Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Insects provide many ecosystem services, including the pollination of our natural systems.Unfortunately, immense reductions in native landscapes have led to a critical decline in the abundance and diversity of plant species and insect pollinators, including butterflies.Understanding key pollinator resources is vital for preserving and restoring native habitats and their biodiversity.Nectar is a widespread butterfly food source with many constituents that make up compositions, which are preferred and/or associated with butterfly pollinators.As such, the aim of Chapter I was to determine the total sugar and amino acid concentrations in nectar of 19 tallgrass prairie and oak savanna species of Northwest Ohio.I examined sugar concentrations using a refractometer and amino acid concentrations using image analysis software to analyze the colorimetric change of ninhydrin tests.I found significant differences among species with regard to sugar (ranging from 33-66% Brix), as well as amino acid concentration (ranging from 14 to 255.69 ng/µL).I also found an inverse relationship between amino acid and sugar concentrations across genera, where species within genera that had relatively high amino acid concentrations tended to have low sugar concentrations.These data can help determine which nectar species are most valuable for restoration and conservation plans that aim to aid in the restoration of butterfly species.Furthermore, as there are certain nectar constituents, including amino acids that are preferred by butterfly visitors and pollinators, understanding the effects these constituents have on potential pollinators is an important factor for restoration and conservation plans to consider.
Author: Paige M. Arnold
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Language: English
Topic: Plant and animal studies
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2612993140