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Rewicz A, Monzalvo R, Myśliwy M, Tończyk G, Desiderato A, Ruchisansakun S, Rewicz T. Pollination biology of Impatiens capensis Meerb. in non-native range. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302283. [PMID: 38900825 PMCID: PMC11189253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Pollination biology in the widespread species Impatiens capensis Meerb. has only been studied in America, specifically in zones of the U.S.A. and Canada. In this study, we investigated the pollination biology of I. capensis using an integrative identification approach using morphological and molecular tools in four populations of Northwest Poland. We also determined and compared the functional characteristics of the pollinators of the introduced species from the study sites and the native ones reported, for the latter collecting information from bibliographic sources. Visitors were identified using standard morphological keys, including identifying and classifying insect mouthparts. Molecular identification was carried out using mitochondrial DNA's cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). We morphologically identified 20 species of visitors constituted by 17 pollinators and three nectar robbers. DNA barcoding of 59 individuals proved the identification of 18 species (also 18 BINs). The frequency of pollinator species was primarily made up of representatives of both Hymenoptera (75%) and Diptera (21%). The morphological traits, such as the chewing and sucking mouthparts, small and big body height, and robber and pollinator behavior explained mainly the native and introduced visitors' arrangements that allow pollination success. However, to understand the process comprehensively, further investigation of other causalities in pollination success and understanding the diversity of pollinators in outer native ranges are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Rewicz
- Department of Geobotany and Plant Ecology, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
| | - René Monzalvo
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Autonomous University of Hidalgo State, Biological Research Center., Carboneras, Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, México
| | - Monika Myśliwy
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Tończyk
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
| | - Andrea Desiderato
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
| | - Saroj Ruchisansakun
- Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tomasz Rewicz
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
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2
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Göttlinger T, Lohaus G. Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of Pitcairnia Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and Glutamine. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:23. [PMID: 38202331 PMCID: PMC10780904 DOI: 10.3390/plants13010023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Floral nectar contains sugars and numerous other compounds, including amino acids, but little is known about their function and origin in nectar. Therefore, the amino acid, sugar, and inorganic ion concentrations, as well as the activity of alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in nectar, nectaries, and leaves were analyzed in 30 Pitcairnia species. These data were compared with various floral traits, the pollinator type, and the phylogenetic relationships of the species to find possible causes for the high amino acid concentrations in the nectar of some species. The highest concentrations of amino acids (especially alanine) in nectar were found in species with reddish flowers. Furthermore, the concentration of amino acids in nectar and nectaries is determined through analyzing flower color/pollination type rather than phylogenetic relations. This study provides new insights into the origin of amino acids in nectar. The presence of almost all amino acids in nectar is mainly due to their transport in the phloem to the nectaries, with the exception of alanine, which is partially produced in nectaries. In addition, active regulatory mechanisms are required in nectaries that retain most of the amino acids and allow the selective secretion of specific amino acids, such as alanine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Göttlinger
- Molecular Plant Science and Plant Biochemistry, University of Wuppertal, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany;
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3
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Chapman KM, Richardson FJ, Forster CY, Middleton EJT, White TE, Burke PF, Latty T. Artificial flowers as a tool for investigating multimodal flower choice in wild insects. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10687. [PMID: 38020672 PMCID: PMC10659823 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10687] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Flowers come in a variety of colours, shapes, sizes and odours. Flowers also differ in the quality and quantity of nutritional reward they provide to entice potential pollinators to visit. Given this diversity, generalist flower-visiting insects face the considerable challenge of deciding which flowers to feed on and which to ignore. Working with real flowers poses logistical challenges due to correlations between flower traits, maintenance costs and uncontrolled variables. Here, we overcome this challenge by designing multimodal artificial flowers that varied in visual, olfactory and reward attributes. We used artificial flowers to investigate the impact of seven floral attributes (three visual cues, two olfactory cues and two rewarding attributes) on flower visitation and species richness. We investigated how flower attributes influenced two phases of the decision-making process: the decision to land on a flower, and the decision to feed on a flower. Artificial flowers attracted 890 individual insects representing 15 morphospecies spanning seven arthropod orders. Honeybees were the most common visitors accounting for 46% of visitors. Higher visitation rates were driven by the presence of nectar, the presence of linalool, flower shape and flower colour and was negatively impacted by the presence of citral. Species richness was driven by the presence of nectar, the presence of linalool and flower colour. For hymenopterans, the probability of landing on the artificial flowers was influenced by the presence of nectar or pollen, shape and the presence of citral and/or linalool. The probability of feeding increased when flowers contained nectar. For dipterans, the probability of landing on artificial flowers increased when the flower was yellow and contained linalool. The probability of feeding increased when flowers contained pollen, nectar and linalool. Our results demonstrate the multi-attribute nature of flower preferences and highlight the usefulness of artificial flowers as tools for studying flower visitation in wild insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Chapman
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Freya J. Richardson
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Sydney Institute of AgricultureThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Caitlyn Y. Forster
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Eliza J. T. Middleton
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Thomas E. White
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Paul F. Burke
- UTS Business School and Centre for Business Intelligence and Data AnalyticsUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Tanya Latty
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Sydney Institute of AgricultureThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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4
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Wang X, Chen Y, Yi Y. Features of floral odor and nectar in the distylous Luculia pinceana (Rubiaceae) promote compatible pollination by hawkmoths. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9920. [PMID: 36969924 PMCID: PMC10030271 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9920] [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: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
It is hypothesized that in heterostylous plant species, standardization of signals of floral attraction between different morphs is advantageous, encouraging flower visitors to switch between morphs. It remains unclear whether signals of floral attraction (floral odor and properties of nectar) are similar between morphs in distylous species pollinated by hawkmoths, and how these relate to hawkmoth behavior. We observed the behavior of visitors to distylous Luculia pinceana (Rubiaceae), collected and analyzed floral odor, and examined properties of nectar (volume, sugar concentration, and composition) of long‐styled and short‐styled morphs during the day and night. Pollinator responses to the floral scent were tested with a Y‐tube olfactometer. We conducted diurnal and nocturnal pollination treatments and six other pollination treatments to test the importance of nocturnal pollinators and to examine the self‐incompatibility system. A species of hawkmoth, Cechenena lineosa, was the effective pollinator. The floral odor was rich in methyl benzoate, and sucrose was dominant in the nectar. There were no significant differences between the two morphs in the methyl benzoate content or the properties of nectar. Flowers released more methyl benzoate and secreted larger volumes of nectar with lower sugar concentration at night than during the day. The hawkmoth had a significant preference for methyl benzoate. Luculia pinceana was partially self‐incompatible and relied on nocturnal pollinators for reproductive success. This study verifies that floral attraction signals are consistent between different morphs in this distylous species, promoting compatible pollination, and the features and the diel pattern of these signals between day and night are adapted to hawkmoth behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Wang
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern ChinaGuizhou Normal UniversityGuiyangChina
- School of Life SciencesGuizhou Normal UniversityGuiyangChina
| | - Yan Chen
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern ChinaGuizhou Normal UniversityGuiyangChina
- School of Life SciencesGuizhou Normal UniversityGuiyangChina
| | - Yin Yi
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwestern ChinaGuizhou Normal UniversityGuiyangChina
- School of Life SciencesGuizhou Normal UniversityGuiyangChina
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5
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Funamoto D. Brown-colored nectar in the insect-pollinated flowers of Asian moonseed. Ecology 2023; 104:e3965. [PMID: 36565303 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daichi Funamoto
- The Botanical Gardens, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Brzosko E, Bajguz A, Burzyńska J, Chmur M. Does Reproductive Success in Natural and Anthropogenic Populations of Generalist Epipactis helleborine Depend on Flower Morphology and Nectar Composition? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4276. [PMID: 36901705 PMCID: PMC10001846 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of our study was to determine the role of flower structure and nectar composition in shaping the reproductive success (RS) of the generalist orchid Epipactis helleborine in natural and anthropogenic populations. We supposed that the distinct character of two groups of habitats creates different conditions for plant-pollinator relationships, thus influencing reproductive success in E. helleborine populations. Both pollinaria removal (PR) and fruiting (FRS) were differentiated between the populations. On average, FRS was almost two times higher in the anthropogenic than in the natural populations. The difference between the two population groups in PR was smaller but still statistically significant. RS parameters were correlated with some floral display and flower traits. Floral display influenced RS only in three anthropogenic populations. Flower traits had a weak influence on RS (10 of the 192 cases analyzed). The more important trait in shaping RS was nectar chemistry. The nectar of E. helleborine is relatively diluted with a lower sugar concentration in the anthropogenic than in the natural populations. In the natural populations, domination of sucrose over hexoses was found, while in the anthropogenic populations, hexoses were more abundant and the participation of sugars was balanced. In some populations, sugars influenced RS. In E. helleborine nectar, 20 proteogenic and 7 non-proteogenic amino acids (AAs) were found with a clear domination of glutamic acid. We noted relationships between some AAs and RS, but distinct AAs shaped RS in different populations, and their impact was independent of their participation. Our results indicate that the flower structure and nectar composition of E. helleborine reflect its generalistic character and meet the requirements of a wide range of pollinators. Simultaneously, the differentiation of flower traits suggests a variation in pollinator assemblages in particular populations. Knowledge about the factors influencing RS in distinct habitats helps to understand the evolutionary potential of species and to understand mechanisms and processes crucial for shaping interactions between plants and pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Brzosko
- Department of Biology and Plant Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland
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7
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Balduino HDK, Tunes P, Giordano E, Guarnieri M, Machado SR, Nepi M, Guimarães E. To each their own! Nectar plasticity within a flower mediates distinct ecological interactions. AOB PLANTS 2023; 15:plac067. [PMID: 36751365 PMCID: PMC9893873 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plac067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nuptial and extranuptial nectaries are involved in interactions with different animal functional groups. Nectar traits involved in pollination mutualisms are well known. However, we know little about those traits involved in other mutualisms, such as ant-plant interactions, especially when both types of nectaries are in the same plant organ, the flower. Here we investigated if when two types of nectaries are exploited by distinct functional groups of floral visitors, even being within the same plant organ, the nectar secreted presents distinct features that fit animal requirements. We compared nectar secretion dynamics, floral visitors and nectar chemical composition of both nuptial and extranuptial nectaries in natural populations of the liana Amphilophium mansoanum (Bignoniaceae). For that we characterized nectar sugar, amino acid and specialized metabolite composition by high-performance liquid chromatography. Nuptial nectaries were visited by three medium- and large-sized bee species and extranuptial nectaries were visited mainly by ants, but also by cockroaches, wasps and flies. Nuptial and extranuptial nectar differed regarding volume, concentration, milligrams of sugars per flower and secretion dynamics. Nuptial nectar was sucrose-dominated, with high amounts of γ-aminobutyric acid and β-aminobutyric acid and with theophylline-like alkaloid, which were all exclusive of nuptial nectar. Whereas extranuptial nectar was hexose-rich, had a richer and less variable amino acid chemical profile, with high amounts of serine and alanine amino acids and with higher amounts of the specialized metabolite tyramine. The nectar traits from nuptial and extranuptial nectaries differ in energy amount and nutritional value, as well as in neuroactive specialized metabolites. These differences seem to match floral visitors' requirements, since they exclusively consume one of the two nectar types and may be exerting selective pressures on the composition of the respective resources of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannelise de Kassia Balduino
- Graduate Course in Plant Biology, São Paulo State University, 18618-689 Botucatu, Brazil
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Plant-Animal Interactions, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, 18618-689 Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Priscila Tunes
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Plant-Animal Interactions, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, 18618-689 Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Emanuele Giordano
- Laboratory of Analytical Methods for Chemical Ecology - Plant Reproductive Biology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Massimo Guarnieri
- Laboratory of Analytical Methods for Chemical Ecology - Plant Reproductive Biology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Rodrigues Machado
- Laboratory of Plant Anatomy, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, 18618-689 Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Massimo Nepi
- Laboratory of Analytical Methods for Chemical Ecology - Plant Reproductive Biology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, Italy
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8
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Nicolson SW. Sweet solutions: nectar chemistry and quality. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210163. [PMID: 35491604 PMCID: PMC9058545 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nectar, the main floral reward for pollinators, varies greatly in composition and concentration. The assumption that nectar quality is equivalent to its sugar (energy) concentration is too simple. Diverse non-sugar components, especially amino acids and secondary metabolites, play various roles in nutrition and health of pollinators. Many nectar compounds have indirect effects by altering the foraging behaviour of pollinators or protecting them from disease. This review also emphasizes the water component of nectar, often ignored because of evaporative losses and difficulties in sampling small nectar volumes. Nectar properties vary with environmental factors, pollinator visits and microbial contamination. Pollination mutualisms depend on the ability of insect and vertebrate pollinators to cope with and benefit from the variation and diversity in nectar chemistry. This article is part of the theme issue 'Natural processes influencing pollinator health: from chemistry to landscapes'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan W. Nicolson
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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9
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Klomberg Y, Tropek R, Mertens JEJ, Kobe IN, Hodeček J, Raška J, Fominka NT, Souto-Vilarós D, Janečková P, Janeček Š. Spatiotemporal variation in the role of floral traits in shaping tropical plant-pollinator interactions. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:839-850. [PMID: 35006639 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The pollination syndrome hypothesis predicts that plants pollinated by the same pollinator group bear convergent combinations of specific floral functional traits. Nevertheless, some studies have shown that these combinations predict pollinators with relatively low accuracy. This discrepancy may be caused by changes in the importance of specific floral traits for different pollinator groups and under different environmental conditions. To explore this, we studied pollination systems and floral traits along an elevational gradient on Mount Cameroon during wet and dry seasons. Using Random Forest (Machine Learning) models, allowing the ranking of traits by their relative importance, we demonstrated that some floral traits are more important than others for pollinators. However, the distribution and importance of traits vary under different environmental conditions. Our results imply the need to improve our trait-based understanding of plant-pollinator interactions to better inform the debate surrounding the pollination syndrome hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Klomberg
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Tropek
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Jan E J Mertens
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ishmeal N Kobe
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jiří Hodeček
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,Swiss Human Institute of Forensic Taphonomy, University Centre of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan Raška
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Nestoral T Fominka
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Petra Janečková
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Štěpán Janeček
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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10
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Brzosko E, Bajguz A, Burzyńska J, Chmur M. Nectar Chemistry or Flower Morphology-What Is More Important for the Reproductive Success of Generalist Orchid Epipactis palustris in Natural and Anthropogenic Populations? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12164. [PMID: 34830045 PMCID: PMC8618778 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the level of reproductive success (RS) in natural and anthropogenic populations of generalist orchid Epipactis palustris and its dependence on flower structure and nectar composition, i.e., amino acids and sugars. We found that both pollinaria removal and female reproductive success were high and similar in all populations, despite differences in flower traits and nectar chemistry. Flower structures were weakly correlated with parameters of RS. Nectar traits were more important in shaping RS; although, we noted differentiated selection on nectar components in distinct populations. Individuals in natural populations produced nectar with a larger amount of sugars and amino acids. The sucrose to (fructose and glucose) ratio in natural populations was close to 1, while in anthropogenic ones, a clear domination of fructose and glucose was noted. Our results indicate that the flower traits and nectar composition of E. palustris reflect its generalist character and meet the requirements of a wide range of pollinators, differing according to body sizes, mouth apparatus, and dietary needs. Simultaneously, differentiation of nectar chemistry suggests a variation of pollinator assemblages in particular populations or domination of their some groups. To our knowledge, a comparison of nectar chemistry between natural and anthropogenic populations of orchids is reported for the first time in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Brzosko
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland; (J.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Andrzej Bajguz
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland; (J.B.); (M.C.)
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11
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Collyer ML, Baken EK, Adams DC. A standardized effect size for evaluating and comparing the strength of phylogenetic signal. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Erica K. Baken
- Department of Science Chatham University Pittsburgh PA USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
| | - Dean C. Adams
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
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12
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Brzosko E, Mirski P. Floral Nectar Chemistry in Orchids: A Short Review and Meta-Analysis. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:2315. [PMID: 34834677 PMCID: PMC8620889 DOI: 10.3390/plants10112315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Nectar is one of the most important flower traits, shaping plant-pollinator interactions and reproductive success. Despite Orchidaceae including numerous nectariferous species, nectar chemistry in this family has been infrequently studied. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compile data about nectar attributes in different orchid species. The scarcity of data restricted analyses to sugar concentration and composition. Our results suggest that the most important factor shaping nectar traits in orchids is the pollinator type, although we also found differentiation of nectar traits according to geographical regions. In spurred orchids, the length of the spur impacted nectar traits. We recommend the development of studies on nectar chemistry in orchids, including a wider range of species (both in taxonomic and geographical contexts), as well as extending the analyses to other nectar components (such as amino acids and secondary metabolites). The nectar biome would be also worth investigating, since it could affect the chemical composition of nectar. This will enrich the understanding of the mechanisms of plants-pollinators interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Brzosko
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Paweł Mirski
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland
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13
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Fantinato E, Sonkoly J, Török P, Buffa G. Patterns of pollination interactions at the community level are related to the type and quantity of floral resources. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edy Fantinato
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics University Ca' Foscari of Venice Venice Italy
| | - Judit Sonkoly
- Department of Ecology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
- MTA‐DE Lendület Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group Debrecen Hungary
| | - Péter Török
- Department of Ecology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
- MTA‐DE Lendület Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group Debrecen Hungary
- Polish Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden ‐ Center for Biological Diversity Conservation in Powsin Warszawa Poland
| | - Gabriella Buffa
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics University Ca' Foscari of Venice Venice Italy
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14
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Janeček Š, Chmel K, Ewome FL, Hrubá K, Klomberg Y, Kobe IN, Kouede RD, Mertens JEJ, Njie MM, Tropek R. Differences in Nectar Traits between Ornithophilous and Entomophilous Plants on Mount Cameroon. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1161. [PMID: 34200999 PMCID: PMC8226534 DOI: 10.3390/plants10061161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite a growing number of studies, the role of pollinators as a selection agent for nectar traits remains unclear. Moreover, the lack of data from some biogeographic regions prohibits us from determining their general importance and global patterns. We analyzed nectar carbohydrate traits and determined the main pollinators of 66 plant species in the tropical forests of Mount Cameroon (tropical West Africa). The measured nectar traits included total sugar amounts and proportions of sucrose and hexoses (i.e., glucose and fructose). We report the nectar properties for plants visited by five pollinator groups (bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, and specialized birds). Our results indicate that, rather than specific evolution in each of the five plant groups, there was a unique nectar-trait evolution in plants pollinated by specialized birds. The ornithophilous plants had a higher proportion of sucrose and produced larger sugar amounts than the plants pollinated by insects. We also demonstrated a significant phylogenetic signal in the nectar properties in some lineages of the studied plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Štěpán Janeček
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic; (K.C.); (Y.K.); (I.N.K.); (J.E.J.M.); (R.T.)
| | - Kryštof Chmel
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic; (K.C.); (Y.K.); (I.N.K.); (J.E.J.M.); (R.T.)
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic;
| | | | - Karolína Hrubá
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic;
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Yannick Klomberg
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic; (K.C.); (Y.K.); (I.N.K.); (J.E.J.M.); (R.T.)
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2233 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ishmeal N. Kobe
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic; (K.C.); (Y.K.); (I.N.K.); (J.E.J.M.); (R.T.)
| | - Raissa Dywou Kouede
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Herzing University, 1865 SR 436, Winter Park, Orlando, FL 32792, USA;
| | - Jan E. J. Mertens
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic; (K.C.); (Y.K.); (I.N.K.); (J.E.J.M.); (R.T.)
| | - Marcus Mokake Njie
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea 63, Cameroon;
| | - Robert Tropek
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic; (K.C.); (Y.K.); (I.N.K.); (J.E.J.M.); (R.T.)
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic;
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15
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Zu P, Koch H, Schwery O, Pironon S, Phillips C, Ondo I, Farrell IW, Nes WD, Moore E, Wright GA, Farman DI, Stevenson PC. Pollen sterols are associated with phylogeny and environment but not with pollinator guilds. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:1169-1184. [PMID: 33484583 PMCID: PMC8653887 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Phytosterols are primary plant metabolites that have fundamental structural and regulatory functions. They are also essential nutrients for phytophagous insects, including pollinators, that cannot synthesize sterols. Despite the well-described composition and diversity in vegetative plant tissues, few studies have examined phytosterol diversity in pollen. We quantified 25 pollen phytosterols in 122 plant species (105 genera, 51 families) to determine their composition and diversity across plant taxa. We searched literature and databases for plant phylogeny, environmental conditions, and pollinator guilds of the species to examine the relationships with pollen sterols. 24-methylenecholesterol, sitosterol and isofucosterol were the most common and abundant pollen sterols. We found phylogenetic clustering of twelve individual sterols, total sterol content and sterol diversity, and of sterol groupings that reflect their underlying biosynthesis pathway (C-24 alkylation, ring B desaturation). Plants originating in tropical-like climates (higher mean annual temperature, lower temperature seasonality, higher precipitation in wettest quarter) were more likely to record higher pollen sterol content. However, pollen sterol composition and content showed no clear relationship with pollinator guilds. Our study is the first to show that pollen sterol diversity is phylogenetically clustered and that pollen sterol content may adapt to environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengjuan Zu
- Royal Botanic GardensKew, Natural Capital and Plant Health DepartmentRichmondSurreyTW9 3ABUK
- Department Fish Ecology and EvolutionSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologySeestrasse 79KastanienbaumCH‐6047Switzerland
| | - Hauke Koch
- Royal Botanic GardensKew, Natural Capital and Plant Health DepartmentRichmondSurreyTW9 3ABUK
| | - Orlando Schwery
- New Mexico Consortium4200 W. Jemez Rd, Suite 301Los AlamosNM87544USA
| | - Samuel Pironon
- Royal Botanic GardensKew, Biodiversity Informatics and Spatial Analysis DepartmentRichmondSurreyTW9 3ABUK
| | - Charlotte Phillips
- Royal Botanic GardensKew, Biodiversity Informatics and Spatial Analysis DepartmentRichmondSurreyTW9 3ABUK
- Royal Botanic GardensKew, Conservation Science DepartmentWakehurst PlaceArdinglyWest SussexRH17 6TNUK
| | - Ian Ondo
- Royal Botanic GardensKew, Biodiversity Informatics and Spatial Analysis DepartmentRichmondSurreyTW9 3ABUK
| | - Iain W. Farrell
- Royal Botanic GardensKew, Natural Capital and Plant Health DepartmentRichmondSurreyTW9 3ABUK
| | - W. David Nes
- Department of Chemistry & BiochemistryTexas Tech UniversityLubbockTX79424USA
| | - Elynor Moore
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of Oxford11a Mansfield RoadOxfordOX1 3SZUK
| | | | - Dudley I. Farman
- Natural Resources InstituteUniversity of GreenwichChatham, KentME4 4TBUK
| | - Philip C. Stevenson
- Royal Botanic GardensKew, Natural Capital and Plant Health DepartmentRichmondSurreyTW9 3ABUK
- Natural Resources InstituteUniversity of GreenwichChatham, KentME4 4TBUK
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16
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Herrera CM. Unclusterable, underdispersed arrangement of insect-pollinated plants in pollinator niche space. Ecology 2021; 102:e03327. [PMID: 33713352 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Pollinators can mediate facilitative or competitive relationships between plant species, but the relative importance of these two conflicting phenomena in shaping community-wide pollinator resource use remains unexplored. This article examines the idea that the arrangement of large samples of plant species in Hutchinsonian pollinator niche space (n-dimensional hypervolume whose axes represent pollinator types) can help to evaluate the comparative importance of facilitation and competition as drivers of pollinator resource use at the community level. Pollinator composition data were gathered for insect-pollinated plants from the Sierra de Cazorla mountains (southeastern Spain), comprising ~95% of widely distributed insect-pollinated species. The following questions were addressed at regional (45 sites, 221 plant species) and local (1 site, 73 plant species) spatial scales: (1) Do plant species clusters occur in pollinator niche space? Four pollinator niche spaces differing in dimensionality were considered, the axes of which were defined by insect orders, families, genera, and species. (2) If all plant species form a single, indivisible cluster, are they overdispersed or underdispersed within the cluster relative to a random arrangement? "Clusterability" tests failed to reject the null hypothesis that there was only one pollinator-defined plant species cluster in pollinator niche space, irrespective of spatial scale, pollinator niche space, or pollinator importance measurement (proportions of pollinator individuals or flowers visited by each pollinator type). Observed means of interspecific dissimilarity in pollinator composition were smaller than randomly simulated values in the order-, family-, and genus-defined pollinator niche spaces. This finding revealed an underdispersed arrangement of plant species in each of these pollinator niche spaces. In the undisturbed montane habitats studied, arrangement of insect-pollinated plant species in the various niche spaces defined by pollinator composition did not support a major role for interspecific competition as a force shaping community-wide pollinator resource use by plants, but rather suggested a situation closer to the facilitation-dominated extreme in a hypothetical competition-facilitation gradient. Results also highlight the importance of investigations on complete or nearly complete insect-pollinated plant communities for suggesting and testing novel hypotheses on the ecology and evolution of plant-pollinator systems.
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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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17
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How Are the Flower Structure and Nectar Composition of the Generalistic Orchid Neottia ovata Adapted to a Wide Range of Pollinators? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042214. [PMID: 33672302 PMCID: PMC7926835 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-pollinator interactions significantly influence reproductive success (RS) and drive the evolution of pollination syndromes. In the context of RS, mainly the role of flower morphology is touched. The importance of nectar properties is less studied, despite its significance in pollination effectiveness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test selection on flower morphology and nectar chemistry in the generalistic orchid Neottia ovata. In 2019–2020, we measured three floral displays and six flower traits, pollinaria removal (PR), female reproductive success (FRS), and determined the soil properties. The sugars and amino acids (AAs) were analyzed using the HPLC method. Data were analyzed using multiple statistical methods (boxplots, ternary plot, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, and PCA). Variation of flower structure and nectar chemistry and their weak correlation with RS confirms the generalistic character of N. ovata. In particular populations, different traits were under selection. PR was high and similar in all populations in both years, while FRS was lower and varied among populations. Nectar was dominated by glucose, fructose, and included 28 AAs (Ala and Glu have the highest content). Sugars and AAs influenced mainly FRS. Among soil parameters, carbon and carbon:nitrogen ratio seems to be the most important in shaping flower structure and nectar chemistry.
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18
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Dellinger AS. Pollination syndromes in the 21 st century: where do we stand and where may we go? THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 228:1193-1213. [PMID: 33460152 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Pollination syndromes, recurring suites of floral traits appearing in connection with specific functional pollinator groups, have served for decades to organise floral diversity under a functional-ecological perspective. Some potential caveats, such as over-simplification of complex plant-animal interactions or lack of empirical observations, have been identified and discussed in recent years. Which of these caveats do indeed cause problems, which have been solved and where do future possibilities lie? I address these questions in a review of the pollination-syndrome literature of 2010 to 2019. I show that the majority of studies was based on detailed empirical pollinator observations and could reliably predict pollinators based on a few floral traits such as colour, shape or reward. Some traits (i.e. colour) were less reliable in predicting pollinators than others (i.e. reward, corolla width), however. I stress that future studies should consider floral traits beyond those traditionally recorded to expand our understanding of mechanisms of floral evolution. I discuss statistical methods suitable for objectively analysing the interplay of system-specific evolutionary constraints, pollinator-mediated selection and adaptive trade-offs at microecological and macroecological scales. I exemplify my arguments on an empirical dataset of floral traits of a neotropical plant radiation in the family Melastomataceae.
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19
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Hipólito J, Nunes DO, Angel-Coca C, Mahlmann T, Galetto L, Viana BF. Performance, Effectiveness, and Efficiency of Honeybees as Pollinators of Coffea arabica (Gentianales, Rubiaceae). NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 49:501-510. [PMID: 32691402 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-020-00785-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Studies in crop plants analyzing floral biology in conjunction with effectiveness and efficiency of pollinators on pollen transfer and fruit formation are not common, although they are essential to provide better management actions. On this base, we selected a farm in Bahia, Brazil, to study pollination on coffee plants (Coffea arabica L.). Specifically, we want to analyze if nectar traits influence visitor's performance throughout flower lifetime and if honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier, 1836) are effective and efficient for coffee pollination comparing fertilization and fructification among four experimental treatments: open (OP), wind (WP), cross (HCP), and single-visit bee pollination (SVBP). We found that honeybees collect both nectar and pollen from coffee flowers and transfer pollen on stigmas even after one visit. No differences were found among treatments regarding the number of pollen grains transferred on the stigmas (effectiveness). OP flowers showed a comparative lower efficiency (pollen tubes and fruit set) probably due to pollination failure as those flowers have a higher variability on the number of deposited pollen grains. Two of the treatments (HCP and SVBP) showed higher fertilization (measuring tubes until the end of the style). Pollen loads seem to be limited by a peak of pollen transference by pollinators, followed by the stabilization in the number of pollen grains deposited per stigma. Thus, reproduction of the coffee can be limited by the quality of pollen grains moved by pollinators instead of quantity. Management strategies should focus on monitoring bee density on plants for increasing pollen quality transfer on flowers trough maintaining the adequate proportions of seminatural habitats and/or the number of hives on agricultural fields according to the flowering of the crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Hipólito
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Estudos Inter e Transdisciplinares em Ecologia e Evolução - INCT IN-TREE, Bahia, Brasil.
- Coordenação de biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, CEP: 69.067-375, Brasil.
| | - D O Nunes
- Coordenação de biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, CEP: 69.067-375, Brasil
- Instituto de Biologia, Univ Federal da Bahia, Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
| | - C Angel-Coca
- Coordenação de biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, CEP: 69.067-375, Brasil
- Instituto de Biologia, Univ Federal da Bahia, Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
| | - T Mahlmann
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Estudos Inter e Transdisciplinares em Ecologia e Evolução - INCT IN-TREE, Bahia, Brasil
| | - L Galetto
- Facultad de CEFyN, Univ Nacional de Córdoba and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - B F Viana
- Coordenação de biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, CEP: 69.067-375, Brasil
- Instituto de Biologia, Univ Federal da Bahia, Ondina, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
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20
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Pollinator divergence and pollination isolation between hybrids with different floral color and morphology in two sympatric Penstemon species. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8126. [PMID: 32415216 PMCID: PMC7229217 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64964-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Differential visitation of pollinators due to divergent floral traits can lead to reproductive isolation via assortative pollen flow, which may ultimately be a driving force in plant speciation, particularly in areas of overlap. We evaluate the effects of pollinator behavioral responses to variation of intraspecific floral color and nectar rewards, on reproductive isolation between two hybrid flower color morphs (fuchsia and blue) and their parental species Penstemon roseus and P. gentianoides with a mixed-pollination system. We show that pollinators (bumblebees and hummingbirds) exhibit different behavioral responses to fuchsia and blue morphs, which could result from differential attraction or deterrence. In addition to differences in color (spectral reflectance), we found that plants with fuchsia flowers produced more and larger flowers, produced more nectar and were more visited by pollinators than those with blue flowers. These differences influenced the foraging behavior and effectiveness as pollinators of both bumblebees and hummingbirds, which contributed to reproductive isolation between the two hybrid flower color morphs and parental species. This study demonstrates how differentiation of pollination traits promotes the formation of hybrid zones leading to pollinator shifts and reproductive isolation. While phenotypic traits of fuchsia and red flowers might encourage more efficient hummingbird pollination in a mixed-pollination system, the costs of bumblebee pollination on plant reproduction could be the drivers for the repeated shifts from bumblebee- to hummingbird-mediated pollination.
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21
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Roberts WR, Roalson EH. Co-expression clustering across flower development identifies modules for diverse floral forms in Achimenes (Gesneriaceae). PeerJ 2020; 8:e8778. [PMID: 32201652 PMCID: PMC7071821 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic pathways involved with flower color and shape are thought to play an important role in the development of flowers associated with different pollination syndromes, such as those associated with bee, butterfly, or hummingbird pollination. Because pollination syndromes are complex traits that are orchestrated by multiple genes and pathways, the gene regulatory networks have not been explored. Gene co-expression networks provide a systems level approach to identify important contributors to floral diversification. METHODS RNA-sequencing was used to assay gene expression across two stages of flower development (an early bud and an intermediate stage) in 10 species of Achimenes (Gesneriaceae). Two stage-specific co-expression networks were created from 9,503 orthologs and analyzed to identify module hubs and the network periphery. Module association with bee, butterfly, and hummingbird pollination syndromes was tested using phylogenetic mixed models. The relationship between network connectivity and evolutionary rates (d N/d S) was tested using linear models. RESULTS Networks contained 65 and 62 modules that were largely preserved between developmental stages and contained few stage-specific modules. Over a third of the modules in both networks were associated with flower color, shape, and pollination syndrome. Within these modules, several hub nodes were identified that related to the production of anthocyanin and carotenoid pigments and the development of flower shape. Evolutionary rates were decreased in highly connected genes and elevated in peripheral genes. DISCUSSION This study aids in the understanding of the genetic architecture and network properties underlying the development of floral form and provides valuable candidate modules and genes for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wade R. Roberts
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
- Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Eric H. Roalson
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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