Then we calculated how many seeds should be set on average for each flower
visited based on the logarithmic decline function that we generated from hand
pollinations.
We summed the seed set over 250 flowers per bout, and repeated the process 100 times, getting an average expected seed set.
We did this first for a high standing crop distribution of flowers per raceme,
and then for a low standing crop distribution of flowers per raceme.
Results of the simulation are published in:
Strickler, K. and J. Vinson. 2000. A simulation of the effect of pollinator
movement on alfalfa seed production. Environ. Entomol. 29(5):907-918.
(download
PDF
file)
Download the MSExcel file with the
simulation program. Note:
The excel file contains macros (VBA programs) that must be enabled for the
simulation to run.
