Umbellifers as potential keystone species in restoration projects

Marcin Zych, Paweł Niemczyk, Radosław Niemirski

Abstract


We studied visitation rates to four common European umbellifers: Angelica sylvestris, Anthriscus sylvestris, Daucus carota, and Heracleum sphondylium. Our observations and literature data confi rm that a single plant species from the family Apiaceae may be visited by over a hundred insect taxa from taxonomically diverse groups. Here we suggest that in the light of pollination shortage faced by many endangered plant species, co-planting of relevant native Apiaceae plants, especially in Europe, should be taken into consideration in many restoration projects to provide, via umbelliferean magnet species, appropriate pollination service for focus plant taxa.

Keywords


pollination; Apiaceae=Umbelliferae; magnet species; endangered plants; biodiversity; allophilous plants

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5586/aa.2007.029

Journal ISSN:
  • 2300-357X (online)
  • 0065-0951 (print; ceased since 2016)
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Publisher
Polish Botanical Society