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García Y, Giménez-Benavides L, Iriondo JM, Lara-Romero C, Méndez M, Morente-López J, Santamaría S. Addition of nocturnal pollinators modifies the structure of pollination networks. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1226. [PMID: 38216624 PMCID: PMC10786900 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49944-y] [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: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the ecological network approach has substantially contributed to the study of plant-pollinator interactions, current understanding of their functional structure is biased towards diurnal pollinators. Nocturnal pollinators have been systematically ignored despite the publication of several studies that have tried to alleviate this diurnal bias. Here, we explored whether adding this neglected group of pollinators had a relevant effect on the overall architecture of three high mountain plant-pollinator networks. Including nocturnal moth pollinators modified network properties by decreasing total connectivity, connectance, nestedness and robustness to plant extinction; and increasing web asymmetry and modularity. Nocturnal moths were not preferentially connected to the most linked plants of the networks, and they were grouped into a specific "night" module in only one of the three networks. Our results indicate that ignoring the nocturnal component of plant-pollinator networks may cause changes in network properties different from those expected from random undersampling of diurnal pollinators. Consequently, the neglect of nocturnal interactions may provide a distorted view of the structure of plant-pollinator networks with relevant implications for conservation assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yedra García
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biology, Lund University, SE-223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Luis Giménez-Benavides
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Iriondo
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Lara-Romero
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marcos Méndez
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Morente-López
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez 3, E-38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Silvia Santamaría
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933, Madrid, Spain
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2
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Dyer A, Ryser R, Brose U, Amyntas A, Bodnar N, Boy T, Franziska Bucher S, Cesarz S, Eisenhauer N, Gebler A, Hines J, Kyba CCM, Menz MHM, Rackwitz K, Shatwell T, Terlau JF, Hirt MR. Insect communities under skyglow: diffuse night-time illuminance induces spatio-temporal shifts in movement and predation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220359. [PMID: 37899019 PMCID: PMC10613549 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is predicted to have far-reaching consequences for natural ecosystems given its influence on organismal physiology and behaviour, species interactions and community composition. Movement and predation are fundamental ecological processes that are of critical importance to ecosystem functioning. The natural movements and foraging behaviours of nocturnal invertebrates may be particularly sensitive to the presence of ALAN. However, we still lack evidence of how these processes respond to ALAN within a community context. We assembled insect communities to quantify their movement activity and predation rates during simulated Moon cycles across a gradient of diffuse night-time illuminance including the full range of observed skyglow intensities. Using radio frequency identification, we tracked the movements of insects within a fragmented grassland Ecotron experiment. We additionally quantified predation rates using prey dummies. Our results reveal that even low-intensity skyglow causes a temporal shift in movement activity from day to night, and a spatial shift towards open habitats at night. Changes in movement activity are associated with indirect shifts in predation rates. Spatio-temporal shifts in movement and predation have important implications for ecological networks and ecosystem functioning, highlighting the disruptive potential of ALAN for global biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Dyer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Remo Ryser
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich Brose
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Angelos Amyntas
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Nora Bodnar
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Boy
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Solveig Franziska Bucher
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution with Herbarium Haussknecht and Botanical Garden, Department of Plant Biodiversity, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Simone Cesarz
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nico Eisenhauer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alban Gebler
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jes Hines
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christopher C. M. Kyba
- Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Geographisches Institut, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Myles H. M. Menz
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 4811 Townsville, Australia
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Karl Rackwitz
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Tom Shatwell
- Department of Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jördis F. Terlau
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Myriam R. Hirt
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena, Germany
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3
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Patil AB, Kar D, Datta S, Vijay N. Genomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Illuminates Unique Traits of Elusive Night Flowering Jasmine Parijat (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis). PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2023; 175:e14119. [PMID: 38148217 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14119] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The night-flowering Jasmine, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis also known as Parijat, is a perennial woody shrub belonging to the family of Oleaceae. It is popular for its fragrant flowers that bloom in the night and is a potent source of secondary metabolites. However, knowledge about its genome and the expression of genes regulating flowering or secondary metabolite accumulation is lacking. In this study, we generated whole genome sequencing data to assemble the first de novo assembly of Parijat and use it for comparative genomics and demographic history reconstruction. The temporal dynamics of effective population size (Ne ) experienced a positive influence of colder climates suggesting the switch to night flowering may have provided an evolutionary advantage. We employed multi-tissue transcriptome sequencing of floral stages/parts to obtain insights into the transcriptional regulation of nocturnal flower development and the production of volatiles/metabolites. Tissue-specific transcripts for mature flowers revealed key players in circadian regulation and flower development, including the auxin pathway and cell wall modifying genes. Furthermore, we identified tissue-specific transcripts responsible for producing numerous secondary metabolites, mainly terpenoids and carotenoids. The diversity and specificity of Terpene Synthase (TPS) and CCDs (Carotenoid Cleavage Deoxygenases) mediate the bio-synthesis of specialised metabolites in Parijat. Our study establishes Parijat as a novel non-model species to understand the molecular mechanisms of nocturnal blooming and secondary metabolite production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajinkya Bharatraj Patil
- Computational Evolutionary Genomics Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, IISER Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Debojyoti Kar
- Plant Cell and Developmental Biology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, IISER Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sourav Datta
- Plant Cell and Developmental Biology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, IISER Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Nagarjun Vijay
- Computational Evolutionary Genomics Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, IISER Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
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4
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Pimienta MC, Salazar D, Koptur S. The Nighttime Fragrance of Guettarda scabra (Rubiaceae): Flower Scent and Its Implications for Moth Pollination. Molecules 2023; 28:6312. [PMID: 37687140 PMCID: PMC10489014 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176312] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Floral scent is crucial for attracting pollinators, especially in plants that bloom at night. However, chemical profiles of flowers from nocturnal plants with varied floral morphs are poorly documented, limiting our understanding of their pollination ecology. We investigated the floral scent in Guettarda scabra (L.) Vent. (Rubiaceae), a night-blooming species with short- and long-styled floral morphs, found in the threatened pine rocklands in south Florida, US. By using dynamic headspace sampling and GC-MS analysis, we characterized the chemical profiles of the floral scent in both morphs. Neutral red staining was also employed to determine the specific floral regions responsible for scent emission in G. scabra. The results revealed that G. scabra's fragrance consists entirely of benzenoid and terpenoid compounds, with benzeneacetaldehyde and (E)-β-ocimene as dominant components. There were no differences in the chemical profiles between the long- and short-styled flowers. Staining assays indicated that the corolla lobes, anthers, and stigma were the primary sources of the scent. These findings indicate that G. scabra's floral scent is consistent with that of night-blooming plants pollinated by nocturnal hawkmoths, providing important insights into its chemical ecology and pollinator attraction. This study demonstrates how floral scent chemistry can validate predictions based on flower morphology in hawkmoth-pollinated plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cleopatra Pimienta
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Center for Tropical Botany, Institute of the Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Diego Salazar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA;
| | - Suzanne Koptur
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Center for Tropical Botany, Institute of the Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
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5
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Albuquerque-Lima S, Domingos-Melo A, Milet-Pinheiro P, Navarro DMDOAF, Taylor NP, Zappi DC, Machado IC. The iconic cactus of the Caatinga dry forest, Cereus jamacaru (Cactaceae) has high sphingophily specialization and pollinator dependence. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20220460. [PMID: 37646712 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cereus jamacaru is a cactus distributed in Northeastern Brazil, with high symbolic value to this region. However, the interaction, behavior and the role of pollinators remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the reproductive biology, addressing the ecological significance of floral attributes, including details about floral signaling. The study was carried at three areas of the Caatinga, in 2015, 2017 and 2021. We analyzed the floral morphometry, volume and concentration of the nectar, and characterized the colour and scent of flowers. Additionally, we described the pollinator behavior and performed controlled pollination experiments. The 'Mandacaru' is self-incompatible, has nocturnal anthesis and the nectar is accumulated as droplets in a long hypanthial tube. The flowers have a reflective pattern with a dark outer surface and a white inner surface. (E)-nerolidol is the major component (87.4%) of its floral perfume. We registered the sphingid moth Cocytius antaeus visiting the flowers. The floral attributes, attractants and rewards drives to a sphingophily, and the pollination treatments showed the dependence to fruit set by C. antaeus, the pollinator registered. In this case, if the apparent lack of pollinator diversity encompasses its entire range, the loss of the hawkmoth could severely impact the reproductive success of the cactus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinzinando Albuquerque-Lima
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Botânica, Laboratório de Biologia Floral e Reprodutiva - POLINIZAR, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Arthur Domingos-Melo
- Universidade de Pernambuco, Laboratório de Ecologia, Campus Petrolina, Rodovia BR 203, Km 2, s/n, Vila Eduardo, 56328-900 Petrolina, PE, Brazil
| | - Paulo Milet-Pinheiro
- Universidade de Pernambuco, Laboratório de Ecologia, Campus Petrolina, Rodovia BR 203, Km 2, s/n, Vila Eduardo, 56328-900 Petrolina, PE, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Química Fundamental, Laboratório de Ecologia Química, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Daniela Maria DO Amaral Ferraz Navarro
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Química Fundamental, Laboratório de Ecologia Química, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Nigel P Taylor
- University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Campus, 'The Alameda', Red Sands Road, PO Box 843, Gibraltar GX11 1AA
| | - Daniela C Zappi
- Universidade de Brasília, Secretaria da Coordenação de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Caixa Postal 04457, 70919-970 Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Isabel C Machado
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Departamento de Botânica, Laboratório de Biologia Floral e Reprodutiva - POLINIZAR, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, Brazil
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Vijayan S, Balamurali GS, Johnson J, Kelber A, Warrant EJ, Somanathan H. Dim-light colour vision in the facultatively nocturnal Asian giant honeybee, Apis dorsata. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231267. [PMID: 37554033 PMCID: PMC10410228 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1267] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We discovered nocturnal colour vision in the Asian giant honeybee Apis dorsata-a facultatively nocturnal species-at mesopic light intensities, down to half-moon light levels (approx. 10-2 cd m-2). The visual threshold of nocturnality aligns with their reported nocturnal activity down to the same light levels. Nocturnal colour vision in A. dorsata is interesting because, despite being primarily diurnal, its colour vision capabilities extend into dim light, while the 'model' European honeybee Apis mellifera is reported to be colour-blind at twilight. By employing behavioural experiments with naturally nesting A. dorsata colonies, we show discrimination of the trained colour from other stimuli during the day, and significantly, even at night. Nocturnal colour vision in bees has so far only been reported in the obligately nocturnal carpenter bee Xylocopa tranquebarica. The discovery of colour vision in these two bee species, despite differences in the extent of their nocturnality and the limitations of their apposition compound eye optics, opens avenues for future studies on visual adaptations for dim-light colour vision, their role in pollination of flowers at night, and the effect of light pollution on nocturnal activity in A. dorsata, a ubiquitous pollinator in natural, agricultural and urban habitats in the Asian tropics and sub-tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajesh Vijayan
- School of Biology, IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - G. S. Balamurali
- School of Biology, IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, University of Lund, Sölvegatan 35, Lund 22362, Sweden
| | - Jewel Johnson
- School of Biology, IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Almut Kelber
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, University of Lund, Sölvegatan 35, Lund 22362, Sweden
| | - Eric J. Warrant
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, University of Lund, Sölvegatan 35, Lund 22362, Sweden
| | - Hema Somanathan
- School of Biology, IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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7
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Guenat S, Dallimer M. A global meta-analysis reveals contrasting impacts of air, light, and noise pollution on pollination. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9990. [PMID: 37082326 PMCID: PMC10111172 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In the face of biodiversity decline, understanding the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystem functions is critical for mitigation. Elevated levels of pollution are a major threat to biodiversity, yet there is no synthesis of their impact on many of the major ecosystem functions, including pollination. This ecosystem function is both particularly vulnerable as it depends on the fine-tuned interaction between plants and pollinators and hugely important as it underpins the flora of most habitats as well as food production. Here, we untangle the impact of air, light, and noise pollution on the pollination system by systematically evaluating and synthesizing the published evidence via a meta-analysis. We identified 58 peer-reviewed articles from three databases. Mixed-effects meta-regression models indicated that air pollution negatively impacts pollination. However, there was no effect of light pollution, despite previous studies that concentrated solely on pollinators suggesting a negative impact. Evidence for noise pollution was extremely limited. Unless action is taken to tackle air pollution, the capacity to support well-functioning diverse pollination systems will be compromised, with negative consequences for habitat conservation and food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solène Guenat
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of LeedsLS2 9JTLeedsUK
- Institute of Landscape Planning and EcologyUniversity of StuttgartKeplerstraße 11D‐70174StuttgartGermany
- Swiss Federal Research Institute for ForestSnow and Landscape WSLZürcherstrasse 1118903BirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Martin Dallimer
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and EnvironmentUniversity of LeedsLS2 9JTLeedsUK
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Kantsa A, Garcia JE, Raguso RA, Dyer AG, Steen R, Tscheulin T, Petanidou T. Intrafloral patterns of color and scent in Capparis spinosa L. and the ghosts of its selection past. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2023; 110:e16098. [PMID: 36371789 PMCID: PMC10108209 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Capparis spinosa is a widespread charismatic plant, in which the nocturnal floral habit contrasts with the high visitation by diurnal bees and the pronounced scarcity of hawkmoths. To resolve this discrepancy and elucidate floral evolution of C. spinosa, we analyzed the intrafloral patterns of visual and olfactory cues in relation to the known sensory biases of the different visitor guilds (bees, butterflies, and hawkmoths). METHODS We measured the intrafloral variation of scent, reflectance spectra, and colorimetric properties according to three guilds of known visitors of C. spinosa. Additionally, we sampled visitation rates using a motion-activated camera. RESULTS Carpenter bees visited the flowers eight times more frequently than nocturnal hawkmoths, at dusk and in the following morning. Yet, the floral headspace of C. spinosa contained a typical sphingophilous scent with high emission rates of certain monoterpenes and amino-acid derived compounds. Visual cues included a special case of multisensory nectar guide and color patterns conspicuous to the visual systems of both hawkmoths and bees. CONCLUSIONS The intrafloral patterns of sensory stimuli suggest that hawkmoths have exerted strong historical selection on C. spinosa. Our study revealed two interesting paradoxes: (a) the flowers phenotypically biased towards the more inconsistent pollinator; and (b) floral display demands an abundance of resources that seems maladaptive in the habitats of C. spinosa. The transition to a binary pollination system accommodating large bees has not required phenotypic changes, owing to specific eco-physiological adaptations, unrelated to pollination, which make this plant an unusual case in pollination ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aphrodite Kantsa
- Department of GeographyUniversity of the AegeanMytileneGreece
- Present address:
Department of Environmental Systems ScienceETH ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Jair E. Garcia
- Bio‐Inspired Digital Sensing Laboratory, School of Media and CommunicationRMIT UniversityMelbourneAustralia
| | - Robert A. Raguso
- Department of Neurobiology and BehaviorCornell University, IthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Adrian G. Dyer
- Bio‐Inspired Digital Sensing Laboratory, School of Media and CommunicationRMIT UniversityMelbourneAustralia
- Department of PhysiologyMonash UniversityClaytonAustralia
- Present address:
Department of Developmental Biology and NeurobiologyJohannes Gutenberg UniversityMainzGermany
| | - Ronny Steen
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource ManagementNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway
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Auffray T, Montúfar R, Uquillas SXP, Barragán A, Pincebourde S, Gibernau M, Dangles O. Fine‐scale temporal dynamics of flower visitors sheds light on insect‐assemblage overlap between sexes in a dioecious Ecuadorian palm. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Auffray
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
| | - Rommel Montúfar
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Quito Ecuador
| | - Santiago Xavier Palacios Uquillas
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Quito Ecuador
- Museo de Zoología QCAZ, Laboratorio de Entomología Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Quito Ecuador
| | - Alvaro Barragán
- Museo de Zoología QCAZ, Laboratorio de Entomología Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Quito Ecuador
| | - Sylvain Pincebourde
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS ‐ Université de Tours Tours France
| | - Marc Gibernau
- CNRS – Université de Corse, Laboratoire Sciences Pour l'Environnement, UMR 6134, Route des Sanguinaires Ajaccio France
| | - Olivier Dangles
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier, EPHE, IRD Montpellier France
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10
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Impact of light pollution on nocturnal pollinators and their pollination services. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL SCIENCE ACADEMY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s43538-022-00134-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Abstract
The ability to see colour at night is known only from a handful of animals. First discovered in the elephant hawk moth Deilephila elpenor, nocturnal colour vision is now known from two other species of hawk moths, a single species of carpenter bee, a nocturnal gecko and two species of anurans. The reason for this rarity—particularly in vertebrates—is the immense challenge of achieving a sufficient visual signal-to-noise ratio to support colour discrimination in dim light. Although no less challenging for nocturnal insects, unique optical and neural adaptations permit reliable colour vision and colour constancy even in starlight. Using the well-studied Deilephila elpenor, we describe the visual light environment at night, the visual challenges that this environment imposes and the adaptations that have evolved to overcome them. We also explain the advantages of colour vision for nocturnal insects and its usefulness in discriminating night-opening flowers. Colour vision is probably widespread in nocturnal insects, particularly pollinators, where it is likely crucial for nocturnal pollination. This relatively poorly understood but vital ecosystem service is threatened from increasingly abundant and spectrally abnormal sources of anthropogenic light pollution, which can disrupt colour vision and thus the discrimination and pollination of flowers. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Warrant
- Department of Biology, University of Lund, Sölvegatan 35, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Hema Somanathan
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
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12
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van der Kooi CJ, Kelber A. Achromatic Cues Are Important for Flower Visibility to Hawkmoths and Other Insects. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.819436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies on animal colour vision typically focus on the chromatic aspect of colour, which is related to the spectral distribution, and disregard the achromatic aspect, which is related to the intensity (“brightness”) of a stimulus. Although the chromatic component of vision is often most reliable for object recognition because it is fairly context independent, the achromatic component may provide a reliable signal under specific conditions, for example at night when light intensity is low. Here we make a case for the importance of achromatic cues in plant-pollinator signalling, based on experimental data on naïve Deilephila elpenor and Macroglossum stellatarum hawkmoths, optical modelling and synthesising published experiments on bees, flies, butterflies and moths. Our experiments show that in ecologically relevant light levels hawkmoths express a strong preference for brighter stimuli. Published experiments suggest that for flower-visiting bees, butterflies, moths and flies, achromatic cues may be more important for object detection than often considered. Our optical modelling enabled disentangling the contribution of pigments and scattering structures to the flower’s achromatic contrast, and illustrates how flower anatomy and background are important mediating factors. We discuss our findings in the context of the often-assumed dichotomy between detection and discrimination, chromatic versus achromatic vision, and the evolution of floral visual signals.
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Negative effects of light pollution on pollinator visits are outweighed by positive effects on the reproductive success of a bat-pollinated tree. Naturwissenschaften 2022; 109:12. [PMID: 34994866 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01783-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Cities are home to several species of pollinators that play an important role in the reproductive success of wild and cultivated plants that grow in these ecosystems and their surroundings. Pollution is a main driver of pollinator decline. Light and noise pollution are more intense in cities than in any other ecosystem. Although nocturnal pollinators are heavily exposed to these pollutants, their effect on bat pollination is still unknown. Our goal was to assess the effect of light and noise pollution on the main pollination components (pollinator visits, pollen transfer, pollen germination, fruit, and seed set) of the tropical tree, Ceiba pentandra, in a heavily urbanized ecosystem. We measured these components in sites with contrasting intensities of artificial light and anthropogenic noise and statistically assessed the direct and indirect effect of pollutants on pollination components using structural equation modeling. We found that noise and light pollution negatively affected the visits by the bats that pollinate C. pentandra. However, these negative effects did not affect posterior pollination components. In fact, the direct effect of light pollution on reproductive success was positive and greater than the indirect effects via pollinator visits. We suggest that illuminated trees may be able to sustain a large quantity of fruits and seeds because they produce more photosynthates due to greater light radiation and delayed leaf abscission. We conclude that, despite the negative effect of light and noise on pollinator visits, these pollutants did not significantly impact the reproductive success of C. pentandra.
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Wcislo WT. A Dual Role for Behavior in Evolution and Shaping Organismal Selective Environments. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND SYSTEMATICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-012921-052523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The hypothesis that evolved behaviors play a determining role in facilitating and impeding the evolution of other traits has been discussed for more than 100 years with little consensus beyond an agreement that the ideas are theoretically plausible in accord with the Modern Synthesis. Many recent reviews of the genomic, epigenetic, and developmental mechanisms underpinning major behavioral transitions show how facultative expression of novel behaviors can lead to the evolution of obligate behaviors and structures that enhance behavioral function. Phylogenetic and genomic studies indicate that behavioral traits are generally evolutionarily more labile than other traits and that they help shape selective environments on the latter traits. Adaptive decision-making to encounter resources and avoid stress sources requires specific sensory inputs, which behaviorally shape selective environments by determining those features of the external world that are biologically relevant. These recent findings support the hypothesis of a dual role for behavior in evolution and are consistent with current evolutionary theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T. Wcislo
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Republic of Panama
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15
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Young AM, Kodabalagi S, Brockmann A, Dyer FC. A hard day's night: Patterns in the diurnal and nocturnal foraging behavior of Apis dorsata across lunar cycles and seasons. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258604. [PMID: 34679112 PMCID: PMC8535376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The giant honey bee Apis dorsata is unusual in being able to forage during both the day and the night. To date, the extent of this unique nocturnal foraging behavior and the environmental factors correlating with it have not been deeply investigated. We conducted the first systematic investigation into the nocturnal behavior of A. dorsata in Southern India by tracking the daily and nightly foraging activity of A. dorsata colonies in an urban environment for 8 months, over multiple seasons and lunar cycles. We found strong evidence that A. dorsata can behave in a manner that is "cathemeral" (active over the entire diel cycle) when environmental illumination is sufficient for nocturnal flight. However, workers were not always active even when the environment should have been bright enough for them to forage, suggesting that their nocturnal foraging behavior was also affected by seasonal changes in resource availability. The foraging activity observed during the day versus twilight versus night differed between seasons; notably, nocturnal activity rates were higher than diurnal activity rates during the winter. We found that at our study site A. dorsata routinely exhibits both diurnal and crepuscular activity, foraging just as intensely during the short twilight hours as during the day. The high foraging activity observed during the twilight and nighttime hours shows that A. dorsata colonies can extend their foraging beyond the daylight hours and reveals that foraging during these dimly lit hours is an integral part of their foraging ecology. This evidence of the importance of nocturnal and crepuscular foraging by A. dorsata paves the way for future studies examining the role of this species in nocturnal pollination networks, the contribution of nocturnal foraging to colony-level nutrition and energy budget, and the evolution of this unusual behavior. Future work comparing nocturnal activity in light polluted urban environments versus unpolluted natural environments is particularly encouraged to determine the generalizability of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M. Young
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States of America
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States of America
| | - Sangamesh Kodabalagi
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Department of Apiculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Axel Brockmann
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Fred C. Dyer
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States of America
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States of America
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16
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Martínez-Martínez CA, Cordeiro GD, Martins HOJ, Kobal ROAC, Milet-Pinheiro P, Stanton MA, Franco EL, Krug C, Mateus S, Schlindwein C, Dötterl S, Alves-dos-Santos I. Floral Volatiles: A Promising Method to Access the Rare Nocturnal and Crepuscular Bees. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.676743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Crepuscular and/or nocturnal bees fly during the dusk, the dawn or part of the night. Due to their short foraging time and sampling bias toward diurnal bees, nocturnal bees are rarely collected and poorly studied. So far, they have been mostly sampled with light and Malaise traps. However, synthetic chemical compounds resembling floral volatiles were recently found to be a promising alternative to attract these bees. By reviewing available literature and collecting original data, we present information on the attraction and sampling of nocturnal bees with scent-baited traps. Bees were actively captured with entomological nets while approaching to filter papers moistened with distinct chemical compound, or passively caught in bottles with scent baits left during the night. So far, all data available are from the Neotropics. Nocturnal bees belonging to three genera, i.e., Ptiloglossa, Megalopta, and Megommation were attracted to at least ten different synthetic compounds and mixtures thereof, identified from bouquets of flowers with nocturnal anthesis. Aromatic compounds, such as 2-phenyletanol, eugenol and methyl salicylate, and the monoterpenoid eucalyptol were the most successful in attracting nocturnal bees. We highlight the effectiveness of olfactory methods to survey crepuscular and nocturnal bees using chemical compounds typically reported as floral scent constituents, and the possibility to record olfactory preferences of each bee species to specific compounds. We suggest to include this method in apifauna surveys in order to improve our current knowledge on the diversity of nocturnal bees in different ecosystems.
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17
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Zamora-Gutierrez V, Rivera-Villanueva AN, Martínez Balvanera S, Castro-Castro A, Aguirre-Gutiérrez J. Vulnerability of bat-plant pollination interactions due to environmental change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:3367-3382. [PMID: 33749983 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plant-pollinator interactions are highly relevant to society as many crops important for humans are animal pollinated. However, changes in climate and land use may put such interacting patterns at risk by disrupting the occurrences between pollinators and the plants they pollinate. Here, we analyse how the co-occurrence patterns between bat pollinators and 126 plant species they pollinate may be disrupted given changes in climate and land use, and we forecast relevant changes of the current bat-plant co-occurrence distribution patterns for the near future. We predict under RCP8.5 21% of the territory will experience a loss of bat species richness, plants with C3 metabolism are predicted to reduce their area of distribution by 6.5%, CAM species are predicted to increase their potential area of distribution up to 1% and phanerophytes are predicted to have a 14% reduction in their distribution. The potential bat-plant interactions are predicted to decrease from an average of 47.1 co-occurring bat-plant pairs in the present to 34.1 in the pessimistic scenario. The overall changes in suitable environmental conditions for bats and the plant species they pollinate may disrupt the current bat-plant co-occurrence network and will likely put at risk the pollination services bat species provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Zamora-Gutierrez
- Cátedras CONACYT - Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional Unidad Durango (CIIDIR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Durango, México
| | - A Nayelli Rivera-Villanueva
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional Unidad Durango (CIIDIR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Durango, México
| | | | - Arturo Castro-Castro
- Cátedras CONACYT - Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional Unidad Durango (CIIDIR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Durango, México
| | - Jesús Aguirre-Gutiérrez
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Biodiversity Dynamics, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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18
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Domingos-Melo A, Nadia TL, Leal IR, Machado IC. Nocturnal ant integrates generalist pollination system in the Caatinga dry forest. BRAZ J BIOL 2021; 82:e235508. [PMID: 33852648 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.235508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A Domingos-Melo
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, Laboratório de Biologia Floral e Reprodutiva - POLINIZAR, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - T L Nadia
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Laboratório de Biodiversidade, Núcleo de Biologia, Vitória de Santo Antão, PE, Brasil
| | - I R Leal
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, Laboratório de Interação Planta Aninal, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - I C Machado
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, Laboratório de Biologia Floral e Reprodutiva - POLINIZAR, Recife, PE, Brasil
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19
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Queiroz JA, Diniz UM, Vázquez DP, Quirino ZM, Santos FAR, Mello MAR, Machado IC. Bats and hawkmoths form mixed modules with flowering plants in a nocturnal interaction network. Biotropica 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joel A. Queiroz
- Departamento de Educação Universidade Federal da Paraíba Mamanguape Brasil
| | - Ugo M. Diniz
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Universidade de Brasília Brasília Brasil
| | - Diego P. Vázquez
- Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas Mendoza Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad Nacional de Cuyo Mendoza Argentina
| | - Zelma M. Quirino
- Departamento de Engenharia e Meio Ambiente Universidade Federal da Paraíba João Pessoa Brasil
| | - Francisco A. R. Santos
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana Feira de Santana Brasil
| | | | - Isabel C. Machado
- Departamento de Botânica Universidade Federal de Pernambuco Recife Brasil
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20
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Somanathan H, Krishna S, Jos EM, Gowda V, Kelber A, Borges RM. Nocturnal Bees Feed on Diurnal Leftovers and Pay the Price of Day – Night Lifestyle Transition. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.566964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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21
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Nocturnal pollination: an overlooked ecosystem service vulnerable to environmental change. Emerg Top Life Sci 2020; 4:19-32. [PMID: 32478390 PMCID: PMC7326339 DOI: 10.1042/etls20190134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Existing assessments of the ecosystem service of pollination have been largely restricted to diurnal insects, with a particular focus on generalist foragers such as wild and honey bees. As knowledge of how these plant-pollinator systems function, their relevance to food security and biodiversity, and the fragility of these mutually beneficial interactions increases, attention is diverting to other, less well-studied pollinator groups. One such group are those that forage at night. In this review, we document evidence that nocturnal species are providers of pollination services (including pollination of economically valuable and culturally important crops, as well as wild plants of conservation concern), but highlight how little is known about the scale of such services. We discuss the primary mechanisms involved in night-time communication between plants and insect pollen-vectors, including floral scent, visual cues (and associated specialized visual systems), and thermogenic sensitivity (associated with thermogenic flowers). We highlight that these mechanisms are vulnerable to direct and indirect disruption by a range of anthropogenic drivers of environmental change, including air and soil pollution, artificial light at night, and climate change. Lastly, we highlight a number of directions for future research that will be important if nocturnal pollination services are to be fully understood and ultimately conserved.
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22
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Light intensity regulates flower visitation in Neotropical nocturnal bees. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15333. [PMID: 32948798 PMCID: PMC7501267 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72047-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The foraging activity of diurnal bees often relies on flower availability, light intensity and temperature. We do not know how nocturnal bees, which fly at night and twilight, cope with these factors, especially as light levels vary considerably from night to day and from night to night due to moon phase and cloud cover. Given that bee apposition compound eyes function at their limits in dim light, we expect a strong dependence of foraging activity on light intensity in nocturnal bees. Besides being limited by minimum light levels to forage, nocturnal bees should also avoid foraging at brighter intensities, which bring increased competition with other bees. We investigated how five factors (light intensity, flower availability, temperature, humidity, and wind) affect flower visitation by Neotropical nocturnal bees in cambuci (Campomanesia phaea, Myrtaceae). We counted visits per minute over 30 nights in 33 cambuci trees. Light intensity was the main variable explaining flower visitation of nocturnal bees, which peaked at intermediate light levels occurring 25 min before sunrise. The minimum light intensity threshold to visit flowers was 0.00024 cd/m2. Our results highlight the dependence of these nocturnal insects on adequate light levels to explore resources.
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23
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Rader R, Cunningham SA, Howlett BG, Inouye DW. Non-Bee Insects as Visitors and Pollinators of Crops: Biology, Ecology, and Management. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 65:391-407. [PMID: 31610136 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-011019-025055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Insects other than bees (i.e., non-bees) have been acknowledged as important crop pollinators, but our understanding of which crop plants they visit and how effective they are as crop pollinators is limited. To compare visitation and efficiency of crop-pollinating bees and non-bees at a global scale, we review the literature published from 1950 to 2018 concerning the visitors and pollinators of 105 global food crops that are known to benefit from animal pollinators. Of the 105 animal-pollinated crops, a significant proportion are visited by both bee and non-bee taxa (n = 82; 77%), with a total gross domestic product (GDP) value of US$780.8 billion. For crops with a narrower range of visitors, those that favor non-bees (n = 8) have a value of US$1.2 billion, compared to those that favor bees (n = 15), with a value of US$19.0 billion. Limited pollinator efficiency data were available for one or more taxa in only half of the crops (n = 61; 58%). Among the non-bees, some families were recorded visiting a wide range of crops (>12), including six families of flies (Syrphidae, Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Tachinidae, and Bombyliidae), two beetle families (Coccinelidae and Nitidulidae), ants (Formicidae), wasps (Vespidae), and four families of moths and butterflies (Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, and Pieridae). Among the non-bees, taxa within the dipteran families Syrphidae and Calliphoridae were the most common visitors to the most crops, but this may be an artifact of the limited data available. The diversity of species and life histories in these groups of lesser-known pollinators indicates that diet, larval requirements, and other reproductive needs will require alternative habitat management practices to bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Rader
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia;
| | - S A Cunningham
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
| | - B G Howlett
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - D W Inouye
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, Colorado 81224, USA
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Kuenzinger W, Kelber A, Weesner J, Travis J, Raguso RA, Goyret J. Innate colour preferences of a hawkmoth depend on visual context. Biol Lett 2019; 15:20180886. [PMID: 30890068 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Solitary insects that feed on floral nectar must use innate knowledge to find their first flower. While innate preferences for flower colours are often described as fixed, species-specific traits, the nature and persistence of these preferences have been debated, particularly in relation to ontogenetic processes such as learning. Here we present evidence for a strong context-dependence of innate colour preferences in the crepuscular hawkmoth Manduca sexta. Contrary to expectations, our results show that innate colour biases shift with changes in the visual environment, namely illuminance and background. This finding reveals that innate responses might emerge from a contextual integration of sensory inputs involved in object class recognition rather than from the deterministic matching of such inputs with a fixed internal representation.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Kuenzinger
- 1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tennessee Martin , Martin, TN 38238 , USA
| | - Almut Kelber
- 2 Biology Department, Lund University , Skåne , S-223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jordan Weesner
- 1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tennessee Martin , Martin, TN 38238 , USA
| | - Jonathan Travis
- 1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tennessee Martin , Martin, TN 38238 , USA
| | - Robert A Raguso
- 3 Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University , Ithaca, NY 14853 , USA
| | - Joaquín Goyret
- 1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tennessee Martin , Martin, TN 38238 , USA
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25
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Kelber A, Somanathan H. Spatial Vision and Visually Guided Behavior in Apidae. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10120418. [PMID: 31766747 PMCID: PMC6956220 DOI: 10.3390/insects10120418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The family Apidae, which is amongst the largest bee families, are important pollinators globally and have been well studied for their visual adaptations and visually guided behaviors. This review is a synthesis of what is known about their eyes and visual capabilities. There are many species-specific differences, however, the relationship between body size, eye size, resolution, and sensitivity shows common patterns. Salient differences between castes and sexes are evident in important visually guided behaviors such as nest defense and mate search. We highlight that Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris are popular bee models employed in the majority of studies that have contributed immensely to our understanding vision in bees. However, other species, specifically the tropical and many non-social Apidae, merit further investigation for a better understanding of the influence of ecological conditions on the evolution of bee vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almut Kelber
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 22362 Lund, Sweden
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (H.S.)
| | - Hema Somanathan
- IISER TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (H.S.)
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26
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Cordeiro GD, Fernandes Dos Santos IG, Silva CID, Schlindwein C, Alves-Dos-Santos I, Dötterl S. Nocturnal floral scent profiles of Myrtaceae fruit crops. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2019; 162:193-198. [PMID: 30939396 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Communication between plants and nocturnal pollinators in low light conditions is mainly guided by floral scents, which is well documented for plants pollinated by bats, moths, and beetles. Just recently, nocturnal bees have been added to the list of pollinators known to respond to floral scents of their host plants. Little is known about the floral scent chemistry of plants visited and pollinated by nocturnal bees. Among these plants are economically important fruit crops of the family Myrtaceae. We aimed to analyze the nocturnal floral scent profiles of 10 species of Myrtaceae (only diurnal P. cattleianum was sampled after sunrise) and address the following questions: i) What are the main floral scent compounds emitted by the species? ii) Are the floral scent profiles similar to those described for other species pollinated by nocturnal bees? Floral scents were collected by dynamic headspace and analyzed by GC-MS (gas chromatography - mass spectrometry). The total amount of scent trapped ranged from 74 ng/flower/hour for Syzygium malaccense to 7556 ng/flower/hour for Eugenia dysenterica. A total of 46 floral scent compounds were detected in the samples with the most abundant compounds being the aromatics benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, methyl salicylate, 2-phenylethyl acetate, and benzyl acetate; the aliphatic compound 1-octanol; and the monoterpene linalool. The different species exhibited different relative scent patterns. Overall, the nocturnal scents of the studied species of Myrtaceae are dominated by aromatic compounds, which is in contrast to the scent profiles described for other plants pollinated by nocturnal bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guaraci Duran Cordeiro
- Departamento de Ecologia, IBUSP, Universidade de São Paulo. Rua do Matão, travessa 14, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Claudia Inês da Silva
- Departamento de Ecologia, IBUSP, Universidade de São Paulo. Rua do Matão, travessa 14, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Clemens Schlindwein
- Departamento de Botânica, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Caixa Postal 486, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Isabel Alves-Dos-Santos
- Departamento de Ecologia, IBUSP, Universidade de São Paulo. Rua do Matão, travessa 14, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Stefan Dötterl
- Department of Biosciences, Paris-Lodron-University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020. Salzburg, Austria
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Stöckl AL, Kelber A. Fuelling on the wing: sensory ecology of hawkmoth foraging. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2019; 205:399-413. [PMID: 30880349 PMCID: PMC6579779 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01328-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Hawkmoths (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) comprise around 1500 species, most of which forage on nectar from flowers in their adult stage, usually while hovering in front of the flower. The majority of species have a nocturnal lifestyle and are important nocturnal pollinators, but some species have turned to a diurnal lifestyle. Hawkmoths use visual and olfactory cues including CO2 and humidity to detect and recognise rewarding flowers; they find the nectary in the flowers by means of mechanoreceptors on the proboscis and vision, evaluate it with gustatory receptors on the proboscis, and control their hovering flight position using antennal mechanoreception and vision. Here, we review what is presently known about the sensory organs and sensory-guided behaviour that control feeding behaviour of this fascinating pollinator taxon. We also suggest that more experiments on hawkmoth behaviour in natural settings are needed to fully appreciate their sensory capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lisa Stöckl
- Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Almut Kelber
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 22362, Lund, Sweden.
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Krug C, Cordeiro GD, Schäffler I, Silva CI, Oliveira R, Schlindwein C, Dötterl S, Alves-dos-Santos I. Nocturnal Bee Pollinators Are Attracted to Guarana Flowers by Their Scents. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1072. [PMID: 30108601 PMCID: PMC6080595 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Floral scent is an important component of the trait repertoire of flowering plants, which is used to attract and manipulate pollinators. Despite advances during the last decades about the chemicals released by flowers, there is still a large gap in our understanding of chemical communication between flowering plants and their pollinators. We analyzed floral scents of guarana (Paullinia cupana, Sapindaceae), an economically important plant of the Amazon, using chemical analytical approaches, and determined the attractiveness of the scent to its nocturnal bee pollinators using behavioral assays in the field. Pollen loads of attracted bees were also analyzed. Inflorescences of guarana emit strong scents, both during day and at night, with some semi-quantitative differences between day- and night-time scents. Synthetic scent mixtures containing some of the identified floral scent components, including the most abundant ones, i.e., linalool and (E)-β-ocimene, successfully attracted the nocturnal Megalopta bee pollinators. Pollen analyses revealed that many of the attracted bees had pollen grains from previous visits to guarana flowers on their bodies. Overall, our data show that guarana flowers attract nocturnal bee visitors by their strong scents and suggest that the chemical communication between this plant and its pollinators is a key component in crop production of this economically important plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiane Krug
- Empresa Brazileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) Amazônia Ocidental, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Guaraci D. Cordeiro
- Departamento de Ecologia, IBUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Irmgard Schäffler
- Department of Biosciences, Plant Ecology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Claudia I. Silva
- Departamento de Ecologia, IBUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Reisla Oliveira
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Clemens Schlindwein
- Departamento de Botânica, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Stefan Dötterl
- Department of Biosciences, Plant Ecology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
- *Correspondence: Stefan Dötterl,
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Funamoto D, Ohashi K. Hidden floral adaptation to nocturnal moths in an apparently bee-pollinated flower, Adenophora triphylla var. japonica (Campanulaceae). PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2017; 19:767-774. [PMID: 28493285 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The discrepancy between observed flower visitors and those predicted based on floral phenotype has often cast doubt on the pollination syndrome concept. Here we show that this paradox may be alleviated by gaining better knowledge of the contributions of different flower visitors to pollination and the effects of floral traits that cannot be readily perceived by humans in Adenophora triphylla var. japonica. The blue, bell-shaped and pendant flowers of A. triphylla appear to fit a bee pollination syndrome. In contrast to this expectation, recent studies show that these flowers are frequented by nocturnal moths. We compared the flower visitor fauna, their visitation frequency and their relative contributions to seed set between day and night in two field populations of A. triphylla in Japan. We also determined the floral traits associated with temporal changes in the visitor assemblage, i.e. the timing of anthesis, the timing of changes in the sexual phase and the diel pattern of nectar production. While A. triphylla flowers were visited by both diurnal and nocturnal insects, the results from pollination experiments demonstrate that their primary pollinators are nocturnal settling-moths. Moreover, the flowers opened just after sunset, changed from staminate to pistillate phase in successive evenings and produced nectar only during the night, which all conform to the activity of nocturnal/crepuscular moths. Our study illustrates that the tradition of stereotyping the pollinators of a flower based on its appearance can be misleading and that it should be improved with empirical evidence of pollination performance and sufficient trait matching.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Funamoto
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - K Ohashi
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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