An insect-pollinated species in a wind-pollinated genus: case study of the endemic plant, Laramie chickensage (Artemisia simplex)

Artemisia simplex (Laramie chickensage) is an imperiled, endemic
plant in southeastern Wyoming, USA. To fill critical information gaps, we
measured its seed viability and pollination mechanisms, measures that are
lacking for many rare and endemic plants yet critical for the perpetuation
of species. Artemisia simplex cover varied among sites
and occupied 5.5% (range: 1.3–14.6%) of the area on average. This unique
plant typically produced viable seeds under ambient conditions but did not
self-pollinate. Characteristics of the flower and pollen suggest
that A. simplex is primarily animal-pollinated, and we
found that both wind and animals transported pollen to the plant, but wind
alone produced fewer seeds. Members of the sagebrush genus are widely
known to be wind-pollinated; however, we demonstrated that this species of
sagebrush is largely animal-pollinated. Plant conservation and
management plans must consider the mode of pollen transfer, especially
when considering the decline of insect pollinators. Pollination provides
information about the persistence of plant populations through sexual
reproduction, which produces the genetic variation needed for healthy
populations.