Natural frost exposure experiment (Boraginaceae)

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Method synopsis

Opportunistic use of natural frost events to test differential frost sensitivity between style morphs. Flowers were exposed to freezing temperatures then assessed for reproductive success compared to unfrosted controls.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 1 paper using this protocol.

Procedure as described in the canonical source

Steps below were extracted from the paper that introduces this protocol — Seasonal change in a pollinator community and the maintenance of style length variation in Mertensia fusiformis (Boraginaceae) (2011), Annals of Botany. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Conduct natural frost experiment
   Used natural frost event on night of 24 May 2010 when air temperature dropped to approximately -5°C. Selected 20 short and 20 long plants (ten each at two sites) and clipped all wilted flowers. Up to five open flowers per plant were marked as 'frost' treatment. Cross-pollinated marked flowers in same way over following days as they opened, with minimum temperatures staying above -2°C.
   Quantities: 40 plants total (20 short, 20 long), 10 plants each at 2 sites, up to 5 open flowers per plant marked, paired controls establishedDuration: Single frost event on 24 May 2010, followed by cross-pollination over subsequent daysConditions: Natural frost with air temperature dropping to -5°C, subsequent minimum temperatures above -2°C
   Equipment: flower marking materials, pollination tools

Typical Equipment

• flower marking materials
• pollination tools

Output Measurements

• frost damage assessment
• post-frost seed set
• style morph survival differences

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used