Predispersal Reproductive Attrition in a Mojave Desert Population of Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae)

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Abstract
During the 1979 blooming season, 92% of the reproductive potential of a Mojave Desert creosote bush population was destroyed prior to seed dispersal. The losses were partitioned into 12 categories. The largest category was insect predation (19.5%), which primarily occurred during the flower-bud stage. Most of the losses (57%) occurred during or after anthesis. While all pollination modes were equally successful in producing fruits, the behaviors of native bees and the flowers combined to favor xenogamy in open-pollinated flowers, substantially boosting seed set. Despite the high rate of attrition, reproductive output was sufficient to allow dispersal of 7.8 .times. 105 viable seeds per hectare.

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