Reproductive traits related to anemophily and insect visitors in two species of Poaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

Dórea, Marcos C.; Santos, D. W. J.; Oliveira, Reyjane Patrícia de; Funch, Lígia Silveira; Santos, Francisco de Assis Ribeiro dos

doi:10.1007/s40415-018-0454-z

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Without sufficient data on the phylogenetic distribution of ambophily we will be unable to answer questions regarding the ancestral condition (either entomophily or anemophily) from which ambophily arose. Conceivably, ambophily may evolve to compensate for a low pollination rate of either wind or insects following the colonisation of wind‐ or insect‐poor habitats (Culley et al ., 2002; Costa & Machado, 2012; Dórea et al ., 2018) or geographic regions (Peeters & Totland, 1999; Totland & Sottocornola, 2001; Traveset & Navarro, 2018). With few data on ambophilous species available, these more general questions have been impossible to answer previously.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The best of two worlds: ecology and evolution of ambophilous plants

2022

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Ambophily, the mixed mode of wind and insect pollination is still poorly understood, even though it has been known to science for over 130 years. While its presence has been repeatedly inferred, experimental data remain regrettably rare. No specific suite of morphological or ecological characteristics has yet been identified for ambophilous plants and their ecology and evolution remain uncertain. In this review we summarise and evaluate our current understanding of ambophily, primarily based on experimental studies. A total of 128 ambophilous speciesincluding several agriculturally important cropshave been reported from most major habitat types worldwide, but this probably represents only a small subset of ambophilous species. Ambophilous species have evolved both from wind-and insect-pollinated ancestors, with insectpollinated ancestors mostly representing pollination by small, generalist flower visitors. We compiled floral and reproductive traits for known ambophilous species and compared our results to traits of species pollinated either by wind or by small generalist insects only. Floral traits were found to be heterogeneous and strongly overlap especially with those of species pollinated by small generalist insects, which are also the prominent pollinator group for ambophilous plants. A few ambophilous species are only pollinated by specialised bees or beetles in addition to pollination by wind. The heterogeneity of floral traits and high similarity to generalist small insect-pollinated species lead us to conclude that ambophily is not a separate pollination syndrome but includes species belonging to different insect-as well as wind-pollination syndromes. Ambophily therefore should be regarded as a pollination mode. We found that a number of ecological factors promoted the evolution of ambophily, including avoidance of pollen limitation and self-pollination, spatial flower interference and population density. However, the individual ecological factors favouring the transition to ambophily vary among species depending on species distribution, habitat, population structure and reproductive system. Finally, a number of experimental studies in combination with observations of floral traits of living and fossil species and dated phylogenies may indicate evolutionary stability. In some clades ambophily has likely prevailed for millions of years, for example in the castanoid clade of the Fagaceae.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The best of two worlds: ecology and evolution of ambophilous plants

2022

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“…The role of bees in bamboo pollination is an argued issue [ 51 , 54 ] and most authors are proponents of wind and insect-assisted pollination [ 35 , 37 , 40 , 51 , 52 ], while a few support anemophily alone [ 55 , 56 ]. We grouped M .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera

Koshy

Gopakumar²,

Sebastian³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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Mast seeding and associated events in Melocanna baccifera, the largest fruit producing bamboo, is an enigma. So far there are no comprehensive accounts on its flowering phenology, fruiting dynamics and animal interactions. In this study, spanning over 13 years (2009 to 2022), we observed eight M. baccifera clumps in JNTBGRI Bambusetum from flowering initiation, fruiting to eventual death. Flowering phenology, floral characteristics, floret types, breeding system, bee visitation, pollination, fruit production and predators were recorded; predation patterns were correlated with fruit chemistry. Flowering duration of clumps ranged from 20 (March 2009—October 2010) to 120 (September 2012—August 2022) months. Bisexual florets are dichogamous and protogynous; and female duration (22–72 h) is many times higher than male duration (2–6 h). The highest ever fruit production for an individual bamboo clump (456.67 Kg) was recorded. Of the total fallen fruits (38371), 38.11% were predated, 43.80% good fruits (no predator hits) and 18.09% immature fruits. A positive correlation between reward (fruits) versus predation was observed, especially in short intervals of high fruit production. Pollen predators (Apis cerana indica, Halictus taprabonae, Braunsapis cupulifera, Trigona iridipennis), fruit predators, ranging from arthropods to mammals, viz., millipede (Spinotarsus colosseus), slug (Mariaella dussumieri), snails (Cryptozona bistrialis, Macrochlamys sp.), borers (Achroia grisella, Blattella germanica), mammals (monkeys Macaca radiata, rats Rattus rattus, porcupine Hystrix indica, wild boar Sus scrofa, palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), seedling predators (rabbit Lepus nigricollis, deer Axis axis), and insect/pest predators (ants Crematogaster biroi, Oecophylla smaragdina, mantis Euchomenella indica) were identified. Fruit predation is linked to its age and chemistry. Apart from new insights on flowering phenology, breeding system, pollination and fruiting dynamics, this study demonstrates the vibrant interaction between M. baccifera flowers/fruits and visitors/predators, and provides significant leads towards elucidating the cause of rat multiplication and other events associated with its gregarious flowering.

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“…Thus, the blowfly species could be considered mainly as an insect-assist anemophily on the pollination of castor bean. The importance of the insectassist anemophily was also documented on Zea mays in Cameroon (Tchuenguem et al, 2002) and on Lasiacis ligulata (Panicoideae) in Brazil (Dorea et al, 2018). Overall, R. communis appears to be an ambophilic plant species which is both entomophilous and anemophilous.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Floral activity of Chrysomya putoria Wiedemann, 1830 (Diptera: Calliphoridae) enhances the pollination and fruit set rate of Ricinus communis L., 1753 (Euphorbiaceae)

Michelson¹,

Bouba²,

Beaudelaine³

et al. 2022

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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Experiments were conducted to study the foraging behaviour of blowfly species, Chrysomya putoria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) in Sudano-Sahelian area of Cameroon in 2017 and 2018. To do so, castor bean plants were flagged and fly foraging parameters were recorded. The effects of blowfly activity on pollination and fruiting rate of R. communis were estimated by comparing unrestricted and restricted racemes. Chrysomya putoria accounted for 82.33% of the total number of flower visits among the 15 anthophilous insects recorded. Pollen and nectar foraging occurred throughout the day, with a major peak at 8-9 am. The density of foragers was about 300 individuals per plant. The mean duration of a flower visit for male and female flowers was significantly different and resulted in a foraging speed of 3-5 flowers/minute which increases cross-pollination of R. communis. The floral activity of C. putoria improved the fruiting rate of castor bean by about 11% and conversely, this plant appeared as an important food source for the conservation of its main flowervisitor. Castor bean and the blowfly species seem to have a mutualistic relationship.

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Reproductive traits related to anemophily and insect visitors in two species of Poaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

Cited by 14 publications

References 31 publications

The best of two worlds: ecology and evolution of ambophilous plants

The best of two worlds: ecology and evolution of ambophilous plants

Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera

Floral activity of Chrysomya putoria Wiedemann, 1830 (Diptera: Calliphoridae) enhances the pollination and fruit set rate of Ricinus communis L., 1753 (Euphorbiaceae)

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