Pollination Biology:
The Earthwatch SCAP team observed pollinators of Penstemon azureus for ten minute intervals. Using the data from those observations we were able to form this graph of pollinator frequency.
Average of 2.8 visits per 10 minute period; 79, 10- minute observation intervals in total
Morphological Measurements:
We also measured morphological characteristics related to floral shape. These characteristics give us an indication of the sizes of pollinators that visit P. azureus.
Mean Morphological Measurements of Penstemon azureus
|
corolla width at base (mm) |
corolla width at middle (mm) |
corolla width at opening (mm) |
corolla length (mm) |
stamen length (mm) |
style length (mm) |
Loch Leven |
3.59 |
6.81 |
8.30 |
22.28 |
25.56 |
21.65 |
Royal Gorge |
3.30 |
6.50 |
8.69 |
21.24 |
18.97 |
19.89 |
Cisco Grove |
3.47 |
4.85 |
7.39 |
21.32 |
22.52 |
21.51 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overall Mean |
3.47 |
5.99 |
8.05 |
21.67 |
22.89 |
21.2 |
Pollinator Measurements:
The types of pollinators that visit P. azureus vary greatly in size and shape. We measured the average size of several pollinating insects that were collected from field sites.
Measurements of Pollinating Insects
Insect Type |
Thorax Size (mm) |
Number of insects |
Vespidae |
4.31 |
6 |
Halictidae |
1.77 |
3 |
Megachilidae |
2.94 |
2 |
Anthophoridae |
6.50 |
1 |
Formicidae |
1.28 |
2 |
Coleoptera |
2.58 |
1 |
|