Abstract
An analysis of the relative abundance of the prevalent species in 25 major plant communities of the Wasatch Mountains demonstrates that variation in species diversity is significantly correlated with many floral characteristics. Wind pollinated flowers decrease in abundance while animal pollinated flowers increase along the diversity gradient. Both relationships are highly significant statistically. Color diversity and species diversity are significantly and positively correlated in open communities but are not correlated in forest communities. The percent sum frequency of yellow and pink-magenta flowers decreased with increasing species diversity while blue and whitish flowers increased. Also, zygomorphic flowers and flowers in which access to the nectar supply is restricted by morphological barriers are positively correlated with species diversity. It is shown that wind pollinated flowers and entomophilous open flowers are significantly more abundant than animal pollinated flowers whose nectaries are morphologically restricted, Theoretical explanations are offered for these relationships.
Degree
MS
College and Department
Life Sciences; Plant and Wildlife Sciences
Rights
http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Ostler, William Kent, "Correlations between plant species diversity and flower characteristics in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah and Idaho" (1976). Theses and Dissertations. 8104.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/8104
Date Submitted
1976-04-01
Document Type
Thesis
Handle
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/Letd439
Keywords
Plants, Flowering of; Botany, Idaho; Botany Utah; Wasatch Range (Utah and Idaho)
Language
English