Journal article
Rodents may be important pollinators of banksias in subtropical Australia
Australian mammalogy, Vol.46, AM23019
05/10/2023
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Abstract
Knowledge of the role of non-flying mammals in the pollination of the Australian flora is still incomplete. We captured non-flying mammals visiting Banksia ericifolia in north-east New South Wales and sampled pollen from their heads. The grassland melomys (Melomys burtoni) was captured >4 times more often than the house mouse (Mus musculus) or the swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus). Nocturnal pollen loads (mean 295 ± 53 grains) measured on the melomys are among the highest for an Australian non-flying mammal. Pollen removal from flowers at night was widespread. These observations suggest the grassland melomys is likely to play an important role in the pollination of subtropical B. ericifolia.
Details
- Title
- Rodents may be important pollinators of banksias in subtropical Australia
- Creators
- Sean A. Webster - Southern Cross UniversityRoss L. Goldingay - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Australian mammalogy, Vol.46, AM23019
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Identifiers
- 991013143595002368
- Copyright
- © 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article