Paul wrote:
"The real question is whether "hyperspecialisation" is real, an appropriate term, or
merely a hopeful exaggeration based on limited observation."
To add or suggest to Paul's interesting responses: I suspect that in a number of cases
what may see as "hyperspecialisation" may not be from the point of view of the
bee or a pollinator. The pollinators of flowers probably would, if they could, have a
different classification of what is a species or what genera and species are related.
Their observation and measurement are I suspect more acute then ours and from a different
perspective. Genetic studies are making different relationship connections between orchid
then we had understood before. Hopefully this is because our measuring is better.
Also after reading Paul's response about euglossine bees and what they collect
from orchids or other flowers, I wonder how much of the idea that orchids are
tricksters (not giving up anything to a visiting pollinator) maybe myth formed
from limited observation, and imprecise measuring ability. Wondering out loud
(maybe a mistake): Is it possible that a number of other pollinators of orchids
actually do get something from their visit to flowers? Euglossine bees show
that food(nectar)isn't the only thing a pollinator would work for or want in
visiting a flower.
Mark Sullivan
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