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Becker R, Pittella R, Calderon-Quispe FH, de Moraes Brandalise J, Farias-Singer R, Singer RB. Reproductive biology as a tool to elucidate taxonomic delimitation: How different can two highly specialized subspecies of Parodia haselbergii (cactaceae) be? JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2024; 137:863-875. [PMID: 38982014 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-024-01555-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Reproductive isolation is one of the mechanisms of speciation. The two currently accepted subspecies of Parodia haselbergii (P. haselbergii subsp. haselbergii and P. haselbergii subsp. graessneri) were studied regarding flower traits, phenology, breeding systems and pollination. In addition, a principal component analysis with 18 floral characters and germination tests under controlled conditions were performed for both taxa. Pollination was studied in the field, in two localities of Southern Brazil. Pollinators were recorded through photos and film. Breeding system experiments were performed by applying controlled pollinations to plants excluded from pollinators. Both taxa mostly differ in asynchronous flowering periods, floral traits (including floral part measurements and nectar concentration) and pollinators. The flowers of both subspecies are functionally protogynous and perform remarkably long lifespans (≥ 15 days), both traits being novelties for Cactaceae. Whereas the reddish flowers of P. haselbergii subsp. haselbergii (nectar concentration: ca. 18%) are pollinated by hummingbirds of Thalurania glaucopis, the greenish flowers of P. haselbergii subsp. graessneri (nectar concentration: ca. 29%) are pollinated by Augochlora bees (Halictidae). Both subspecies are self-compatible, yet pollinator-dependent. The principal component analysis evidenced that both subspecies are separated, regarding flower traits. The seeds of both subspecies performed differently in the germination tests, but the best results were recovered at 20 °C and germination considerably decreased around 30 °C. In conclusion, all these results support that both taxa are in reproductive isolation, and can be treated as different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Becker
- Laboratory of Systematics of Vascular Plants, Botany Department, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, 91509-900, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Renan Pittella
- Laboratory of Systematics of Vascular Plants, Botany Department, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, 91509-900, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fernando H Calderon-Quispe
- Laboratory of Systematics of Vascular Plants, Botany Department, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, 91509-900, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Júlia de Moraes Brandalise
- Laboratory of Systematics of Vascular Plants, Botany Department, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, 91509-900, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rosana Farias-Singer
- Porto Alegre Botanical Garden, Secretaria Estadual do Meio Ambiente do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Bustos Singer
- Laboratory of Systematics of Vascular Plants, Botany Department, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, 91509-900, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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2
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Gamba D, Muchhala N. Pollinator type strongly impacts gene flow within and among plant populations for six Neotropical species. Ecology 2023; 104:e3845. [PMID: 36224746 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Animal pollinators directly affect plant gene flow by transferring pollen grains between individuals. Pollinators with restricted mobility are predicted to limit gene flow within and among populations, whereas pollinators that fly longer distances are likely to promote genetic cohesion. These predictions, however, remain poorly tested. We examined population genetic structure and fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) in six perennial understory angiosperms in Andean cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador. Species belong to three families (Gesneriaceae, Melastomataceae, and Rubiaceae), and within each family we paired one insect-pollinated with one hummingbird-pollinated species, predicting that insect-pollinated species have greater population differentiation (as quantified with the FST statistic) and stronger FSGS (as quantified with the SP statistic) than hummingbird-pollinated species. We confirmed putative pollinators through a literature review and fieldwork, and inferred population genetic parameters with a genome-wide genotyping approach. In two of the three species pairs, insect-pollinated species had much greater (>2-fold) population-level genetic differentiation and correspondingly steeper declines in fine-scale genetic relatedness. In the Gesneriaceae pair, however, FST and SP values were similar between species and to those of the other hummingbird-pollinated plants. In this pair, the insect pollinators are euglossine bees (as opposed to small bees and flies in the other pairs), which are thought to forage over large areas, and therefore may provide similar levels of gene flow as hummingbirds. Overall, our results shed light on how different animal pollination modes influence the spatial scale of plant gene flow, suggesting that small insects strongly decrease genetic cohesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Gamba
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri at Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Nathan Muchhala
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri at Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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3
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Silva DM, Luna ALL, Souza CS, Nunes YRF, Fonseca RS, Azevedo IFPD. Sexual and reproductive systems of woody species in
vereda
are distributed according to the life form and habitat occurrence. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Danila Moreira Silva
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Botânica Aplicada Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N – Bairro Vila Mauricéia Montes Claros 39401‐089 Brazil
| | - Andressa Laís Lacerda Luna
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Botânica Aplicada Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N – Bairro Vila Mauricéia Montes Claros 39401‐089 Brazil
| | - Camila Silveira Souza
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Botânica Aplicada Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N – Bairro Vila Mauricéia Montes Claros 39401‐089 Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Biologia Geral Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Montes Claros Brazil
| | - Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Botânica Aplicada Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N – Bairro Vila Mauricéia Montes Claros 39401‐089 Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Biologia Geral Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Montes Claros Brazil
| | - Rúbia Santos Fonseca
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Bairro Universitário Montes Claros Brazil
| | - Islaine Franciely Pinheiro de Azevedo
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Botânica Aplicada Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N – Bairro Vila Mauricéia Montes Claros 39401‐089 Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Biologia Geral Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros Montes Claros Brazil
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4
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Abrahamczyk S, Steudel B. Why are some hummingbird-pollinated plant clades so species-rich? AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2022; 109:1059-1062. [PMID: 35694735 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Abrahamczyk
- Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plant, University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Bastian Steudel
- Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
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5
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Abrahamczyk S, Weigend M, Becker K, Dannenberg LS, Eberz J, Atella‐Hödtke N, Steudel B. Influence of plant reproductive systems on the evolution of hummingbird pollination. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8621. [PMID: 35222976 PMCID: PMC8853967 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Many hummingbird-pollinated plant species evolved from bee-pollinated ancestors independently in many different habitats in North and South America. The mechanisms leading to these transitions are not completely understood. We conducted pollination and germination experiments and analyzed additional reproductive traits in three sister species pairs of which one species is bee- and the other hummingbird-pollinated. All hummingbird-pollinated species showed higher seed set and germination rates in cross-pollinated than in self-pollinated flowers. In the self-compatible, bee-pollinated sister species this difference did not exist. As expected, seed set and germination rate were higher after cross-pollination in the largely self-incompatible genus Penstemon independently of the pollination syndrome. However, the bird-pollinated species produce only half of the amount of ovules and pollen grains per flower compared to the bee-pollinated sister species. This indicates that hummingbird pollination is much more efficient in self-incompatible populations because hummingbirds waste less pollen and provide higher outcrossing rates. Therefore, hummingbird pollination is less resource costly. Overall, we suggest that hummingbirds may increase the reproductive success compared to bees, influencing the evolution of hummingbird pollination in ecosystems with diverse bee assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Katrin Becker
- Nees Institute for Biodiversity of PlantsUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
| | | | - Judith Eberz
- Nees Institute for Biodiversity of PlantsUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
| | | | - Bastian Steudel
- Health and Environmental SciencesXi'an Jiaotong‐Liverpool UniversitySuzhouChina
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Bergamo PJ, Freitas L, Sazima M, Wolowski M. Pollinator-mediated facilitation alleviates pollen limitation in a plant-hummingbird network. Oecologia 2022; 198:205-217. [PMID: 35067800 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05095-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Facilitation and competition among plants sharing pollinators have contrasting consequences for plant fitness. However, it is unclear whether pollinator-mediated facilitation and competition may affect pollen limitation (potential contribution of pollination to fitness) in pollination networks. Here, we investigated how pollinator sharing affects pollen limitation in a tropical hummingbird-pollinated community marked by facilitation. We employed indices describing how much a plant species potentially affects the pollination of other co-flowering species through shared pollinators (acting degree) and is affected by other co-flowering species (target degree) within the plant-hummingbird network. Since facilitation often increases pollination quantity but not necessarily quality, we expected both indices to be associated with reductions in pollen limitation estimates that depend on pollination quantity (fruit set and seed number) rather than estimates more strictly related to quality (seed weight and germination). We found that both indices were associated with reductions in pollen limitation only for seed weight and germination. Thus, facilitation occurred via qualitative estimates of pollen limitation. Our results suggest that facilitation may enhance plant fitness estimates even if quantitative components of plant fecundity are already saturated. Overall, we showed that pollinator-mediated indirect effects in a multispecies context are important drivers of plant fitness estimates with consequences for coexistence in diverse communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Joaquim Bergamo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Bertrand Russel Av, PO Box 6109, Campinas, Brazil. .,Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | | | - Marlies Sazima
- Plant Biology Department, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marina Wolowski
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Brazil
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Leimberger KG, Dalsgaard B, Tobias JA, Wolf C, Betts MG. The evolution, ecology, and conservation of hummingbirds and their interactions with flowering plants. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:923-959. [PMID: 35029017 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The ecological co-dependency between plants and hummingbirds is a classic example of a mutualistic interaction: hummingbirds rely on floral nectar to fuel their rapid metabolisms, and more than 7000 plant species rely on hummingbirds for pollination. However, threats to hummingbirds are mounting, with 10% of 366 species considered globally threatened and 60% in decline. Despite the important ecological implications of these population declines, no recent review has examined plant-hummingbird interactions in the wider context of their evolution, ecology, and conservation. To provide this overview, we (i) assess the extent to which plants and hummingbirds have coevolved over millions of years, (ii) examine the mechanisms underlying plant-hummingbird interaction frequencies and hummingbird specialization, (iii) explore the factors driving the decline of hummingbird populations, and (iv) map out directions for future research and conservation. We find that, despite close associations between plants and hummingbirds, acquiring evidence for coevolution (versus one-sided adaptation) is difficult because data on fitness outcomes for both partners are required. Thus, linking plant-hummingbird interactions to plant reproduction is not only a major avenue for future coevolutionary work, but also for studies of interaction networks, which rarely incorporate pollinator effectiveness. Nevertheless, over the past decade, a growing body of literature on plant-hummingbird networks suggests that hummingbirds form relationships with plants primarily based on overlapping phenologies and trait-matching between bill length and flower length. On the other hand, species-level specialization appears to depend primarily on local community context, such as hummingbird abundance and nectar availability. Finally, although hummingbirds are commonly viewed as resilient opportunists that thrive in brushy habitats, we find that range size and forest dependency are key predictors of hummingbird extinction risk. A critical direction for future research is to examine how potential stressors - such as habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, and introduction of non-native plants - may interact to affect hummingbirds and the plants they pollinate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara G Leimberger
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Bo Dalsgaard
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø, 2100, Denmark
| | - Joseph A Tobias
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, U.K
| | - Christopher Wolf
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Matthew G Betts
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
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8
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Pollination generalization and reproductive assurance by selfing in a tropical montane ecosystem. Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:50. [PMID: 34626232 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01764-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Pollination and reproduction are important processes for understanding plant community dynamics. Information regarding pollination and reproduction is urgent for threatened ecosystems, such as tropical montane ecosystems. In tropical mountains, pollination patterns are expected to conform to the reproductive assurance theory (due to low pollinator activity) and old, climatically buffered and infertile landscapes (OCBIL) theory (due to restricted plant range size). For 82 plant species of the Itatiaia National Park (including endemic and endangered species), we evaluated at least one of the following features: pollinator identity, flower color and size, flowering phenology, and pollinator dependence. Most plant species (ca. 60%) were pollinated by two or more functional groups of pollinators (generalized pollination), with high importance of flies as pollinators. There was low pollinator activity overall (less than one visit per flower per hour). Notably, the invasive honeybee Apis mellifera L. performed half of the visits to this entire plant community, suggesting an impact on the native pollinator fauna and consequently on the native flora. Most endemic plants were generalized with white and small flowers, while endangered species were pollination-specialized with colorful and large flowers. Thus, endangered species are susceptible to changes in pollinator fauna. Flowering seasonality reflected the importance of climatic constraints in this environment. One-third of the plant species were autogamous. Our data suggest that pollinator scarcity may have promoted reproductive assurance strategies such as generalization and pollinator independence. Our community-level study highlighted consistent pollination patterns for tropical mountains and emphasized threats for specialized endangered species.
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9
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Paggi GM, Palma-Silva C, Bered F. Pollination by hummingbirds of Vriesea gigantea (Bromeliaceae) populations in Southern Brazil. RODRIGUÉSIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/2175-7860202172056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract The pollination syndrome hypothesis usually does not successfully apply to the diversity of floral phenotypes or help predict the pollinators of most plant species. In Bromeliaceae, there is a wide range of floral visitors, making its species ideal to test for a correlation between nectar and floral traits with pollination syndrome. In this study, we analyzed the floral features, nectar production patterns, pollinators and floral visitors of Vriesea gigantea, and discussed its potential adaptive and ecological significance. We study three natural populations from the Atlantic Forest, Southern Brazil. The species presented protogyny and herkogamy, and its anthesis occurred at different periods among different populations. Vriesea gigantea has a relatively constant rate of nectar production during the day that continues overnight but at a reduced rate. Newly opened flowers already have around 80.0 μl of nectar. Although classified as chiropterophilous, based on flower morphology and pollinator observations, our results show that hummingbirds are effective pollinators in the studied populations of V. gigantea.
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10
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Abstract
Many flower visitors engage in floral larceny, a suite of so-called ’illegitimate’ visits in which foragers take nectar without providing pollination services. The data on prevalence of illegitimate visits among hummingbirds, as well as the total proportion of foraging and diet that such visits comprise is broadly lacking. Here, we report the occurrence of nectar larceny in the two currently recognized species of trainbearers and analyze the proportion of plant visits categorized by mode of interaction as: robbing, theft, and/or pollination. We augment our original field observations using a trove of data from citizen science databases. Although it is difficult to distinguish primary vs. secondary robbing and theft vs. pollination, we conservatively estimate that ca. 40% of the recorded nectar foraging visits involve nectar robbing. Males appear to engage in robbing marginally more than females, but further studies are necessary to confidently examine the multi-way interactions among sex, species, mode of visitation, and other factors. Our results also indicate that the suggested relationship between serrations on bill tomia and traits such as nectar robbing or territorial defense may be complicated. We discuss the significance of these findings in the context of recent developments in study of nectar foraging, larceny, and pollination from both avian and plant perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Igić
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Botany Department, The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ivory Nguyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Phillip B. Fenberg
- School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
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11
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Pimenta VRA, Dias MM, Reis MG. Hummingbird (Aves: Trochilidae) assemblage using resources from the exotic African tuliptree, Spathodea campanulata (Bignoniaceae) in a Neotropical altered environment, southeastern Brazil. BRAZ J BIOL 2020; 81:137-143. [PMID: 32130287 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.223723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The non-native African tuliptree, Spathodea campanulata (P. Beauv), is widely distributed in altered Neotropical environments, where hummingbirds are important pollinators. We investigated the assemblage of hummingbirds which fed on its nectar and described their behavior, to understand possible influences of the exotic tree on the territorial behavior in an altered environment in southeastern Brazil. Seven species fed on flower resources, mainly Eupetomena macroura (Gmelin, 1788), Amazilia lactea (Lesson, 1832), and Florisuga fusca (Vieillot, 1817). Visiting time was positive correlated with number of flowers accessed, but in most visits, hummingbirds get the nectar by pillage, instead of frontal access. Flower availability varied throughout months; however, we found no evidence of significative correlation between available flowers and number of agonistic encounters. Despite a high number of animal-plant interactions and a strong territorialism of some species observed in African tuliptree foraging site, there may be other plants at local scale influencing the behavioral patterns observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V R A Pimenta
- Laboratório de Aves Neotropicais, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, Rod. Washington Luís, Km 235, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brasil
| | - M M Dias
- Laboratório de Aves Neotropicais, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, Rod. Washington Luís, Km 235, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brasil
| | - M G Reis
- Laboratório de Aves Neotropicais, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, Rod. Washington Luís, Km 235, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brasil
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12
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Aximoff IA, Soares HM, Bernadello G. Acnistus arborescens (Solanaceae): an important food resource for birds in an Atlantic Forest site, Southeastern Brazil. RODRIGUÉSIA 2020. [DOI: 10.1590/2175-7860202071030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Biotic interactions related to the consumption of floral nectar and fruits as food resource by birds promoting plant pollination and dispersal, are essential for forest ecosystem functioning. The daily interaction of birds with Acnistus arborescens (Solanaceae), a shrub-tree, was studied in the Itatiaia National Park and its surroundings. Reproductive phenology was monthly monitored in eighteen individuals in 2015. During flowering (August to November) and fruiting (September to December) the interaction birds-plant was studied. Flowers were visited by seven hummingbird species and several insects. Fruit set was 87.3%. Thirty-five bird species of eleven families consumed its fruit. Thraupidae with sixteen bird species was the family responsible for most of its frugivory (53.9%). Considering that more than 10% of the birds richness of Itatiaia National Park - INP interacts with A. arborescens, it can be considered an important plant species in maintaining local bird diverstity. Thus, for attracting many birds, A. arborescens can be used in the process of recovery of degraded areas, and also as a focal plant species for environmental education programs and birdwatching.
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13
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Abrahamczyk S. Comparison of the ecology and evolution of plants with a generalist bird pollination system between continents and islands worldwide. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:1658-1671. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Abrahamczyk
- Nees‐Institute for Biodiversity of PlantsUniversity of Bonn 53115 Bonn Germany
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14
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Abstract
Pollinator-mediated selection on plants can favor transitions to a new pollinator depending on the relative abundances and efficiencies of pollinators present in the community. A frequently observed example is the transition from bee pollination to hummingbird pollination. We present a population genetic model that examines whether the ability to inbreed can influence evolutionary change in traits that underlie pollinator attraction. We find that a transition to a more efficient but less abundant pollinator is favored under a broadened set of ecological conditions if plants are capable of delayed selfing rather than obligately outcrossing. Delayed selfing allows plants carrying an allele that attracts the novel pollinator to reproduce even when this pollinator is rare, providing reproductive assurance. In addition, delayed selfing weakens the effects of Haldane's sieve by increasing the fixation probability for recessive alleles that confer adaptation to the new pollinator. Our model provides novel insight into the paradoxical abundance of recessive mutations in adaptation to hummingbird attraction. It further predicts that transitions to efficient but less abundant pollinators (such as hummingbirds in certain communities) should disproportionately occur in self-compatible lineages. Currently available mating system data sets are consistent with this prediction, and we suggest future areas of research that will enable a rigorous test of this theory.
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15
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Krauss SL, Phillips RD, Karron JD, Johnson SD, Roberts DG, Hopper SD. Novel Consequences of Bird Pollination for Plant Mating. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 22:395-410. [PMID: 28412035 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 02/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Pollinator behaviour has profound effects on plant mating. Pollinators are predicted to minimise energetic costs during foraging bouts by moving between nearby flowers. However, a review of plant mating system studies reveals a mismatch between behavioural predictions and pollen-mediated gene dispersal in bird-pollinated plants. Paternal diversity of these plants is twice that of plants pollinated solely by insects. Comparison with the behaviour of other pollinator groups suggests that birds promote pollen dispersal through a combination of high mobility, limited grooming, and intra- and interspecies aggression. Future opportunities to test these predictions include seed paternity assignment following pollinator exclusion experiments, single pollen grain genotyping, new tracking technologies for small pollinators, and motion-triggered cameras and ethological experimentation for quantifying pollinator behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siegfried L Krauss
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Fraser Avenue, Kings Park, WA 6005, Australia; School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Ryan D Phillips
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Fraser Avenue, Kings Park, WA 6005, Australia; School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Jeffrey D Karron
- Department of Biological Sciences, PO Box 413, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
| | - Steven D Johnson
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa
| | - David G Roberts
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Fraser Avenue, Kings Park, WA 6005, Australia; Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management and School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Terrace, Albany, WA 6330, Australia
| | - Stephen D Hopper
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management and School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Terrace, Albany, WA 6330, Australia
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Suárez-Montes P, Chávez-Pesqueira M, Núñez-Farfán J. Life history and past demography maintain genetic structure, outcrossing rate, contemporary pollen gene flow of an understory herb in a highly fragmented rainforest. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2764. [PMID: 28028460 PMCID: PMC5183091 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Theory predicts that habitat fragmentation, by reducing population size and increasing isolation among remnant populations, can alter their genetic diversity and structure. A cascade of effects is expected: genetic drift and inbreeding after a population bottleneck, changes in biotic interactions that may affect, as in the case of plants, pollen dynamics, mating system, reproductive success. The detection of the effects of contemporary habitat fragmentation on the genetic structure of populations are conditioned by the magnitude of change, given the few number of generations since the onset of fragmentation, especially for long-lived organisms. However, the present-day genetic structure of populations may bear the signature of past demography events. Here, we examine the effects of rainforest fragmentation on the genetic diversity, population structure, mating system (outcrossing rate), indirect gene flow and contemporary pollen dynamics in the understory herb Aphelandra aurantiaca. Also, we assessed its present-day genetic structure under different past demographic scenarios. METHODS Twelve populations of A. aurantiaca were sampled in large (4), medium (3), and small (5) forest fragments in the lowland tropical rainforest at Los Tuxtlas region. Variation at 11 microsatellite loci was assessed in 28-30 reproductive plants per population. In two medium- and two large-size fragments we estimated the density of reproductive plants, and the mating system by analyzing the progeny of different mother plants per population. RESULTS Despite prevailing habitat fragmentation, populations of A. aurantiaca possess high genetic variation (He = 0.61), weak genetic structure (Rst = 0.037), and slight inbreeding in small fragments. Effective population sizes (Ne ) were large, but slightly lower in small fragments. Migrants derive mostly from large and medium size fragments. Gene dispersal is highly restricted but long distance gene dispersal events were detected. Aphelandra aurantiaca shows a mixed mating system (tm = 0.81) and the outcrossing rate have not been affected by habitat fragmentation. A strong pollen pool structure was detected due to few effective pollen donors (Nep ) and low distance pollen movement, pointing that most plants received pollen from close neighbors. Past demographic fluctuations may have affected the present population genetic structure as Bayesian coalescent analysis revealed the signature of past population expansion, possibly during warmer conditions after the last glacial maximum. DISCUSSION Habitat fragmentation has not increased genetic differentiation or reduced genetic diversity of A. aurantiaca despite dozens of generations since the onset of fragmentation in the region of Los Tuxtlas. Instead, past population expansion is compatible with the lack of observed genetic structure. The predicted negative effects of rainforest fragmentation on genetic diversity and population structure of A. aurantiaca seem to have been buffered owing to its large effective populations and long-distance dispersal events. In particular, its mixed-mating system, mostly of outcrossing, suggests high efficiency of pollinators promoting connectivity and reducing inbreeding. However, some results point that the effects of fragmentation are underway, as two small fragments showed higher membership probabilities to their population of origin, suggesting genetic isolation. Our findings underscore the importance of fragment size to maintain genetic connectivity across the landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Suárez-Montes
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics and Evolution, Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Mariana Chávez-Pesqueira
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics and Evolution, Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Juan Núñez-Farfán
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics and Evolution, Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
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Ferreira C, Maruyama PK, Oliveira PE. Convergence beyond flower morphology? Reproductive biology of hummingbird-pollinated plants in the Brazilian Cerrado. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2016; 18:316-324. [PMID: 26370490 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Convergent reproductive traits in non-related plants may be the result of similar environmental conditions and/or specialised interactions with pollinators. Here, we documented the pollination and reproductive biology of Bionia coriacea (Fabaceae), Esterhazya splendida (Orobanchaceae) and Ananas ananassoides (Bromeliaceae) as case studies in the context of hummingbird pollination in Cerrado, the Neotropical savanna of Central South America. We combined our results with a survey of hummingbird pollination studies in the region to investigate the recently suggested association of hummingbird pollination and self-compatibility. Plant species studied here differed in their specialisation for ornithophily, from more generalist A. ananassoides to somewhat specialist B. coriacea and E. splendida. This continuum of specialisation in floral traits also translated into floral visitor composition. Amazilia fimbriata was the most frequent pollinator for all species, and the differences in floral display and nectar energy availability among plant species affect hummingbirds' behaviour. Most of the hummingbird-pollinated Cerrado plants (60.0%, n = 20), including those studied here, were self-incompatible, in contrast to other biomes in the Neotropics. Association to more generalist, often territorial, hummingbirds, and resulting reduced pollen flow in open savanna areas may explain predominance of self-incompatibility. But it is possible that mating system is more associated with the predominance of woody hummingbird plants in the Cerrado plant assemblage than to the pollination system itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ferreira
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - P K Maruyama
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - P E Oliveira
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
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Nunes CEP, Amorim FW, Mayer JLS, Sazima M. Pollination ecology of two species of Elleanthus (Orchidaceae): novel mechanisms and underlying adaptations to hummingbird pollination. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2016; 18:15-25. [PMID: 25678071 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Relationships among floral biology, floral micromorphology and pollinator behaviour in bird-pollinated orchids are important issues to understand the evolution of the huge flower diversity within Orchidaceae. We aimed to investigate floral mechanisms underlying the interaction with pollinators in two hummingbird-pollinated orchids occurring in the Atlantic forest. We assessed floral biology, nectar traits, nectary and column micromorphologies, breeding systems and pollinators. In both species, nectar is secreted by lip calli through spaces between the medial lamellar surfaces of epidermal cells. Such a form of floral nectar secretion has not been previously described. Both species present functional protandry and are self-compatible yet pollinator-dependent. Fruit set in hand-pollination experiments was more than twice that under natural conditions, evidencing pollen limitation. The absence of fruit set in interspecific crosses suggests the existence of post-pollination barriers between these sympatric co-flowering species. In Elleanthus brasiliensis, fruits resulting from cross-pollination and natural conditions were heavier than those resulting from self-pollination, suggesting advantages to cross-pollination. Hummingbirds pollinated both species, which share at least one pollinator species. Species differences in floral morphologies led to distinct pollination mechanisms. In E. brasiliensis, attachment of pollinarium to the hummingbird bill occurs through a lever apparatus formed by an appendage in the column, another novelty to our knowledge of orchid pollination. In E. crinipes, pollinarium attachment occurs by simple contact with the bill during insertion into the flower tube, which fits tightly around it. The novelties described here illustrate the overlooked richness in ecology and morphophysiology in Orchidaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E P Nunes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - F W Amorim
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - J L S Mayer
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M Sazima
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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