1
|
Russell AL, Buchmann SL, Ascher JS, Wang Z, Kriebel R, Jolles DD, Orr MC, Hughes AC. Global patterns and drivers of buzzing bees and poricidal plants. Curr Biol 2024; 34:3055-3063.e5. [PMID: 38925116 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.065] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Foraging behavior frequently plays a major role in driving the geographic distribution of animals. Buzzing to extract protein-rich pollen from flowers is a key foraging behavior used by bee species across at least 83 genera (these genera comprise ∼58% of all bee species). Although buzzing is widely recognized to affect the ecology and evolution of bees and flowering plants (e.g., buzz-pollinated flowers), global patterns and drivers of buzzing bee biogeography remain unexplored. Here, we investigate the global species distribution patterns within each bee family and how patterns and drivers differ with respect to buzzing bee species. We found that both distributional patterns and drivers of richness typically differed for buzzing species compared with hotspots for all bee species and when grouped by family. A major predictor of the distribution, but not species richness overall for buzzing members of four of the five major bee families included in analyses (Andrenidae, Halictidae, Colletidae, and to a lesser extent, Apidae), was the richness of poricidal flowering plant species, which depend on buzzing bees for pollination. Because poricidal plant richness was highest in areas with low wind and high aridity, we discuss how global hotspots of buzzing bee biodiversity are likely influenced by both biogeographic factors and plant host availability. Although we explored global patterns with state-level data, higher-resolution work is needed to explore local-level drivers of patterns. From a global perspective, buzz-pollinated plants clearly play a greater role in the ecology and evolution of buzzing bees than previously predicted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Avery L Russell
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897, USA.
| | - Stephen L Buchmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - John S Ascher
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhiheng Wang
- College of Urban & Environmental Sciences, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, China
| | - Ricardo Kriebel
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Sustainability, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Diana D Jolles
- Department of Biological Sciences, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH, USA
| | - Michael C Orr
- Entomologie, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany; Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Alice C Hughes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Balandra A, Doll Y, Hirose S, Kajiwara T, Kashino Z, Inami M, Koshimizu S, Fukaki H, Watahiki MK. P-MIRU, a Polarized Multispectral Imaging System, Reveals Reflection Information on the Biological Surface. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 64:1311-1322. [PMID: 37217180 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcad045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Reflection light forms the core of our visual perception of the world. We can obtain vast information by examining reflection light from biological surfaces, including pigment composition and distribution, tissue structure and surface microstructure. However, because of the limitations in our visual system, the complete information in reflection light, which we term 'reflectome', cannot be fully exploited. For example, we may miss reflection light information outside our visible wavelengths. In addition, unlike insects, we have virtually no sensitivity to light polarization. We can detect non-chromatic information lurking in reflection light only with appropriate devices. Although previous studies have designed and developed systems for specialized uses supporting our visual systems, we still do not have a versatile, rapid, convenient and affordable system for analyzing broad aspects of reflection from biological surfaces. To overcome this situation, we developed P-MIRU, a novel multispectral and polarization imaging system for reflecting light from biological surfaces. The hardware and software of P-MIRU are open source and customizable and thus can be applied for virtually any research on biological surfaces. Furthermore, P-MIRU is a user-friendly system for biologists with no specialized programming or engineering knowledge. P-MIRU successfully visualized multispectral reflection in visible/non-visible wavelengths and simultaneously detected various surface phenotypes of spectral polarization. The P-MIRU system extends our visual ability and unveils information on biological surfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuki Doll
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
| | - Shogo Hirose
- Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Shiogamaguchi 1-501, Tempaku-ku, Nagoya, 468-0073 Japan
| | - Tomoaki Kajiwara
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502 Japan
| | - Zendai Kashino
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Komaba 4-6-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904 Japan
| | - Masahiko Inami
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Komaba 4-6-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904 Japan
| | - Shizuka Koshimizu
- School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Higashimita 1-1-1, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, 214-8571 Japan
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Komaba 4-6-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904 Japan
| | - Hidehiro Fukaki
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Rokkodaicho 1-1, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501 Japan
| | - Masaaki K Watahiki
- Faculty of Science and Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ramadoss N, Steele S, Flores-Rentería L. Influence of sexual dimorphism and dichromatism on reproductive success in a rare native cactus. Oecologia 2023; 203:383-394. [PMID: 37955714 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05473-z] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Identifying plant sexual dimorphic traits is critical in advancing our knowledge on plant-pollinator interactions. For example, dimorphism in floral colors, or sexual dichromatism, is a crucial mediator of pollinator choice on foraging decisions. We studied Cylindropuntia wolfii, a model system, with diverse flower colors and a functionally dioecious sexual system. However, evidence suggests that sexual reproduction is limited in this species as it has a low seed set especially in naturally pollinated fruits. Thus, it is critical to this native species' conservation to investigate its relationship with pollinators. Our goals were to: (a) investigate the sexual dimorphism including the sexual dichromatism in the flowers of the cactus, and (b) determine whether sexually dimorphic traits affect the pollinator attraction of both the sexes. We measured several quantitative and qualitative traits and compared them between male and female flowers. Then we recorded the pollinator visitation rate in nature for both sexes and tracked pollinator color preference using fluorescent dyes as pollen analogues. Our study showed that male flowers of C. wolfii are bigger and brighter, and they attract more potential pollinators than females, supporting the hypothesis that sexual dimorphism influences pollinator visitation preference. Fluorescence dichromatism, in which female flowers' anthers fluoresce more than male flower anthers suggest this could be female flowers' strategy to compensate for their dark colors and small size. The results from this study showed that C. wolfii exhibits sexual dichromatism and fluorescence dichromatism, which is a novel finding in plant research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Scarlet Steele
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bei Z, Zhang X, Tian X. The Mechanism by Which Umbrella-Shaped Ratchet Trichomes on the Elaeagnus angustifolia Leaf Surface Collect Water and Reflect Light. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1024. [PMID: 37508453 PMCID: PMC10376016 DOI: 10.3390/biology12071024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Leaves are essential for plants, enabling photosynthesis and transpiration. In arid regions, water availability limits plant growth. Some plants, like Elaeagnus angustifolia, a sandy sub-tree species widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions, have unique leaf structures to reduce water loss and solar radiation. Here, we describe the leaves of Elaeagnus angustifolia L., with special functioning trichomes. Through leaf submicroscopic structure observation, in situ water collection experiments, photosynthesis measurements, and reflection spectrum analysis, we investigated E. angustifolia leaves, focusing on their functioning trichomes. These trichomes capture water vapor, reflect UV and NIR light, and possess a 3D interface structure composed of 1D and 2D structures. The 1D conical structure captures water droplets, which are then gathered by the radial conical structure and guided towards the stomata through wedge-shaped grooves on the 2D umbrella structure. The trichomes also reflect sunlight, with micropapillae reflecting UV light and the umbrella structure reflecting NIR light. These mechanisms reduce leaf temperature, respiration, and water transpiration, protecting against solar radiation damage. This study provides insights into water collection and light-reflection mechanisms, revealing adaptive strategies of plants with large leaves in arid regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhanlin Bei
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Xingjun Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Scaccabarozzi D, Lunau K, Guzzetti L, Cozzolino S, Dyer AG, Tommasi N, Biella P, Galimberti A, Labra M, Bruni I, Pattarini G, Brundrett M, Gagliano M. Mimicking orchids lure bees from afar with exaggerated ultraviolet signals. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9759. [PMID: 36726874 PMCID: PMC9884568 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9759] [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: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Flowers have many traits to appeal to pollinators, including ultraviolet (UV) absorbing markings, which are well-known for attracting bees at close proximity (e.g., <1 m). While striking UV signals have been thought to attract pollinators also from far away, if these signals impact the plant pollinia removal over distance remains unknown. Here, we report the case of the Australian orchid Diuris brumalis, a nonrewarding species, pollinated by bees via mimicry of the rewarding pea plant Daviesia decurrens. When distant from the pea plant, Diuris was hypothesized to enhance pollinator attraction by exaggeratedly mimicking the floral ultraviolet (UV) reflecting patterns of its model. By experimentally modulating floral UV reflectance with a UV screening solution, we quantified the orchid pollinia removal at a variable distance from the model pea plants. We demonstrate that the deceptive orchid Diuris attracts bee pollinators by emphasizing the visual stimuli, which mimic the floral UV signaling of the rewarding model Daviesia. Moreover, the exaggerated UV reflectance of Diuris flowers impacted pollinators' visitation at an optimal distance from Da. decurrens, and the effect decreased when orchids were too close or too far away from the model. Our findings support the hypothesis that salient UV flower signaling plays a functional role in visual floral mimicry, likely exploiting perceptual gaps in bee neural coding, and mediates the plant pollinia removal at much greater spatial scales than previously expected. The ruse works most effectively at an optimal distance of several meters revealing the importance of salient visual stimuli when mimicry is imperfect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Scaccabarozzi
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjinChina
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Klaus Lunau
- Institute of Sensory EcologyHeinrich‐Heine University DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Lorenzo Guzzetti
- ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e BioscienzeUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | | | - Adrian G. Dyer
- Bio‐Inspired Digital Sensing Lab, School of Media and CommunicationRMIT UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Program, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Nicola Tommasi
- ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e BioscienzeUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Paolo Biella
- ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e BioscienzeUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Andrea Galimberti
- ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e BioscienzeUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Massimo Labra
- ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e BioscienzeUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Ilaria Bruni
- ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e BioscienzeUniversity of Milano – BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Giorgio Pattarini
- Department of Mathematics and PhysicsUniversity of StavangerStavangerNorway
| | - Mark Brundrett
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Monica Gagliano
- Biological Intelligence (BI) Lab, Faculty of Sciences & EngineeringSouthern Cross UniversityLismoreNew South WalesAustralia
- Sydney Environment Institute (SEI)The University of SydneyCamperdownNew South WalesAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Eco-Evo-Devo of petal pigmentation patterning. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:753-768. [PMID: 36205404 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Colourful spots, stripes and rings decorate the corolla of most flowering plants and fulfil important biotic and abiotic functions. Spatial differences in the pigmentation of epidermal cells can create these patterns. The last few years have yielded new data that have started to illuminate the mechanisms controlling the function, formation and evolution of petal patterns. These advances have broad impacts beyond the immediate field as pigmentation patterns are wonderful systems to explore multiscale biological problems: from understanding how cells make decisions at the microscale to examining the roots of biodiversity at the macroscale. These new results also reveal there is more to petal patterning than meets the eye, opening up a brand new area of investigation. In this mini-review, we summarise our current knowledge on the Eco-Evo-Devo of petal pigmentation patterns and discuss some of the most exciting yet unanswered questions that represent avenues for future research.
Collapse
|
7
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tunes P, Camargo MGG, Guimarães E. Floral UV Features of Plant Species From a Neotropical Savanna. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:618028. [PMID: 34025689 PMCID: PMC8137824 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.618028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite the wide interest in flower colours, only after the end of the nineteenth-century studies started to comprise floral UV reflection, which is invisible to humans but visible to the major groups of pollinators. Many flowers and inflorescences display colour patterns, an important signal for pollinators, promoted by the presence of at least two different colours within flowers or inflorescences, including colours in the UV waveband. For Neotropical savanna plant species, we characterised floral UV features using UV-photography and reflectance measurements. We tested (i) whether floral UV features were constrained by their shared ancestry, (ii) whether floral UV features were associated with pollinators, and (iii) whether floral UV features were associated with floral traits mediating these interactions, including floral resource, type of attraction unit and presence/absence of non-UV colour patterns. Of 80 plant species, ca. 70% were UV-patternless, most of them UV-absorbing. Approximately 30% presented one of three types of UV-patterns: bullseye, contrasting corolla markings oriented toward floral resources or contrasting reproductive structures, which were all considered as floral guides. Floral UV features were phylogenetically constrained and were associated with pollinators, floral resources and attraction unit, but not with non-UV colour patterns. UV-patternless flowers were associated with most of the pollination systems, while UV-patterned flowers were mainly associated with bee-pollination. UV-absorbing flowers comprised the only category with hawkmoth- and butterfly-pollinated flowers, and a high percentage of hummingbird-pollinated species. Nocturnal pollinated species were also commonly UV-absorbing, except for one UV-reflecting bat-pollinated species and one beetle-pollinated species with UV-reflecting stigmas. All types of floral UV features were associated with nectar; however, flowers with contrasting reproductive structures were mainly associated with pollen. There was an association between UV-absorbing species and the presence of inflorescences and intermediate attraction units. Our results evince that phylogenetic relatedness can constraint floral UV features' diversification, but combinations of evolutionary and ecological processes may be expected in this scenario.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Tunes
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Plant-Animal Interactions, Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences (Botany), Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil
| | | | - Elza Guimarães
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Plant-Animal Interactions, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
|