasing the number of visits they receive, attracting more efficient pollinators, or by changing their schedule of dispensing of pollen to floral visitors. We explore the strength of selection on the different components of pollen-dispensing schedules using sensitivity analysis. We find that changes in both the efficiency of pollinators and the expected mean number of visits produce large changes in male fitness. Our results suggest there may be strong selection on features that allow pollen to be available to multiple visitors and that selection is probably weak for mechanisms that would promote near optimal dispensing schedules.

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Lebuhn, G., Holsinger, K. A sensitivity analysis of pollen-dispensing schedules. Evolutionary Ecology 12, 111–121 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006563108498

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