Data from: Edge effects and mating patterns in a bumblebee-pollinated plant

Researchers have long assumed that plant spatial location influences plant
reproductive success and pollinator foraging behavior. For example, many
flowering plant populations have small, linear, or irregular shapes that
increase the proportion of plants on the edge, which may reduce mating
opportunities through both male and female function. Additionally, plants
that rely on pollinators may be particularly vulnerable to edge effects if
those pollinators exhibit restricted foraging and pollen carryover is
limited. To explore the effects of spatial location (edge vs. interior) on
siring success, seed production, pollinator foraging patterns, and
pollen-mediated gene dispersal, we established a square experimental array
of 49 Mimulus ringens (monkeyflower) plants. We observed foraging patterns
of pollinating bumblebees and used paternity analysis to quantify male and
female reproductive success and mate diversity for plants on the edge vs.
interior. We found no significant differences between edge and interior
plants in the number of seeds sired, mothered, or the number sires per
fruit. However, we found strong differences in pollinator behavior based
on plant location, including 15% lower per flower visitation rates and
substantially longer interplant moves for edge plants. This translated
into 40% greater pollen-mediated gene dispersal for edge than for interior
plants. Overall, our results suggest that edge effects are not as strong
as is commonly assumed, and that different plant reproduction parameters
respond to spatial location independently.