Thread‐like appendix on <i>Arisaema urashima</i> (Araceae) attracts fungus gnat pollinators

Suetsugu, Kenji; Nishigaki, Hiroki; Fukushima, Shigeki; Ishitani, Eiji; Kakishima, Satoshi; Sueyoshi, Masahiro

doi:10.1002/ecy.3782

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…This prevents pollen robbery by non-pollinators, and the stigma form facilitates pollen deposition in Rafflesiaceae flowers (Beaman et al 1988 ). Filiform appendages have been related to fly-pollination serving as landing platforms or scent-emitting structures, which influence the attraction of pollinators and their behaviour (Katsuhara et al 2017 ; Suetsugu et al 2021 , 2022 ). In addition to filiform appendages, the strong foul smell, large or small flowers clustered in inflorescences, in some cases the presence of nectar, colours resembling decaying meat or dung, and the presence of hairy pads are some of the features that characterize the sapromyophilous pollination syndrome (Faegri and van der Pijl 1979 ; Moir et al 2022 ; Shuttleworth et al 2017 ; Suetsugu et al 2022 ; Willmer 2011 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The floral biology and the role of staminal connective appendages during pollination of the endoparasite Bdallophytum americanum (Cytinaceae)

Rios-Carrasco,

Sánchez,

Ortega-González

et al. 2023

J Plant Res

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Bdallophytum americanum (Cytinaceae) is an endoparasitic plant species, meaning only the flowers emerge from the host during the reproductive season. Reports on the pollination biology of this species state that its primary pollinators are carrion flies attracted by the smell of the flowers and nectar as a reward. However, the functional role of one of the most outstanding attributes of B. americanum has been neglected. These are the staminal appendages formed by the apical overgrowth of connective tissue during anther development. To determine whether these staminal appendages play a role in pollination, we monitored a nectarless population of B. americanum. We described the inflorescence emergence, floral movements, and pollination and performed field experiments to test whether the absence of the staminal connective appendages affected the visitation frequency. Male inflorescences emerge early, and both male and female flowers open during the day and do not close. Hoverflies are the most frequent visitors to both floral sexes and carry the most pollen. Moreover, the movement of staminal appendages matching the pollen viability changes is reported for the first time. The staminal appendages are the structures where pollinators land before foraging. The field experiments showed that the visitation frequency decreased sharply without staminal appendages. As a landing platform, the staminal connective appendages in B. americanum are crucial for pollinator positioning and collecting viable pollen.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The floral biology and the role of staminal connective appendages during pollination of the endoparasite Bdallophytum americanum (Cytinaceae)

Rios-Carrasco,

Sánchez,

Ortega-González

et al. 2023

J Plant Res

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“…Dioecious Arisaema species possess a pitcher‐trap pollination system (Barnes, 1935; Vogel & Martens, 2000). In this pollination system, the odor emitted from the spadix appendage and/or the spathe attracts fungus gnats (Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae) into the tubular spathe (Barnes, 1935; Kakishima et al., 2019; Suetsugu et al., 2021, 2022; Vogel & Martens, 2000). Attracted fungus gnats slip down to the bottom of the spathe because the spadix appendage and inner surface of the spathe are covered with wax (Vogel & Martens, 2000).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post‐pollination barriers contribute to coexistence of partially pollinator‐sharing Arisaema species (Araceae)

Zeng,

Shu,

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Reproductive isolation plays an important role in maintaining the species integrity of sympatric close relatives. For sympatric Arisaema species, interspecific gene flow is expected to be effectively prevented by pre‐pollination barriers, particularly strong pollinator isolation mediated by fungus gnats. However, due to the lack of quantitative studies combining multiple pre‐ and post‐pollination barriers, it is not known whether pre‐pollination isolation is complete, and whether post‐pollination barriers also contribute to reproductive isolation among some Arisaema species. In this study, we quantified the individual strengths and absolute contributions of four pre‐ and post‐pollination barriers (phenological isolation, pollinator isolation, hybrid fruit formation, and hybrid seed formation) among three sympatric Arisaema species (A. bockii, A. lobatum, and A. erubescens). Although phenological isolation and pollinator isolation reduced the frequencies of interspecific pollen transfer among these species, the partial overlap of flowering times and pollinator assemblages resulted in incomplete pre‐pollination isolation. Post‐pollination barriers also contributed to reproductive isolation at the hybrid fruit and seed formation stages. We propose that, although pre‐pollination barriers are expected to contribute more to total isolation than post‐pollination barriers in Arisaema, pre‐pollination barriers may not completely prevent interspecific pollen transfer among some Arisaema species. Post‐pollination barriers, which are generally ignored, may also have contributed significantly to reproductive isolation in Arisaema.

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“…Deceptive plants often experience extremely low pollinator visitation, making direct observation of pollinator behavior challenging (Widmer et al, 2000). Therefore, we adopted an approach to assess the pollinator status, drawing from previous research on Arisaema pollination ecology (Kakishima et al, 2019;Matsumoto et al, 2019Matsumoto et al, , 2021Suetsugu et al, 2021Suetsugu et al, , 2022Vogel & Martens, 2000). Our methodology involved examining the pollinator assemblages of A. thunbergii by collecting floral visitors trapped inside 62 spathes, comprising 39 male and 23 female ones.…”

Section: Pollinator Assemblagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, the potential for pollen transfer among insect individuals within the trap complicates interpretations (Kubo et al, 2023). Therefore, to establish a clear definition of pollinators, we applied the following criteria to insect species, established from prior research: (i) they exhibited entrapment in both sealed male and female spathes, and (ii) they possessed a size conducive to passing through the exit hole of the male spathe, thereby facilitating pollen transport (Kakishima et al, 2019;Matsumoto et al, 2019Matsumoto et al, , 2021Suetsugu et al, 2021Suetsugu et al, , 2022Vogel & Martens, 2000).…”

Section: Pollinator Assemblagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Back from the dead: A fungus gnat pollinator turns Arisaema lethal trap into nursery

Suetsugu,

Nishigaki,

Kakishima

et al. 2024

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact StatementThe research explores the complex interaction between flowering plants and their pollinators, specifically focusing on the genus Arisaema. Unlike most plants, Arisaema has a distinctive trait in which killing pollinators can be beneficial. Traditionally, this interaction has been viewed as highly antagonistic because it appears to favor the plants at the expense of the pollinators. However, new evidence reveals that a pollinator uses the lethal floral trap of Arisaema thunbergii as a nursery. Remarkably, some individuals probably even escape from the trap after laying eggs. This finding challenges the prevailing notion that deceptive pollination is the sole outcome in Arisaema, a genus known for its intricate lethal pollination mechanisms.Summary While many flowering plants engage in mutualistic relationships with their pollinators, flower‐insect interactions are not always mutually beneficial. Some plants exploit their pollinators by deceptively promising rewards without delivering them. Among such plants, the genus Arisaema (Araceae) is notable for its antagonistic behavior towards pollinators, as female plants invariably entrap them with lethal effects. Here we tested the hypothesis that the succulent appendix of some Arisaema species, such as Arisaema thunbergii, may serve as a food source for pollinator larvae, leading to the possibility of nursery pollination. To investigate this, we retrieved adult insect corpses trapped within the spathes of A. thunbergii. Subsequently, we incubated the spathes after collecting the corpses to determine if conspecific insects emerged from them. We present novel evidence that one of the main pollinating fungus gnats, Leia ishitanii, uses the lethal floral trap of A. thunbergii inflorescences as a nursery. Astonishingly, some L. ishitanii individuals may even succeed in escaping from the female spathe after depositing their eggs. These findings challenge the conventional understanding that deceptive pollination is the norm within the genus Arisaema. The interaction between A. thunbergii and L. ishitanii, in which a significant portion of female adults die inside but still reproduction seems successful, suggests an intermediate stage between brood‐site deception and nursery pollination mutualism.

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Thread‐like appendix on Arisaema urashima (Araceae) attracts fungus gnat pollinators

Cited by 8 publications

References 17 publications

The floral biology and the role of staminal connective appendages during pollination of the endoparasite Bdallophytum americanum (Cytinaceae)

The floral biology and the role of staminal connective appendages during pollination of the endoparasite Bdallophytum americanum (Cytinaceae)

Post‐pollination barriers contribute to coexistence of partially pollinator‐sharing Arisaema species (Araceae)

Back from the dead: A fungus gnat pollinator turns Arisaema lethal trap into nursery

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