Insect Visitors of Lavender (<i>Lavandula officinalis</i> L.): Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Interactions of the Plant with Its Main Pollinators

Benachour, K.

doi:10.4001/003.025.0435

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…On the other hand, we only observed few species of flower‐visiting insects foraging on lavender (Schurr, unpubl. ), and this was also reported in previous studies (Balfour et al, 2013; Benachour, 2017; Valchev et al, 2022). This could also be explained by the fact that lavender does not produce pollen contrary to fennel and thus may attract fewer flower‐visiting species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…In the study area, fennel flowers are visited by a wide range of insects (Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera; Schurr et al, 2021). Although lavender is known to be probed by various insects (Balfour et al, 2013; Benachour, 2017; Herrera, 1990; Valchev et al, 2022), the range of visitors for lavender is expected to be smaller than that of visitors for fennel due to the morphological differences between the flowers (open vs. tubular).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimates of nectar productivity through a simulation approach differ from the nectar produced in 24 h

Carisio

Schurr²,

Masotti³

et al. 2022

Functional Ecology

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Nectar is a key resource for numerous insects. Despite its importance, nectar productivity has mainly been assessed using one sampling method, in which the volume of nectar produced by a flower is measured after 24 h of isolation from insects (‘measured 24 h volume’ hereafter). This method assumes that nectar removal by flower‐visiting insects does not affect nectar productivity. Hence, a linearity in the nectar production dynamic is assumed. The effect of nectar removal could lead to an actual volume of nectar produced per flower over 24 h being higher or lower than the measured 24 h volume. Whether the nectar productivity is influenced by insect activity still therefore needs to be assessed. In a field experiment, we estimated the nectar production dynamics of lavender (Lavandula hybrida) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) flowers and tested whether they met the linearity assumption. Then, we developed a simulation model to identify how different scenarios of insect foraging activity: nectar removal rate (average and maximum), and flower‐selection strategies (random selection or rewarding flower selection) alter the estimated 24 h volume of nectar for both crops (‘estimated 24 h volume’ hereafter). Finally, we tested whether the estimated 24 h volume differed from the measured 24 h volume for both crops. Lavender and fennel showed equal measured 24 h volume of nectar but the produced nectar volume over 6 h suggested that a flower of lavender was more productive than a flower of fennel. Both nectar production dynamics did not meet the assumption of linearity. The simulation models showed that the estimated 24 h volume increased with maximum nectar removal rate for lavender, and the opposite was found for fennel. Rewarding selection always increased the estimated 24 h volume for fennel while for lavender a positive effect was detected at average rate of nectar removal. We found that the estimated 24 h volume was always greater than the measured 24 h volume. Our model demonstrated that the effect of insect foraging activity on flower's nectar productivity should be considered while estimating the resources produced by plants. As an alternative, measures of produced nectar volume in short time spans may be compared with the measured 24 h volume to check the reliability of this widespread method. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimates of nectar productivity through a simulation approach differ from the nectar produced in 24 h

Carisio

Schurr²,

Masotti³

et al. 2022

Functional Ecology

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“…Interest in lavender flowers and essential oil has been growing in recent years in different sectors: perfumery and cosmetics, food manufacturing, and aromatherapy [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Among other things, this plant plays a fundamental role in the survival of numerous species of wild bee in mountain areas [ 35 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spontaneous Officinal Plants in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park: Tradition, Protection, Enhancement, and Recovery

Falco

Rigano

Fico³

et al. 2023

Plants

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The aim of this study was to deepen our knowledge on the heritage and traditional uses of some medicinal plants of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park (Salerno province) and to evaluate their productive potential, in order to increase possible uses to recover and enhance the territory. Biometric surveys and biomass evaluation were carried out. Two types of aqueous extract were prepared using air-dried samples of six harvested species and tested for anti-germination activity on Lepidium sativum L. Hydrolates were recovered via steam distillation from aromatic species and the chemical–physical characteristics were determined. Historical evidence of industrial activity was collected in the territory of Sanza on Monte Cervati, where lavender essential oil has been distilled in the past century, and characterization of the essential oil components was carried out. The ethnobotanical uses detected mainly concerned traditional medicine and nutritional, ritual, or religious uses. The experimental results highlight that spontaneous medicinal plants could become potential sources of local economic development, with uses not only in the phytotherapeutic sector, but also in others, such as food and agriculture for weed control. Moreover, the evidence derived from industrial archeology could represent a further driving force for the enhancement of the territory’s resources.

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“…is omnipresent in Mediterranean landscapes and flowers from the beginning of June to the end of July, depending on the altitude. It is a nectariferous plant that attracts a large number of pollinators and associated insects (e.g., predators) (Benachour, 2017). The censuses that we carried out on various fields of cultivated lavender show up to 140 different species of arthropods, including numerous species of bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies, honeybees and Diptera (Nicolè, pers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tropospheric Ozone Alters the Chemical Signal Emitted by an Emblematic Plant of the Mediterranean Region: The True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.)

et al. 2022

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Among air pollutants, tropospheric ozone (O3) is one of the most stressful for organisms due to its strong oxidative potential. For instance, high ozone concentration ([O3]) has the potential to affect (i) the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by plants and (ii) the lifetime of these VOCs in the atmosphere, and consequently disturb crucial signals in the interactions between plants and other organisms. However, despite the determinant role of VOCs emitted by flowers for pollinator attraction, a very limited number of studies have investigated the impact of O3 on floral VOCs. In this study, we investigated the effect of high [O3] episodes on the VOCs emitted by a flowering Mediterranean plant: the true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Lamiaceae). To do so, in controlled conditions, we exposed (i) the entire plant to high but realistic [O3] (200 ppb for 5 h) and (ii) only the VOCs emitted by lavender to increasing [O3] (0, 40, 80, 120, and 200 ppb). We sampled VOCs of lavender in both conditions and analyzed them by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in order to qualify and quantify the flowering lavender’s emissions and the reaction of VOCs with O3 in the atmosphere. Our results showed that exposure to high [O3] during a short period (5 h) did not affect the emission of VOCs by flowering lavender. Incidentally, we also showed that the chemical signal varied in quantities and proportions over the day. Moreover, we showed that after their emission by the plant, composition of the VOCs changed quantitatively and qualitatively in an atmosphere containing [O3] naturally observed nowadays. Quantities of several of the major terpenes emitted by lavender decreased drastically during O3 exposure, whereas concentrations of some VOCs increased, such as carbonyls and carboxylic acids, which are probably reaction products of terpenes with O3. Exposure to high [O3] thus directly affected the proportions of VOCs in the atmosphere. Because pollinators generally use a blend of VOCs in particular proportions as a signal to localize flowers, the numerous pollinators of lavender may experience difficulty in recognizing specific floral odors during frequent and moderate [O3] episodes in the Mediterranean region.

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Insect Visitors of Lavender (Lavandula officinalis L.): Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Interactions of the Plant with Its Main Pollinators

Cited by 12 publications

References 35 publications

Estimates of nectar productivity through a simulation approach differ from the nectar produced in 24 h

Estimates of nectar productivity through a simulation approach differ from the nectar produced in 24 h

Spontaneous Officinal Plants in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park: Tradition, Protection, Enhancement, and Recovery

Tropospheric Ozone Alters the Chemical Signal Emitted by an Emblematic Plant of the Mediterranean Region: The True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.)

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