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Turo KJ, Reilly JR, Fijen TPM, Magrach A, Winfree R. Insufficient pollinator visitation often limits yield in crop systems worldwide. Nat Ecol Evol 2024:10.1038/s41559-024-02460-2. [PMID: 38961256 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02460-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Declining pollinator populations could threaten global food production, especially if current crop yields are limited by insufficient pollinator visitation to flowers, in a phenomenon referred to as 'pollinator limitation'. Here, we assess the global prevalence of pollinator limitation, explore the risk factors, such as crop type or geographic region, that predict where pollinator limitation is more likely and ask by how much increases in pollinator visitation could improve crop yields. We address these questions using 198,360 plant-pollinator interactions and 2,083 yield measurements from 32 crop species grown in 120 study systems. We find that 28-61% of global crop systems are pollinator limited and that this limitation most frequently occurs in blueberry, coffee and apple crops. For a few datasets, we note that the probability of pollinator limitation decreases with greater forest land cover surrounding a crop field at 1 km, although average effect sizes are small. Finally, we estimate that for those crops we identify as pollinator limited, increasing pollinator visitation at all farms to existing levels observed in the 90th percentile of each study system would close 63% of yield gaps between high- and low-yielding fields. Our findings show variations in sensitivity to pollinator limitation across diverse crop systems and indicate that realistic increases in pollinator visitation could mitigate crop yield shortfalls attributable to pollinator limitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine J Turo
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - James R Reilly
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Thijs P M Fijen
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ainhoa Magrach
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Leioa, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Rachael Winfree
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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2
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Burd M. You can't always get what you want from pollinators. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024. [PMID: 38840568 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Burd
- Indiana University Herbarium, East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN, 47408, USA
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3
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Rosenheim JA, Williams NM, Rapp JM, Schreiber SJ. A test of balanced fitness limitations theory: Pollen limitation in plants. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10911. [PMID: 38304270 PMCID: PMC10830348 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
When reproductive success is determined by the relative availabilities of a series of essential, non-substitutable resources, the theory of balanced fitness limitations predicts that the cost of harvesting a particular resource shapes the likelihood that a shortfall of that resource will constrain realized fitness. Plant reproduction through female function offers a special opportunity to test this theory; essential resources in this context include, first, the pollen received from pollinators or abiotic vectors that is used to fertilize ovules, and, second, the resources needed to provision the developing seeds and fruit. For many plants realized reproductive success through female function can be readily quantified in the field, and one key potential constraint on fitness, pollen limitation, can be assessed experimentally by manually supplementing pollen receipt. We assembled a comparative dataset of pollen limitation using only studies that supplement pollen to all flowers produced over the plant's reproductive lifespan. Pre- and post-pollination costs were estimated using the weight of flowers and fruits and estimates of fruit set. Consistent with expectations, we find self-incompatible plants make greater pre-pollination investments and experience greater pollen limitation. However, contrary to theoretical expectations, when variation due to self-compatibility is accounted for by including self-compatibility in the statistical model as a covariate, we find no support for the prediction that plants that invest more heavily in pre-pollination costs are subject to greater pollen limitation. Strong within-species, between-population variation in the expression of pollen limitation makes the quantification of mean pollen limitation difficult. We urge plant ecologists to conduct more studies of pollen limitation using whole-plant pollen supplementation to produce a richer comparative dataset that would support a more robust test of the balanced limitations hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay A. Rosenheim
- Department of Entomology and NematologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Neal M. Williams
- Department of Entomology and NematologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Joshua M. Rapp
- Department of Entomology and NematologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
- Present address:
Mass AudobonLincolnMassachusettsUSA
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4
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Siopa C, Castro H, Loureiro J, Castro S. PolLimCrop, a global dataset of pollen limitation in crops. Sci Data 2023; 10:905. [PMID: 38102159 PMCID: PMC10724254 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02797-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pollination is a crucial ecosystem service for maintaining plant communities and food production. 75% of the main crops depend on or benefit from pollination services provided by animal pollinators. However, when these services are insufficient and/or inefficient, crops experience pollen limitation with, often, lower associated yield, which may translate into economic losses. We constructed a global dataset that gathers studies with pollination experiments, aiming to provide pollen limitation values of animal-pollinated crops worldwide. Pollination experiments included hand pollen supplementation treatments, where plants were subjected to pollen supplementation of outcross pollen, and natural pollination treatments. The PolLimCrop dataset comprises 294 studies and 1169 unique pollen supplementation experiments with values of pollen limitation for 108 crops, spanning 50 years and 62 countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Siopa
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Helena Castro
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Loureiro
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Castro
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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5
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Brown KS, Caruso CM. The effect of experimental pollinator decline on pollinator-mediated selection on floral traits. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10706. [PMID: 37953983 PMCID: PMC10636310 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Human-mediated environmental change, by reducing mean fitness, is hypothesized to strengthen selection on traits that mediate interactions among species. For example, human-mediated declines in pollinator populations are hypothesized to reduce mean seed production by increasing the magnitude of pollen limitation and thus strengthen pollinator-mediated selection on floral traits that increase pollinator attraction or pollen transfer efficiency. To test this hypothesis, we measured two female fitness components and six floral traits of Lobelia siphilitica plants exposed to supplemental hand-pollination, ambient open-pollination, or reduced open-pollination treatments. The reduced treatment simulated pollinator decline, while the supplemental treatment was used to estimate pollen limitation and pollinator-mediated selection. We found that plants in the reduced pollination treatment were significantly pollen limited, resulting in pollinator-mediated selection for taller inflorescences and more vibrant petals, both traits that could increase pollinator attraction. This contrasts with plants in the ambient pollination treatment, where reproduction was not pollen limited and there was not significant pollinator-mediated selection on any floral trait. Our results support the hypothesis that human-mediated environmental change can strengthen selection on traits of interacting species and suggest that these traits have the potential to evolve in response to changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn S. Brown
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntarioCanada
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6
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Hao K, Fang Q, Huang SQ. Do Silene species with exposed stigmas tolerate interference by heterospecific pollen? AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2023:e16147. [PMID: 36827179 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Co-flowering species that have not evolved an avoidance mechanism may have tolerance to heterospecific pollen (HP) deposition as an adaptive strategy to minimize any deleterious effects of HP transfer, but empirical evidence for the tolerance hypothesis remains scarce. METHODS To estimate the potential effects of heterospecific pollen deposition (HPD) on female reproductive success, we counted conspecific (CP) and HP pollen grains deposited on stigmas and assessed subsequent seed set of both open- and hand-pollinated flowers in three co-flowering Silene species with exposed stigmas that usually received numerous HP grains on the elongated receptive area. RESULTS The percentage of HP grains per flower (HP%) varied from 16.6% to 43.0% among three species. Silene chungtienensis had lower HP%, and the CP-HP relationship was neutral; S. gracilicaulis and S. yunnanensis had a relatively higher HP% with a positive CP-HP relationship. The effects of CP and HP number on natural seed set were positive for all three species, but HP% had stronger negative effects in S. chungtienensis and S. gracilicaulis. In hand-pollinated flowers of the three Silene species, seed set did not decrease with HP whether CP was in excess or insufficient, indicating no negative effects of HPD on seed production. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with the tolerance hypothesis, our results indicated that species with higher HP interference are likely to be tolerant to an increase in HP%. These species with generalist-pollinated flowers and exposed large stigmas may benefit from an increase of conspecific pollen deposition, despite the associated increase in heterospecific pollen deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Hao
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Qiang Fang
- College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471003, China
| | - Shuang-Quan Huang
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
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7
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Burns C, Villalobos S, Vamosi JC. When less is more: Visitation by generalist pollinators can have neutral or negative effects on plant reproduction. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1012809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Selection for specialized coevolutionary relationships can arise if generalized opportunistic pollinators, while still delivering some pollen, operate as less effective pollen delivery agents. Nevertheless, generalization could buffer high-latitude communities from loss of specialist pollinator species by providing some pollination service. Currently, there is limited understanding of the ecosystem services provided by generalized pollinators and whether they increase the fitness of the plants they visit. Network data and thorough observations of floral visitors, paired with estimates of seed set, offer some insight into the role of generalists, which in turn can inform us about how plants are likely to respond to ecosystem disturbances, such as losses of some pollinators, or changes in land cover. Here, we report on plant-pollinator visitation networks in Canada with high levels of generalization and examine the effects of generalization on seed set under different disturbance histories. We also then take a case study of one crop wild relative, Rubus arcticus or Arctic raspberry, and report on a near-complete characterization of pollinator interactions in different environmental conditions. Our findings indicate that generalized pollinators, though frequent and robust to variable temperatures and moisture conditions, do not appear to play a strong role in increasing the reproductive output of many plant species, and may provide only a weak buffer against the stronger effects of disturbance.
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8
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Song B, Sun L, Barrett SCH, Moles AT, Luo YH, Armbruster WS, Gao YQ, Zhang S, Zhang ZQ, Sun H. Global analysis of floral longevity reveals latitudinal gradients and biotic and abiotic correlates. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:2054-2065. [PMID: 35611604 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The length of time a flower remains open and functional - floral longevity - governs important reproductive processes influencing pollination and mating and varies considerably among angiosperm species. However, little is known about large-scale biogeographic patterns and the correlates of floral longevity. Using published data on floral longevity from 818 angiosperm species in 134 families and 472 locations world-wide, we present the first global quantification of the latitudinal pattern of floral longevity and the relationships between floral longevity and a range of biotic and abiotic factors. Floral longevity exhibited a significant phylogenetic signal and was longer at higher latitudes in both northern and southern hemispheres, even after accounting for elevation. This latitudinal variation was associated with several biotic and abiotic variables. The mean temperature of the flowering season had the highest predictive power for floral longevity, followed by pollen number per flower. Surprisingly, compatibility status, flower size, pollination mode, and growth form had no significant effects on flower longevity. Our results suggest that physiological processes associated with floral maintenance play a key role in explaining latitudinal variation in floral longevity across global ecosystems, with potential implications for floral longevity under global climate change and species distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Song
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- Yunnan International Joint Laboratory for Biodiversity of Central Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Lu Sun
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Spencer C H Barrett
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Angela T Moles
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Ya-Huang Luo
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - W Scott Armbruster
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | - Yong-Qian Gao
- Yunnan Forestry Technological College, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Zhang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Hang Sun
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
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9
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Katumo DM, Liang H, Ochola AC, Lv M, Wang QF, Yang CF. Pollinator diversity benefits natural and agricultural ecosystems, environmental health, and human welfare. PLANT DIVERSITY 2022; 44:429-435. [PMID: 36187551 PMCID: PMC9512639 DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity loss during the Anthropocene is a serious ecological challenge. Pollinators are important vectors that provide multiple essential ecosystem services but are declining rapidly in this changing world. However, several studies have argued that a high abundance of managed bee pollinators, such as honeybees (Apis mellifera), may be sufficient to provide pollination services for crop productivity, and sociological studies indicate that the majority of farmers worldwide do not recognize the contribution of wild pollinator diversity to agricultural yield. Here, we review the importance of pollinator diversity in natural and agricultural ecosystems that may be thwarted by the increase in abundance of managed pollinators such as honeybees. We also emphasize the additional roles diverse pollinator communities play in environmental safety, culture, and aesthetics. Research indicates that in natural ecosystems, pollinator diversity enhances pollination during environmental and climatic perturbations, thus alleviating pollen limitation. In agricultural ecosystems, pollinator diversity increases the quality and quantity of crop yield. Furthermore, studies indicate that many pollinator groups are useful in monitoring environmental pollution, aid in pest and disease control, and provide cultural and aesthetic value. During the uncertainties that may accompany rapid environmental changes in the Anthropocene, the conservation of pollinator diversity must expand beyond bee conservation. Similarly, the value of pollinator diversity maintenance extends beyond the provision of pollination services. Accordingly, conservation of pollinator diversity requires an interdisciplinary approach with contributions from environmentalists, taxonomists, and social scientists, including artists, who can shape opinions and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mutavi Katumo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Huan Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Anne Christine Ochola
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Min Lv
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Qing-Feng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Chun-Feng Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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10
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Dawson-Glass E, Hargreaves AL. Does pollen limitation limit plant ranges? Evidence and implications. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210014. [PMID: 35067093 PMCID: PMC8784924 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction often declines towards range edges, reducing fitness, dispersal and adaptive potential. For plants, sexual reproduction is frequently limited by inadequate pollination. While case studies show that pollen limitation can limit plant distributions, the extent to which pollination commonly declines towards plant range edges is unknown. Here, we use global databases of pollen-supplementation experiments and plant occurrence data to test whether pollen limitation increases towards plant range edges, using a phylogenetically controlled meta-analysis. While there was significant pollen limitation across studies, we found little evidence that pollen limitation increases towards plant range edges. Pollen limitation was not stronger towards the tropics, nor at species' equatorward versus poleward range limits. Meta-analysis results are consistent with results from targeted experiments, in which pollen limitation increased significantly towards only 14% of 14 plant range edges, suggesting that pollination contributes to range limits less often than do other interactions. Together, these results suggest pollination is one of the rich variety of potential ecological factors that can contribute to range limits, rather than a generally important constraint on plant distributions. This article is part of the theme issue 'Species' ranges in the face of changing environments (part I)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Dawson-Glass
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr Penfield Avenue, Montreal H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Anna L. Hargreaves
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr Penfield Avenue, Montreal H3A 1B1, Canada
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11
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Van Etten ML. Quality matters. A commentary on: Pollen limitation and xenia effects in a cultivated mass-flowering tree, Macadamia integrifolia (Proteaceae). ANNALS OF BOTANY 2022; 129:iii-iv. [PMID: 34849561 PMCID: PMC8796664 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This article comments on: Stephen J. Trueman, Wiebke Kämper, Joel Nichols, Steven M. Ogbourne, David Hawkes, Trent Peters, Shahla Hosseini Bai and Helen M. Wallace, Pollen limitation and xenia effects in a cultivated mass-flowering tree, Macadamia integrifolia (Proteaceae), Annals of Botany, Volume 129, Issue 2, 1 February 2022, Pages 135–146 https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcab112
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Van Etten
- Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, Dunmore, PA 18512, USA
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12
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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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13
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Rodger JG, Bennett JM, Razanajatovo M, Knight TM, van Kleunen M, Ashman TL, Steets JA, Hui C, Arceo-Gómez G, Burd M, Burkle LA, Burns JH, Durka W, Freitas L, Kemp JE, Li J, Pauw A, Vamosi JC, Wolowski M, Xia J, Ellis AG. Widespread vulnerability of flowering plant seed production to pollinator declines. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabd3524. [PMID: 34644118 PMCID: PMC8514087 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd3524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite evidence of pollinator declines from many regions across the globe, the threat this poses to plant populations is not clear because plants can often produce seeds without animal pollinators. Here, we quantify pollinator contribution to seed production by comparing fertility in the presence versus the absence of pollinators for a global dataset of 1174 plant species. We estimate that, without pollinators, a third of flowering plant species would produce no seeds and half would suffer an 80% or more reduction in fertility. Pollinator contribution to plant reproduction is higher in plants with tree growth form, multiple reproductive episodes, more specialized pollination systems, and tropical distributions, making these groups especially vulnerable to reduced service from pollinators. These results suggest that, without mitigating efforts, pollinator declines have the potential to reduce reproduction for most plant species, increasing the risk of population declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- James G. Rodger
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa
- Biodiversity Informatics Unit, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Corresponding author.
| | - Joanne M. Bennett
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Mialy Razanajatovo
- Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Tiffany M. Knight
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Mark van Kleunen
- Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Tia-Lynn Ashman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA 15260, USA
| | - Janette A. Steets
- Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Illumination Works, 2689 Commons Blvd., Suite 120, Beavercreek, OH 45431, USA
| | - Cang Hui
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa
- Biodiversity Informatics Unit, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cape Town 7945, South Africa
- International Initiative for Theoretical Ecology, Unit 10, 317 Essex Road, London N1 2EE, UK
| | - Gerardo Arceo-Gómez
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
| | - Martin Burd
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Laura A. Burkle
- Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Jean H. Burns
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Walter Durka
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Jurene E. Kemp
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Junmin Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Anton Pauw
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Jana C. Vamosi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Marina Wolowski
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Brazil
| | - Jing Xia
- College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Allan G. Ellis
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa
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14
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Brody AK, Burnham PA, Smith B. Feeding friend and foe: ample pollen mitigates the effects of pollen theft for a gynodioecious plant, Polemonium foliosissimum (Polemoniaceae). ANNALS OF BOTANY 2021; 128:127-134. [PMID: 33849077 PMCID: PMC8318250 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab050] [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: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Most angiosperms rely on pollinators to transport pollen and effect fertilization. While some floral visitors are effective pollinators, others act as thieves, consuming pollen but effecting little pollination in return. The importance of pollen theft in male and female reproductive success has received little attention. Here, we examined if pollen consumption by flies altered pollen receipt and exacerbated pollen limitation for a bumblebee-pollinated plant, Polemonium foliosissimum (Polemoniaceae). METHODS To examine the effect of pollen-thieving flies, we took a three-pronged approach. First, we used single-visit observations to quantify pollen removal and pollen deposition by flies and bumblebees. Second, we manipulated pollen in the neighbourhood around focal plants in two years to test whether pollen reduction reduced pollen receipt. Third, we combined pollen reduction with hand-pollination to test whether pollen thieving exacerbated pollen limitation. Polemonium foliosissimum is gynodioecious in most populations in the Elk Mountains of central Colorado, USA. Thus, we also tested whether pollen theft affected hermaphrodites and females differently. RESULTS Flies removed significantly more pollen and deposited less pollen per visit than did bumblebees. Reduction of pollen in the neighbourhood around focal plants reduced pollen receipt in both years but only nearly significantly so in 2015. In 2016, plants were significantly pollen-limited; hand-pollination significantly increased seeds per fruit for both hermaphrodites and females. However, the reduction of pollen around focal plants did not exacerbate pollen limitation for either hermaphrodites or females. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that plants tolerate significant consumption of pollen by thieves and pollinators by producing ample pollen to feed both and fertilize available ovules. Our results demonstrate that pollen limitation in P. foliosissimum is driven by lack of effective pollinators rather than lack of pollen. Teasing out these effects elucidates the relative importance of drivers of reproductive success and thus the expected response to selection by different floral visitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison K Brody
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO, USA
| | | | - Brittany Smith
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, CO, USA
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15
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López CL, Domic AI, Mayta C, García E, Quezada JA, Gallegos SC. Pollen limitation and reproductive incompatibility system in a critically endangered tree, Polylepis incarum (Bitter) M. Kessler & Schmidt-Leb (Rosaceae). NEOTROPICAL BIODIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2021.1940050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia L. López
- Herbario Nacional de Bolivia - Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Alejandra I. Domic
- Herbario Nacional de Bolivia - Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
- Department of Geosciences and Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - César Mayta
- Herbario Nacional de Bolivia - Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Emilia García
- Herbario Nacional de Bolivia - Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
- Carrera de Biología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Jorge A.N. Quezada
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Silvia C. Gallegos
- Herbario Nacional de Bolivia - Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
- Institute of Biology, Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin-Luther Halle-Wittenberg University, Halle, Germany
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16
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Tonnabel J, David P, Janicke T, Lehner A, Mollet JC, Pannell JR, Dufay M. The Scope for Postmating Sexual Selection in Plants. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:556-567. [PMID: 33775429 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Sexual selection is known to shape plant traits that affect access to mates during the pollination phase, but it is less well understood to what extent it affects traits relevant to interactions between pollen and pistils after pollination. This is surprising, because both of the two key modes of sexual selection, male-male competition and female choice, could plausibly operate during pollen-pistil interactions where physical male-female contact occurs. Here, we consider how the key processes of sexual selection might affect traits involved in pollen-pistil interactions, including 'Fisherian runaway' and 'good-genes' models. We review aspects of the molecular and cellular biology of pollen-pistil interactions on which sexual selection could act and point to research that is needed to investigate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Tonnabel
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Patrice David
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Tim Janicke
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France; Applied Zoology, Technical University Dresden, Zellescher Weg 20b, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Arnaud Lehner
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Laboratoire Glycobiologie et Matrice Extracellulaire Végétale (GlycoMEV), SFR 4377 NORVEGE, IRIB, Carnot I2C, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Jean-Claude Mollet
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Laboratoire Glycobiologie et Matrice Extracellulaire Végétale (GlycoMEV), SFR 4377 NORVEGE, IRIB, Carnot I2C, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - John R Pannell
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mathilde Dufay
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
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17
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Repeated evolution of a reproductive polyphenism in plants is strongly associated with bilateral flower symmetry. Curr Biol 2021; 31:1515-1520.e3. [PMID: 33539770 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Polyphenisms are a special type of phenotypic plasticity in which the products of development are not continuous but instead are separate and distinct phenotypes produced in the same genetic background. One of the most widespread polyphenisms in the flowering plants is cleistogamy, in which the same individual plant produces both open, cross-pollinated flowers as well as highly reduced and closed, self-pollinated (cleistogamous) flowers.1-5 Cleistogamy is not a rare evolutionary phenomenon. It has evolved independently at least 41 times.1 But what favors the evolution of cleistogamy is still largely unknown.1 Darwin6 proposed a hypothesis that has never been properly tested. He observed that cleistogamy is more common in taxa with bilaterally symmetric (zygomorphic) flowers than in those with radially symmetric (actinomorphic) flowers. Moreover, Darwin suggested that cleistogamous flowers help to ensure pollination, which he postulated is less certain in zygomorphic taxa that rely on more specialized groups of pollinators. Here, we combined the largest datasets on floral symmetry and cleistogamy and used phylogenetic approaches to show that cleistogamy is indeed disproportionately associated with zygomorphic flowers and that zygomorphic species are more likely to evolve cleistogamy than actinomorphic species. We also show that zygomorphic species are less capable of autonomous open-flower self-pollination (lower autofertility), suggesting that selection of cleistogamy via reproductive assurance in zygomorphic taxa could help account for Darwin's observation. Our results provide support for the hypothesis that polyphenisms are favored when organisms encounter contrasting environments.
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18
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Zoller L, Bennett JM, Knight TM. Diel-scale temporal dynamics in the abundance and composition of pollinators in the Arctic summer. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21187. [PMID: 33273673 PMCID: PMC7713049 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78165-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of how pollinator activity varies over short temporal scales is limited because most research on pollination is based on data collected during the day that is then aggregated at a larger temporal scale. To understand how environmental factors affect plant-pollinator interactions, it is critical that studies include the entire diel cycle to examine patterns and processes that cause temporal variations. Further, there is little information from the Arctic, where environmental conditions that influence pollinator activity (e.g. temperature and solar radiation), are less variable across the diel cycle during the summer compared to locations from lower latitudes. We quantified abundance, composition and foraging activity of a pollinator community in Finnish Lapland at a diel scale over two summers, one of which was an extreme heat year. Pollinators showed a robust pattern in daily foraging activity, with peak activity during the day, less to no activity at night, and an absence of typically night active Lepidoptera. Abundance and composition of pollinators differed significantly between the years, possibly in response to the extreme heat in one of the years, which may particularly harm muscid flies. Our results showing strong diel and interannual abundance patterns for several taxa of pollinators in the Arctic summer have important implications for our understanding of temporal dynamics of plant-pollinator interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leana Zoller
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany.
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Joanne M Bennett
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia
| | - Tiffany M Knight
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
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19
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Koch V, Zoller L, Bennett JM, Knight TM. Pollinator dependence but no pollen limitation for eight plants occurring north of the Arctic Circle. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:13664-13672. [PMID: 33391671 PMCID: PMC7771129 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective interactions between plants and pollinators are essential for the reproduction of plant species. Pollinator exclusion experiments and pollen supplementation experiments quantify the degree to which plants depend on animal pollinators and the degree to which plant reproduction is pollen limited. Pollen supplementation experiments have been conducted across the globe, but are rare in high latitude regions. To fill this knowledge gap, we experimentally investigated the dependence on animal pollinators and magnitude of pollen limitation in eight plant species north of the Arctic Circle in Lapland, Finland. Our findings show that all plant species were pollinator dependent, but not pollen limited. We discuss several mechanisms that might buffer our focal plants from pollen limitation, including plant and pollinator generalization, and attractive plant traits. Our results demonstrate that many plant species north of the Arctic Circle are currently receiving adequate pollinator service and provide a baseline for future comparisons of pollinator dependence and pollen limitation in the Arctic across space and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Koch
- Institute of EcologyUniversity of BremenBremenGermany
| | - Leana Zoller
- Institute of BiologyMartin Luther University Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Joanne M. Bennett
- Institute of BiologyMartin Luther University Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied Ecology, Faculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of CanberraCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Tiffany M. Knight
- Institute of BiologyMartin Luther University Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Department of Community EcologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research‐UFZHalle (Saale)Germany
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20
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Land use and pollinator dependency drives global patterns of pollen limitation in the Anthropocene. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3999. [PMID: 32778648 PMCID: PMC7417528 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17751-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Land use change, by disrupting the co-evolved interactions between plants and their pollinators, could be causing plant reproduction to be limited by pollen supply. Using a phylogenetically controlled meta-analysis on over 2200 experimental studies and more than 1200 wild plants, we ask if land use intensification is causing plant reproduction to be pollen limited at global scales. Here we report that plants reliant on pollinators in urban settings are more pollen limited than similarly pollinator-reliant plants in other landscapes. Plants functionally specialized on bee pollinators are more pollen limited in natural than managed vegetation, but the reverse is true for plants pollinated exclusively by a non-bee functional group or those pollinated by multiple functional groups. Plants ecologically specialized on a single pollinator taxon were extremely pollen limited across land use types. These results suggest that while urbanization intensifies pollen limitation, ecologically and functionally specialized plants are at risk of pollen limitation across land use categories.
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21
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Cariveau DP, Bruninga-Socolar B, Pardee GL. A review of the challenges and opportunities for restoring animal-mediated pollination of native plants. Emerg Top Life Sci 2020; 4:ETLS20190073. [PMID: 32556128 PMCID: PMC7326338 DOI: 10.1042/etls20190073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Ecological restoration is increasingly implemented to reverse habitat loss and concomitant declines in biological diversity. Typically, restoration success is evaluated by measuring the abundance and/or diversity of a single taxon. However, for a restoration to be successful and persistent, critical ecosystem functions such as animal-mediated pollination must be maintained. In this review, we focus on three aspects of pollination within ecological restorations. First, we address the need to measure pollination directly in restored habitats. Proxies such as pollinator abundance and richness do not always accurately assess pollination function. Pollen supplementation experiments, pollen deposition studies, and pollen transport networks are more robust methods for assessing pollination function within restorations. Second, we highlight how local-scale management and landscape-level factors may influence pollination within restorations. Local-scale management actions such as prescribed fire and removal of non-native species can have large impacts on pollinator communities and ultimately on pollination services. In addition, landscape context including proximity and connectivity to natural habitats may be an important factor for land managers and conservation practitioners to consider to maximize restoration success. Third, as climate change is predicted to be a primary driver of future loss in biodiversity, we discuss the potential effects climate change may have on animal-mediated pollination within restorations. An increased mechanistic understanding of how climate change affects pollination and incorporation of climate change predictions will help practitioners design stable, functioning restorations into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Cariveau
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, U.S.A
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22
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Ashman TL, Arceo-Gómez G, Bennett JM, Knight TM. Is heterospecific pollen receipt the missing link in understanding pollen limitation of plant reproduction? AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2020; 107:845-847. [PMID: 32445398 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tia-Lynn Ashman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Gerardo Arceo-Gómez
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA
| | - Joanne M Bennett
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tiffany M Knight
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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23
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Leal RLB, Moreira MM, Pinto AR, de Oliveira Ferreira J, Rodriguez-Girones M, Freitas L. Temporal changes in the most effective pollinator of a bromeliad pollinated by bees and hummingbirds. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8836. [PMID: 32257647 PMCID: PMC7102499 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A generalist pollination system may be characterized through the interaction of a plant species with two or more functional groups of pollinators. The spatiotemporal variation of the most effective pollinator is the factor most frequently advocated to explain the emergence and maintenance of generalist pollination systems. There are few studies merging variation in floral visitor assemblages and the efficacy of pollination by different functional groups. Thus, there are gaps in our knowledge about the variation in time of pollinator efficacy and frequency of generalist species. In this study, we evaluated the pollination efficacy of the floral visitors of Edmundoa lindenii (Bromeliaceae) and their frequency of visits across four reproductive events. We analyzed the frequency of the three groups of floral visitors (large bees, small bees, and hummingbirds) through focal observations in the reproductive events of 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. We evaluated the pollination efficacy (fecundity after one visit) through selective exposure treatments and the breeding system by manual pollinations. We tested if the reproductive success after natural pollination varied between the reproductive events and also calculated the pollen limitation index. E. lindenii is a self-incompatible and parthenocarpic species, requiring the action of pollinators for sexual reproduction. Hummingbirds had higher efficacy than large bees and small bees acted only as pollen larcenists. The relative frequency of the groups of floral visitors varied between the reproductive events. Pollen limitation has occurred only in the reproductive event of 2017, when visits by hummingbirds were scarce and reproductive success after natural pollination was the lowest. We conclude that hummingbirds and large bees were the main and the secondary pollinators of E. lindenii, respectively, and that temporal variations in the pollinator assemblages had effects on its reproductive success. Despite their lower pollination efficacy, large bees ensured seed set when hummingbirds failed. Thus, we provide evidence that variable pollination environments may favor generalization, even under differential effectiveness of pollinator groups if secondary pollinators provide reproductive assurance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina Muniz Moreira
- Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Ribeiro Pinto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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24
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Herrera CM. Flower traits, habitat, and phylogeny as predictors of pollinator service: a plant community perspective. ECOL MONOGR 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos M. Herrera
- Estación Biológica de Doñana Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Avenida Americo Vespucio 26 E‐41092 Sevilla Spain
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25
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Giejsztowt J, Classen AT, Deslippe JR. Climate change and invasion may synergistically affect native plant reproduction. Ecology 2019; 101:e02913. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Giejsztowt
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology School of Biological Sciences Victoria University of Wellington PO Box 600 Wellington 6012 New Zealand
| | - Aimée T. Classen
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology School of Biological Sciences Victoria University of Wellington PO Box 600 Wellington 6012 New Zealand
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont 81 Carrigan Drive Burlington Vermont 05405 USA
- Gund Institute for Environment University of Vermont Burlington Vermont 05405 USA
| | - Julie R. Deslippe
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology School of Biological Sciences Victoria University of Wellington PO Box 600 Wellington 6012 New Zealand
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26
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Guerrero PC, Antinao CA, Vergara-Meriño B, Villagra CA, Carvallo GO. Bees may drive the reproduction of four sympatric cacti in a vanishing coastal mediterranean-type ecosystem. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7865. [PMID: 31608183 PMCID: PMC6786246 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sympatric congeneric plants might share pollinators, or each species might avoid competition by evolving specialized traits that generate partitions in pollinator assemblages. In both cases, pollen limitation (a decrease in the quality and quantity of compatible reproductive pollen) can occur, driving the plant mating system to autogamy as a mechanism of reproductive assurance. We assessed the relationships between pollinator assemblages and mating systems in a group of sympatric congeneric plants. We attempted to answer the following questions: (i) How similar are pollinator assemblages among sympatric cactus species? (ii) Which mating systems do sympatric cactus species use? Methods We studied sympatric Eriosyce taxa that inhabit a threatened coastal strip in a mediterranean-type ecosystem in central Chile. We performed field observations on four taxa and characterized pollinators during the years 2016 and 2017. We estimated differences in the pollinator assemblages using the Bray-Curtis index. To elucidate the mating systems, we conducted hand-pollination experiments using three treatments: manual cross-pollination, automatic self-pollination, and control (unmanipulated individuals). We tested differences in seed production for statistical significance using Kruskal-Wallis analysis. Results Eriosyce subgibbosa showed a distinctive pollinator assemblage among the sympatric species that we studied (similarity ranged from 0% to 8%); it was visited by small bees and was the only species that was visited by the giant hummingbird Patagona gigas. Pollinator assemblages were similar between E. chilensis (year 2016 = 4 species; 2017 = 8) and E. chilensis var. albidiflora (2016 = 7; 2017 = 4); however, those of E. curvispina var. mutabilis (2016 = 7; 2017 = 6) were less similar to those of the aforementioned species. E. curvispina var. mutabilis showed the highest interannual variation in its pollinator assemblage (18% similarity). Reproduction in E. subgibbosa largely depends on pollinators, although it showed some degree of autogamy. Autonomous pollination was unfeasible in E. chilensis, which depended on flower visitors for its reproductive success. Both E. chilensis var. albidiflora and E. curvispina var. mutabilis showed some degree of autogamy. Discussion We observed differences in pollinator assemblages between E. subgibbosa and the remaining Eriosyce taxa, which depend on hymenopterans for pollen transfer. Pollinator assemblages showed considerable interannual variation, especially those of E. subgibbosa (ornithophilous syndrome) and E. curvispina var. mutabilis (melitophilous syndrome). Autogamous reproduction in these taxa may act as a reproductive assurance mechanism when pollinator availability is unpredictable. Our study contributes to improving our understanding of the reproductive systems of ecological interactions between threatened species in a Chilean mediterranean-type ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo C Guerrero
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Claudia A Antinao
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Beatriz Vergara-Meriño
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Cristian A Villagra
- Instituto de Entomología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gastón O Carvallo
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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Burns JH, Bennett JM, Li J, Xia J, Arceo-Gómez G, Burd M, Burkle LA, Durka W, Ellis AG, Freitas L, Rodger JG, Vamosi JC, Wolowski M, Ashman TL, Knight TM, Steets JA. Plant traits moderate pollen limitation of introduced and native plants: a phylogenetic meta-analysis of global scale. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 223:2063-2075. [PMID: 31116447 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The role of pollination in the success of invasive plants needs to be understood because invasives have substantial effects on species interactions and ecosystem functions. Previous research has shown both that reproduction of invasive plants is often pollen limited and that invasive plants can have high seed production, motivating the questions: How do invasive populations maintain reproductive success in spite of pollen limitation? What species traits moderate pollen limitation for invaders? We conducted a phylogenetic meta-analysis with 68 invasive, 50 introduced noninvasive and 1931 native plant populations, across 1249 species. We found that invasive populations with generalist pollination or pollinator dependence were less pollen limited than natives, but invasives and introduced noninvasives did not differ. Invasive species produced 3× fewer ovules/flower and >250× more flowers per plant, compared with their native relatives. While these traits were negatively correlated, consistent with a tradeoff, this did not differ with invasion status. Invasive plants that produce many flowers and have floral generalisation are able to compensate for or avoid pollen limitation, potentially helping to explain the invaders' reproductive successes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean H Burns
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106-7080, USA
| | - Joanne M Bennett
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Junmin Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou City, 318000, China
| | - Jing Xia
- College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Gerardo Arceo-Gómez
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614,, USA
| | - Martin Burd
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Laura A Burkle
- Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Walter Durka
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, Halle (Saale), 06120, Germany
| | - Allan G Ellis
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Leandro Freitas
- Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro, 22460-030, Brazil
| | - James G Rodger
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
- Department of Plant Ecology and Evolution, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, Uppsala, SE-752 36, Sweden
| | - Jana C Vamosi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, Canada
| | - Marina Wolowski
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, 37130-001, Brazil
| | - Tia-Lynn Ashman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217, USA
| | - Tiffany M Knight
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, Halle (Saale), 06120, Germany
| | - Janette A Steets
- Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
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Bennett JM, Thompson A, Goia I, Feldmann R, Ştefan V, Bogdan A, Rakosy D, Beloiu M, Biro IB, Bluemel S, Filip M, Madaj AM, Martin A, Passonneau S, Kalisch DP, Scherer G, Knight TM. A review of European studies on pollination networks and pollen limitation, and a case study designed to fill in a gap. AOB PLANTS 2018; 10:ply068. [PMID: 30591830 PMCID: PMC6302952 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/ply068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic environmental change disrupts interactions between plants and their animal pollinators. To assess the importance of different drivers, baseline information is needed on interaction networks and plant reproductive success around the world. We conducted a systematic literature review to determine the state of our knowledge on plant-pollinator interactions and the ecosystem services they provide for European ecosystems. We focussed on studies that published information on plant-pollinator networks, as a community-level assessment of plant-pollinator interactions and pollen limitation, which assesses the degree to which plant reproduction is limited by pollinator services. We found that the majority of our knowledge comes from Western Europe, and thus there is a need for baseline assessments in the traditional landscapes of Eastern Europe. To address this data gap, we quantified plant-pollinator interactions and conducted breeding system and pollen supplementation experiments in a traditionally managed mountain meadow in the Western Romanian Carpathians. We found the Romanian meadow to be highly diverse, with a healthy plant-pollinator network. Despite the presence of many pollinator-dependent plant species, there was no evidence of pollen limitation. Our study is the first to provide baseline information for a healthy meadow at the community level on both plant-pollinator interactions and their relationship with ecosystem function (e.g. plant reproduction) in an Eastern European country. Alongside the baseline data, we also provide recommendations for future research, and the methodological information needed for the continued monitoring and management of Eastern European meadows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne M Bennett
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Amibeth Thompson
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Irina Goia
- Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Reinart Feldmann
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Valentin Ştefan
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz, Leipzig, Germany
- Department Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ana Bogdan
- Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Demetra Rakosy
- Department Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Department for Integrative Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University Vienna, Althanstrasse, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirela Beloiu
- University of Bayreuth, Department of Biogeography, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Inge-Beatrice Biro
- University of Freiburg, Chair of Environmental Governance, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Bluemel
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße, Bochum, Germany
| | - Milena Filip
- Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Anna-Maria Madaj
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Department Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Alina Martin
- Nees Institut für Biodiversität der Pflanzen, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sarah Passonneau
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz, Leipzig, Germany
- Department Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Denisa P Kalisch
- Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gwydion Scherer
- Osnabrück University, Department of Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology, Barbarastraße, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Tiffany M Knight
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz, Leipzig, Germany
- Department Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße, Halle (Saale), Germany
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