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SEPG 2242 - Date Awarded 2003
Testing models of visually-oriented floral constancy with a colour-changing flower: Lupinus pilosus
Dr Clive Nuttman
Excerpt
Fieldwork for the above project was planned to take place during the period 25th March to 10th April 2004. I arrived in Crete on March 26th and visited the University of Heraklion to discuss the proposed work with Prof M. Damanakis, an expert botanist on Cretan flora. In a brief excursion to the village of Rodia (approximately 5km west of Heraklion), we examined a small population (<30 plants) of lupins and, with the use of keys, confirmed them to be L. pilosus. Three bumblebees were noted foraging on the plants and exhibiting the preference behaviour (solely visiting white pre-change flowers) noted in an earlier study (Nuttman & Willmer, 2003). Prof Damanakis confirmed my understanding of the distribution of the species and suggested that, although there were records for L. pilosus from the western coastal region of Crete (close to my accommodation) the population we had visited was as large as any on the island. He also informed me that, due to a rather ‘poor’ spring (adverse weather, including late snowfall on the coastal areas), flowering of many plant species had been delayed.
Full report: SEPG2242
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