Abstract—Pima pineapple cactus (PPC) (Coryphantha scheeri var. robustispina), a federally listed
endangered species, occurs throughout southeastern Arizona and has relatively low population
densities. To determine whether pollination limits reproduction of PPC we used florescent dye
to quantify pollen flow between individuals in a PPC population. Preliminary results suggest
Diadasia bees are capable of transferring pollen analogs nearly 1 km, but most transfers occur
over a few hundred meters. PPC may not be pollen limited, at least when few competing cactus
species are in bloom. Ongoing work will delineate the competition for pollinators between PPC
and other cacti. [AUTHOR ABSTRACT]
Reports and other documents about Sonoran Desert ecology, management, and conservation. Curated by the not-for-profit Altar Valley Conservation Alliance (AVCA) located outside Tucson, AZ.