Floral traits and community phylogenetic structure shape plant-pollinator interactions in co-occurring Rhododendrons in the Himalaya

Abstract Background So far, macroecological studies in the Himalaya have mostly concentrated on spatial variation of overall species richness along the elevational gradient. Very few studies have attempted to document the difference in elevational richness patterns of native and exotic species. In this study, this knowledge gap is addressed by integrating data on phylogeny and elevational distribution of species to identify the variation in species richness, phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic structure of exotic and native plant species along an elevational gradient in the Himalaya. Results Species distribution patterns for exotic and native species differed; exotics tended to show maximum species richness at low elevations while natives tended to predominate at mid-elevations. Native species assemblages showed higher phylogenetic diversity than the exotic species assemblages over the entire elevational gradient in the Himalaya. In terms of phylogenetic structure, exotic species assemblages showed majorly phylogenetic clustering while native species assemblages were characterized by phylogenetic overdispersion over the entire gradient. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that areas with high native species richness and phylogenetic diversity are less receptive to exotic species and vice versa in the Himalaya. Species assemblages with high native phylogenetic overdispersion are less receptive to exotic species than the phylogenetically clustered assemblages. Different ecological processes (ecological filtering in case of exotics and resource and niche competition in case of natives) may govern the distribution of exotic and native species along the elevational gradient in the Himalaya.

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Community phylogenetic structure reveals the imprint of dispersal-related dynamics and environmental filtering by nutrient availability in freshwater diatoms

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-48125-0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

François Keck ◽

Maria Kahlert

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Availability ◽

Environmental Filtering ◽

Phylogenetic Structure ◽

Freshwater Diatoms ◽

Community Phylogenetic Structure

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The influence of floral traits on insect foraging behaviour on medicinal plants in an urban garden of eastern India

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467421000341 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 200-207

Author(s):

Pushan Chakraborty ◽

Poulami Adhikary Mukherjee ◽

Supratim Laha ◽

Salil Kumar Gupta

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Medicinal Plant ◽

Floral Traits ◽

Bipartite Network ◽

Pollinator Visitation ◽

Pollinator Behaviour ◽

Native Flora ◽

Urban Garden ◽

Indian State ◽

Plant Pollinator

Abstract Understanding the pollination biology of medicinal plants and their important insect pollinators is necessary for their conservation. The present study explored the complex interactions between pollinator visitation and effect of floral traits on pollinator behaviour on seven medicinal plant species grown in an urban garden in West Bengal, an eastern Indian state. The observations revealed 30 morphospecies of insect flower visitors (Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera) that touched floral reproductive parts on the selected plants during visitation. Additionally, it was observed that floral traits (e.g., corolla length and corolla opening diameter) were important predictors of the behaviour of insects when visiting the flowers. Plant–pollinator interactions were analysed using a bipartite network approach which explored the important links between insect and plants in the network revealing the key interactions, and species which are crucial to system maintenance. This piece of work contributes to our ability to understand and maintain a stable medicinal plant–pollinator network which will support efforts to conserve native flora and insects.

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Is there spatial variation in phenotypic selection on floral traits in a generalist plant–pollinator system?

Evolutionary Ecology ◽

10.1007/s10682-019-10002-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (5) ◽

pp. 687-700

Author(s):

Alejandra V. González ◽

Catalina González-Browne ◽

Patricia Salinas ◽

Maureen Murúa

Keyword(s):

Spatial Variation ◽

Phenotypic Selection ◽

Floral Traits ◽

Plant Pollinator

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Visibility and attractiveness of Fritillaria (Liliaceae) flowers to potential pollinators

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90140-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Katarzyna Roguz ◽

Laurence Hill ◽

Sebastian Koethe ◽

Klaus Lunau ◽

Agata Roguz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Reward ◽

Potential Role ◽

Flower Colour ◽

Floral Traits ◽

Nectar Guides ◽

Flower Colours ◽

Visual Attraction ◽

Floral Characters ◽

Plant Pollinator

AbstractVisual floral characters play an important role in shaping plant-pollinator interactions. The genus Fritillaria L. (Liliaceae), comprising approximately 140 species, is described as displaying a remarkable variety of flower colours and sizes. Despite this variation in visual floral traits of fritillaries, little is known about the potential role of these features in shaping plant-pollinator interactions. Here, we seek to clarify the role of visual attraction in species offering a robust food reward for pollinators early in the spring, which is the case for Fritillaria. We also searched for potential tendencies in the evolution of floral traits crucial for plant-pollinator communication. The generality of species with green and purple flowers may indicate an influence of environmental factors other than pollinators. The flowers of the studied species seem to be visible but not very visually attractive to potential pollinators. The food rewards are hidden within the nodding perianth, and both traits are conserved among fritillaries. Additionally, visual floral traits are not good predictors of nectar properties. When in the flowers, pollinators are navigated by nectar guides in the form of contrasting nectary area colouration. Flower colour does not serve as a phenotypic filter against illegitimate pollinators—red and orange bird-pollinated fritillaries are visible to bees.

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