Dep. Theory of Evolution, Biological Faculty, M.V.Lomonosov Moscow University, Vorob'evy Gory, Moscow 119899, Moscow, Russia

Abstract

Anthriscus sylvestris and Aegopodium podagraria often occupy the same areas, bloom at the same time, have very broad spectrum of pollinators and often compete for them. The overlapping of blooming dynamic curves (similarity index) varies from 0, 23 to 0, 45% in different years. More than 200 insect species were registered on the flowers of the plants, a half of them was found on both species. Diptera are the major pollinators forming in different years from 70 to 98% of anthophyllous mesofauna. The role of Hymenoptera (0, 5-18%) and Coleoptera (0.9-12, 9%) is not so important. The spectra of pollinators of Anthriscus sylvestris and Aegopodium podagraria are very similar: similarity index varies from 0, 42 to 0, 85. For most pollinators Anthriscus sylvestris and Aegopodium podagraria are equally attractive. Similarity in pollinator spectra causes useless waist of pollen that leave in flowers of competitor species. For some effective pollinators forming in some years about 25% of spectrum Aegopodium podagraria is more attractive food plant and they rarely visit Anthriscus sylvestris flowers. The decrease in the visit frequency causes not full pollination of Anthriscus sylvestris flowers. Since these insects sometimes visit Anthriscus flowers they take away its pollen but leave it mainly in Aegopodium podagraria flowers and therefore lead additional decrease in seed production of Anthriscus sylvestris. Insect species preferably feeding on Anthriscus sylvestris flowers are not effective pollinators. The decrease in frequency of their visit to Aegopodium flowers does not considerably influence its seed production.