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Data for: Proximity to oilseed rape fields affects plant pollination and pollinator-mediated selection on a co-flowering plant on the Tibetan Plateau

Cite this dataset

Qiu, Yizhi et al. (2023). Data for: Proximity to oilseed rape fields affects plant pollination and pollinator-mediated selection on a co-flowering plant on the Tibetan Plateau [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7pvmcvdz8

Abstract

The ecological effects of mass-flowering crops on pollinator abundance and species richness of neighboring habitats are well established, yet the potential evolutionary consequences remain unclear. We studied effects of proximity to a mass-flowering crop on the pollination of local co-flowering plants, and on patterns of natural selection on a pollination-generalized plant on the Tibetan Plateau. We recorded pollinator visitation rates and community composition at different distances (near vs. far) to oilseed rape (Brassica napus) fields in two habitat types, and quantified pollinator-mediated selection on attractive traits of Trollius ranunculoides. The proximity to oilseed rape increased pollinator visitation in neighboring alpine meadows and changed pollinator composition in neighboring shrub meadows. Trollius ranunculoides in the alpine meadow near oilseed rape received three times more pollinator visits (mainly bees), and consequently had a 16.5% increase in seed set, but also received slightly more heterospecific pollen per stigma. In contrast, pollinator visitation to T. ranunculoides in the shrub meadow near oilseed rape was three times lower (mainly flies), leading to 10.7% lower seed despite no effect on pollen deposition. The proximity to the oilseed rape field intensified pollinator-mediated selection on flower size and weakened selection on flower height of T. ranunculoides in the alpine meadow but did not affect phenotypic selection on either trait in the shrub meadow. Our study highlights context-dependent variation in plant-pollinator interactions close to mass-flowering oilseed rape, suggesting potential effects on the evolution of flower traits of native plants through altered pollinator-mediated selection. However, context dependence may make these effects difficult to predict.

Funding

Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Award: 2017YF050400

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: 31570229

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: 31870411