Plant-pollinator interactions of three selected plant species in Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Assessment of plant-pollinator interaction in three selected naturally grown plant species (Rosa abyssinica, Hypericum revolutum, and Vernonia leopoldi) was conducted using pollination observation method in the Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Critical observation of pollinators was conducted while visiting the floral parts of each species, capturing a photo of each pollinator on the floral part, and at the same time recording the time and giving the general name of pollinators. This observation activity was conducted by walking along the garden, choosing any flowering individual for about 30 min observations for five f lowers. Data was collected in five weeks between November and December 2021 about the plant-pollinator visits, pollinators’ diversity, number of visits to each species, and pollinators’ preferred time in a day were analyzed using descriptive analysis. A total of six functional groups (bees-Hymnoptera, beetles-Coleoptera, f lies-Diptera, moths and butterflies-Lepidoptera, and bird) were recorded from pollination observation. Bees were the most flower-visiting/pollinating insect group for the three species. Beetles were the second most visited insects on the flowers of the three species, followed by flies, moths, butterflies, and birds. Plants attracted a range of insects, with bees as the most abundant visitor/pollinator, accounting for 88% of the total visits. The rate of insect flower visits for the three species indicated a decrease from the first to the fifth week of floral blooming. For mutual benefit and sustainable conservation of selected flowering plants and pollinating insects, it would be important to promote the botanic garden by establishing a pollinator garden as part of the thematic garden.