Plant-Pollinator Interactions in Hawaii: Pollination Energetics of Metrosideros Collina (Myrtaceae)

Abstract

The most abundant tree species in much of the undisturbed Hawaiian forests was the subject of a two year study on plant-pollinator interaction and energetics. The purposes of the study were 1) to determine the roles of insects and of some endemic Hawaiian birds in the pollination of the tree, Metrosideros collins, 2) to test the hypothesis that maximal outbreeding and seed set occur at intermediate levels of nectar availability, 3) to understand the adaptive significance of profuse flowering in this species, and 4) to compare the pollination ecology of this species and the degree of specialization in the plant-pollinator community with those of similar mainland systems.