Pollination biology and life history traits of the rare Las Vegas bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica)

Authors: CHANPRAME, SARIT - Utah State University; Griswold, Terry; WILSON, JOSEPH - Utah State University

Submitted to: Plants
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/21/2024
Publication Date: 6/26/2024
Citation: Chanprame, S., Griswold, T.L., Wilson, J.S. 2024. Pollination biology and life history traits of the rare Las Vegas bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica). Plants. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131762.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131762

Interpretive Summary: The Las Vegas bearpoppy is a rare plant found only in the eastern Mojave Desert of the southwestern United States. Because this plant is in decline, efforts have been made to learn more about this plant to help protect it. In this study we investigate the natural history of Las Vegas bearpoppy and survey and document floral visitors to the Las Vegas bearpoppy in Clark County Nevada. We find that the populations of A. californica fluctuate from year to year, with many populations declining by over 90% in the period of our study. We also find that the bees visiting the Las Vegas bearpoppy fluctuate from year to year. Some years specialist fairy bees (genus Perdita) make up the majority of the bee visits to the Las Vegas bearpoppy. In other years generalist bees that visit many kinds of flowers, like the honey bee and yellow faced bees (Hylaeus), are the common visitors. This study found that the Las Vegas bearpoppy requires pollinators to set seed, but that only some kinds of bee visitors actually pollinate and make seed. This work provides useful natural history information about the Las Vegas bearpoppy, which will be helpful to conservationists in developing methods to protect this rare plant.

Technical Abstract: Arctomecon californica, the Las Vegas bearpoppy, is a rare plant found only in the eastern Mojave Desert of North America. Because of recent declines in the populations of this endemic plant, efforts have been made to protect this species under the endangered species act. In this study we investigate the natural history of A. californica, survey populations and document its floral visitors in Clark County Nevada. We find that the populations of A. californica fluctuate from year to year, with many populations declining by over 90% in the period of our study. We also find that the pollinator communities of A. californica fluctuate from year to year. Some years specialist bees in the genus Perdita make up the majority of the pollinator community and other years generalist bees, like Apis mellifera and Hylaeus, dominate the pollinator community. Furthermore, we found that A. californica requires pollinators to set seed, yet not all insect visitors are good pollinators. This work provides useful natural history information about the Las Vegas bearpoppy, which will be informative to conservationists designing strategies to protect this imperiled species.