Reproductive ecology of the carnivorous plant Pinguicula moranensis (Lentibulariaceae)

Abstract

The interaction of plants with pollinators can be a determinant of their reproductive fitness. However, information about the pollination biology of carnivorous plants is scarce. To increase knowledge of reproductive ecology of carnivorous plants we focused on Pinguicula moranensis. Specifically, based on the presence of large, zygomorphic and spurred flowers, we predicted higher reproductive fitness in cross-pollinated than in self-pollinated flowers. Within a plot of 51 m we characterised the reproductive phenology, including flower lifespan and stigmatic receptivity. We identified pollinators and their movement patterns within the plot. Breeding system was experimentally evaluated using hand-pollination (i.e. autonomous, self- and cross-pollination). Flowers of P. moranensis were visited by long-tongued pollinators, mainly members of the Lepidoptera. Hand-pollination experiments confirmed our prediction and suggest that flower traits might favour cross-pollination. We mainly discuss the implications of the patchy distribution of plants and behaviour of pollinators on gene movement in this plant species, as pollination between genetically related individuals could be occurring.

Floral micromorphology of the bird-pollinated carnivorous plant speciesUtricularia menziesiiR.Br. (Lentibulariaceae)

“…Most Lentibulariaceae species (genera Pinguicula, Genlisea and Utricularia) are pollinated by insects (Taylor, 1989;Zamora, 1999;Hobbhahn et al, 2006;Fleischmann, 2012;Clivati et al, 2014;Villegas and Alcalá, 2018;Aranguren et al, 2018;Cross et al, 2018;Płachno et al, 2018a). Bird pollination is rare and has probably evolved independently three times in this family; once in Pinguicula (two species from the same section) and twice in Utricularia (three species, two non-related sections).…”

Effects of crossing distance on fitness components in the carnivorous plant Pinguicula moranensis (Lentibulariaceae)

“…Thus, the fitness of carnivorous species could depend on interactions with both prey and pollinators (Jürgens, Sciligo, Witt, El-Sayed, & Suckling, 2012). Carnivorous plants display wide diversity of reproductive systems, and studies addressing reproductive ecology have documented variation in flower structure and histochemistry, flower phenology and longevity, mating system, pollination syndrome, and visitation rate, among others (Adam, 1998;Chua, 2000;Clivati, Cordeiro, Płachno, & Miranda, 2014;Hobbhahn, Küchmeister, & Porembski, 2006;Kato, 1993;Lowrie, 2001;Meindl & Mesler, 2011;Molano-Flores et al, 2018;Molau, 1993;Murza & Davis, 2003;Ne´eman et al, 2006;Olivencia, Claver, & Alcaraz, 1995;Płachno et al, 2018;Renner, 1989;Schnell, 1983;Villegas & Alcalá, 2017). These studies have identified selfing and outbreeding species, but the information on the effects of varying distance to pollen donors is scarce in carnivorous plant species.…”

“…This information is needed to improve our understanding of the fitness consequences of outbreeding species when exposed to inbreeding. This scenario is likely to occur as a result of the spatial distribution of individual plants and the foraging pattern of pollinators, despite traits promoting outcrossing (Clivati et al, 2014;Hobbhahn et al, 2006;Molano-Flores et al, 2018;Villegas & Alcalá, 2017).…”

Flower nectar trichome structure of carnivorous plants from the genus butterworts Pinguicula L. (Lentibulariaceae)

“…They are grouped into one clade-Mexican-Central American-Caribbean Clade I (Cieslak et al 2005). From examined species, pollinators (butterflies) were recorded only for P. moranensis (Villegas and Alcalá 2018); however, flower structure (coloured flowers with long and thin spurs) suggests that also other examined species are pollinated by butterflies.…”

“…The Mexican Pinguicula species (P. moranensis), which produce large, coloured, hercogamous flowers that have long spurs, are pollinated by Lepidoptera (Zamudio 2001;Villegas and Alcalá 2018, see Fig. 5 in Villegas and Alcalá 2018, which presents a beautiful "Schematic representation of pollination in Pinguicula moranensis"). According to Abrahamczyk et al (2017), Pinguicula macrophylla and P. moctezumaeare are also pollinated by Lepidoptera.…”