Transfer of Banksia-Spinulosa Pollen by Mammals - Implications for Pollination

Abstract

Native mammals have been implicated by various authors as visitors to flowers of Australian plants in both eastern and western Australia, but few data are available to allow an estimation of their potential as pollinators. In the present study, Antechinus stuartii, Petaurus breviceps and Rattus fuscipes were regularly trapped in flowering Banksia spinulosa. A few Cercartetus nanus were also captured. Individuals of all species carried pollen on their fur. Pollen loads were greater on mammals which had been in traps for short periods, which suggests that mammals will groom pollen from their fur if left longer in traps. Therefore, pollen loads on foraging mammals have probably been dramatically underestimated by previous authors, and their potential to effect pollination may have been greatly underestimated. Furthermore, significantly more pollen was removed from flowers of B. spinulosa at night than during the day, suggesting the importance of nocturnal pollinators at this site.