Civet pollination in Mucuna birdwoodiana (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae)

Kobayashi, Shun; Gale, Stephan W.; Denda, Tetsuo; Izawa, Masako

doi:10.1007/s11258-019-00927-y

Cited by 14 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Mucuna macrocarpa (Fabaceae) is a woody, evergreen, climbing vine that is widely distributed in Southeast Asia, Himalayas, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Archipelago, and Kyushu, Japan (Tateishi & Ohashi, 1981). This species shows a special "explosive opening" step during pollination (Figure 1), which is a common trait in the genus (Agostini, Sazima, & Sazima, 2006;von Helversen & von Helversen, 2003;Kobayashi, Gale, Denda, & Izawa, 2019;van der Pijl, 1941). The stamens and pistil are covered by a pair of carina petals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The pollination system of the widely distributed mammal‐pollinated Mucuna macrocarpa (Fabaceae) in the tropics

Kobayashi

Denda

Placksanoi

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Although the pollinators of some plant species differ across regions, only a few mammal‐pollinated plant species have regional pollinator differences in Asia. Mucuna macrocarpa (Fabaceae) is pollinated by squirrels, flying foxes, and macaques in subtropical and temperate islands. In this study, the pollination system of M. macrocarpa was identified in tropical Asia, where the genus originally diversified. This species requires “explosive opening” of the flower, where the wing petals must be pressed down and the banner petal pushed upward to fully expose the stamens and pistil. A bagging experiment showed that fruits did not develop in inflorescences (n = 66) with unopened flowers, whereas fruits developed in 68.7% of inflorescences (n = 131) with opened flowers. This indicated that the explosive opening is needed for the species to reproduce. Four potential pollinator mammals were identified by a video camera‐trap survey, and 78.3% and 60.1% of monitored inflorescences (n = 138) were opened by gray‐bellied squirrels (Callosciurus caniceps) and Finlayson's squirrels (C. finlaysonii), respectively, even though more than 10 mammal species visited flowers. Nectar was surrounded by the calyx, and the volume and sugar concentration of secreted nectar did not change during the day. This nectar secretion pattern is similar to those reported by previous studies in other regions. These results showed that the main pollinators of M. macrocarpa in the tropics are squirrels. However, the species' nectar secretion pattern is not specifically adapted to this particular pollinator. Pollinators of M. macrocarpa differ throughout the distribution range based on the fauna present, but there might not have been no distinctive changes in the attractive traits that accompanied these changes in pollinators.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The pollination system of the widely distributed mammal‐pollinated Mucuna macrocarpa (Fabaceae) in the tropics

Kobayashi

Denda

Placksanoi

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Mucuna (Fabaceae) is a genus of more than 100 species of woody climbing plants that is thought to have originated in tropical Asia and subsequently diversified throughout the global tropics and subtropics (Moura et al, 2016; Schrire, 2005). The flower type of this genus is papilionaceous (butterfly like), and an explosive opening step has been shown to be essential for successful pollination in all species examined to date (Agostini, Sazima, & Sazima, 2006; Kobayashi, Denda, et al, 2019; Kobayashi, Gale, et al, 2019; Liu, Shah, Zha, Mohsin, & Ishtiaq, 2013). Explosive opening involves the rapid freeing of the stamens and pistil from behind the carina petals, which are firmly appressed to one another in the unopened state (Westercamp, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Explosive opening involves the rapid freeing of the stamens and pistil from behind the carina petals, which are firmly appressed to one another in the unopened state (Westercamp, 1997). This cannot happen automatically and so must be triggered by specific foraging animals, termed explosive openers, upon which the plant therefore completely depends for pollination (Agostini et al, 2006; Kobayashi, Denda, et al, 2019; Kobayashi, Gale, et al, 2019; D. von Helversen & von Helversen, 1999). As flowers in this genus tend to be large (approximately 5–10 cm long) and morphologically complex, a minimum force applied in the right direction is required to trigger explosive opening.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because most pollen grains are shed by the anthers in the instances where explosive opening is triggered, with the pollen grains being fired directly onto the face of the explosive opener, the explosive opener is often the main pollinator (e.g., Agostini et al, 2006; Baker, 1970; Hopkins & Hopkins, 1993; Kobayashi, Denda, et al, 2019; Kobayashi, Gale, et al, 2019). As a consequence of these morphological and mechanical conditions, Mucuna species are often presumed to be pollinated by bats or birds (Fægri & van der Pijl, 1979; Willmer, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a consequence of these morphological and mechanical conditions, Mucuna species are often presumed to be pollinated by bats or birds (Fægri & van der Pijl, 1979; Willmer, 2011). However, recent studies have revealed that non‐flying mammals, such as squirrels, macaques and civets, can also serve as pollinators of some Asian Mucuna species (Chen, Zhang, Dong, Gong, & Ma, 2012; Kobayashi, Denda, et al, 2019; Kobayashi, Gale, et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rat‐ and bat‐pollination of Mucuna championii (Fabaceae) in Hong Kong

Kobayashi

Gale²,

Denda

et al. 2020

Plant Species Biology

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Mucuna (Fabaceae) species possess gullet‐type flowers that open explosively and which are thought to be specifically adapted for bat‐ or bird‐pollination. However, recent studies have shown that non‐flying mammals are also important pollinators of this genus in Asia. Here we report on the pollination system of Mucuna championii (endemic in southeast China) in Hong Kong. As is typical for the genus, explosive opening is essential for fruit set, but flowers are unable to open in the absence of manipulation by an effective pollinator. Camera trap surveys of three individuals revealed both chestnut spiny rats (Niviventer fulvescens) and short‐nosed fruit bats (Cynopterus sphinx) to be capable of triggering explosive opening. The number of flowers opened by each species did not differ significantly, and both removed most pollen grains from the flowers they visited, but either species visited different individuals. Sucrose‐rich nectar was secreted by flowers throughout the day. Our results reveal that M. championii can be pollinated by both rats and bats, with this representing only the second report of rat‐pollination in tropical Asia. The sympatric M. birdwoodiana often occurs in close proximity to M. championii and has an overlapping flowering season, suggesting that pollinator segregation may have played a role in shaping the evolutionary ecology of these two species.

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