Buzz pollination: studying bee vibrations on flowers

Citation

Vallejo-Marín M (2019) Buzz pollination: studying bee vibrations on flowers. New Phytologist, 224 (3), pp. 1068-1074. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15666

Abstract
Approximately 6% of flowering plant species possess flowers with anthers that open through small pores or slits. Extracting pollen from this type of specialised flower is achieved most efficiently by vibrating the anthers, a behaviour that has evolved repeatedly among bees. Here I provide a brief overview of studying vibrations produced by bees and their effects on pollen release. I discuss how bee morphology and behaviour affect the mechanical properties of vibrations, and how floral traits may influence the transmission of those vibrations from the bee to the anther, thus mediating pollen release, and ultimately bee and plant fitness. I suggest that understanding the evolution of buzz pollination requires studying the biomechanics of bee vibrations and their transmission on flowers.

Keywords
Bees; behaviour biomechanics; biotremology; buzz pollination; floral evolution; sonication; vibrations

Journal
New Phytologist: Volume 224, Issue 3