Plant reproduction

2020 ◽  
pp. 218-263
Author(s):  
John D. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Population History ◽  
Floral Traits ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Mosaic Landscape ◽  
Floral Phenology ◽  
Colonization Dynamics ◽  
Pollination Systems ◽  
Generalist Pollination

Population history and colonization dynamics in the Mediterranean mosaic landscape have closely interacted with natural selection to shape patterns of variation in mating systems and the evolution of floral traits and polymorphisms. Floral phenology is closely adapted to avoid the summer drought regime in many plant communities. Many plant species have generalist pollination systems with a complex of tight and loose interactions that affect the evolution of reproductive traits. Floral traits have clearly accompanied diversification in many groups of plants. The evolution of interactions of plants with their pollinators at the landscape and biogeographic scales illustrates intriguing examples of ongoing evolution.

The relationships between floral traits and specificity of pollination systems in three Scandinavian plant communities

Oecologia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 157 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amparo Lázaro ◽  
Stein Joar Hegland ◽  
Ørjan Totland
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Floral Traits ◽  
Pollination Systems

scholarly journals Partitioning the colonization and extinction components of beta diversity: Spatiotemporal species turnover across disturbance gradients

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinichi Tatsumi ◽  
Joachim Strengbom ◽  
Mihails Čugunovs ◽  
Jari Kouki
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Dynamic Nature ◽  
Colonization Dynamics ◽  
Per Se ◽  
The Given ◽  
Temporal Species Turnover

ABSTRACTChanges in species diversity often result from species losses and gains. The dynamic nature of beta diversity (i.e., spatial variation in species composition) that derives from such temporal species turnover, however, has been largely overlooked. Here, we disentangled extinction and colonization components of beta diversity by using the sets of species that went locally extinct and that newly colonized the given sites. We applied this concept of extinction and colonization beta diversity to plant communities that have been repeatedly measured in experimentally disturbed forests. We first found no difference in beta diversity across disturbance gradients when it was analyzed for communities at a single point in time. From this result, we might conclude that disturbance caused no impact on how species assemble across space. However, when we analyzed the extinction and colonization beta diversity, both measures were found to be significantly lower in disturbed sites compared to undisturbed sites. These results indicate that disturbance removed similar subsets of species across space, making communities differentiate, but at the same time induced spatially uniform colonization of new species, causing communities to homogenize. Consequently, the effects of these two processes canceled each other out. The relative importance of extinction and colonization components per se also changed temporally after disturbance. Analyses using extinction and colonization beta diversity allowed us to detect nonrandom dis- and re-assembly dynamics in plant communities. Our results suggest that common practices of analyzing beta diversity at one point in time can mask significant variation driven by disturbance. Acknowledging the extinction–colonization dynamics behind beta diversity is essential for understanding the spatiotemporal organization of biodiversity.

scholarly journals Pollination biology of Cleomella serrulata and Polanisia dodecandra in a protected natural prairie in southern Alberta, Canada

Botany ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (11) ◽  
pp. 745-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Higuera-Díaz ◽  
Jessamyn S. Manson ◽  
Jocelyn C. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
First Record ◽  
Flowering Phenology ◽  
Floral Resources ◽  
Nectar Production ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Nectar Volume ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Pollination Systems ◽  
Generalist Pollination

Flowering plants that attract a diverse range of pollinators represent a generalist pollination system. Studying these plants provides valuable information about accessibility of floral resources to pollinators, which is particularly important in areas where scarcity of flowers limits pollinator populations. Here, we describe the flowering phenology, reproductive biology, and visitor community of Cleomella serrulata (Pursh) Roalson & J.C.Hall and Polanisia dodecandra (L.) DC., two native species with generalist pollination systems and limited distribution in Albertan prairies. Although their flowers are similar, they differ in traits such as petal colour, inflorescence size, and nectar display. Both species were facultatively cross-pollinated and exhibited nocturnal anthesis but differed in nectar production patterns. Cleomella serrulata produced highest nectar volume in the morning and highest sugar concentration at noon, while Polanisia dodecandra produced highest nectar volume before noon but sugar concentrations were higher at sunset. We observed 150 insect taxa visiting the plants, with Hymenoptera and Diptera as the most frequent visitors for Cleomella serrulata and Polanisia dodecandra, respectively. We recorded the first nocturnal flower visitors for Cleomella serrulata and the first record of Nysson plagiatus (Cresson) for Alberta. Both plant species present effective nectar and pollen resources for pollinators at the study sites and may be useful in the maintenance of native pollinators in at-risk prairie ecosystems.

Are diel patterns of nectar production and anthesis associated with other floral traits in plants visited by potential bird and mammal pollinators?

2004 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. M. Saffer
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Floral Traits ◽  
Pollination Syndromes ◽  
Nectar Production ◽  
Diel Patterns ◽  
Pollen Presentation ◽  
Pollination Systems

Plants pollinated predominantly by vertebrates are thought to have suites of floral traits (e.g.�colour, conspicuousness, odour) that favour either birds or mammals, with brightly coloured, conspicuous flowers associated with birds and drab, concealed flowers with non-flying mammals. This study examined two other floral traits, diel patterns of nectar production and pollen presentation (anthesis). It would be expected that these would be nocturnal in putatively mammal-pollinated plants and diurnal in bird-pollinated plants. In four Banksia and two Dryandra species, all known to be visited by honeyeater birds and small marsupials at one site in south-western Australia, there was no clear correspondence between visual cues and diel patterns of resource presentation. This lack of correlation between floral traits does not support the idea of specialised pollination syndromes, but rather is consistent with generalised pollination systems.

Effects of ants on pollinator performance in a distylous pericarpial nectary-bearing Rubiaceae in Brazilian Cerrado

Sociobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
Bruno De Sousa-Lopes ◽  
Eduardo Soares Calixto ◽  
Eduardo Soares Calixto ◽  
Helena Maura Torezan-Silingardi ◽  
Helena Maura Torezan-Silingardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Cost ◽  
Field Study ◽  
Brazilian Cerrado ◽  
Effective Protection ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Floral Phenology ◽  
Floral Visitors ◽  
Pollinator Performance ◽  
Pollination Systems

Besides the eff ectiveness of floral visitors, to better understand pollination systems is necessary to consider the role of predators. Ants are ubiquitous on the vegetation, especially on plants bearing extrafloral (EFNs) and pericarpial nectaries (PNs). Both EFNs and PNs reward ants which in turn provide to plants effective protection against herbivores. However, ants can also repel pollinators and cause an indirect cost for the plant partner, although the role of ants on pollinators’ performance has rarely been assessed in Neotropics, mainly on PN-bearing plants. Here, our main aim was, through an experimental field study in terms of ant’s presence versus absence, to test the hypothesis that ants dissuade floral visitors by decreasing the time spent during visits on the PN-bearing Declieuxia fruticosa. Additionally, we recorded floral phenology, and quantified and qualified floral visits. We showed that bees were the most frequent pollinators and the presence of ants dissuades them. In ant presence, pollinators were on average 30% faster than without ants. Since D. fruticosa produces fruits mainly after cross-pollination, the role of ants may be profi table to plants as they induce pollinators to do shorter visits and search for other fl owers in conspecifi c plants. Therefore, pollinators avoid stay at longer on plants with ants in order to avoid attacks, which may contribute to plant outcrossing. However, whether positive or negative the effects of ants on D. fruticosa reproduction are, they remain to be studied.

scholarly journals The role of pollinator diversity in the evolution of corolla-shape integration in a pollination-generalist plant clade

2014 ◽  
Vol 369 (1649) ◽  
pp. 20130257 ◽  
Author(s):  
José María Gómez ◽  
Francisco Perfectti ◽  
Christian Peter Klingenberg
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Floral Traits ◽  
Phylogenetic Comparative Methods ◽  
Pollinator Diversity ◽  
Pollination Systems ◽  
Integrated Structures ◽  
Study Species

Flowers of animal-pollinated plants are integrated structures shaped by the action of pollinator-mediated selection. It is widely assumed that pollination specialization increases the magnitude of floral integration. However, empirical evidence is still inconclusive. In this study, we explored the role of pollinator diversity in shaping the evolution of corolla-shape integration in Erysimum , a plant genus with generalized pollination systems. We quantified floral integration in Erysimum using geometric morphometrics and explored its evolution using phylogenetic comparative methods. Corolla-shape integration was low but significantly different from zero in all study species. Spatial autocorrelation and phylogenetic signal in corolla-shape integration were not detected. In addition, integration in Erysimum seems to have evolved in a way that is consistent with Brownian motion, but with frequent convergent evolution. Corolla-shape integration was negatively associated with the number of pollinators visiting the flowers of each Erysimum species. That is, it was lower in those species having a more generalized pollination system. This negative association may occur because the co-occurrence of many pollinators imposes conflicting selection and cancels out any consistent selection on specific floral traits, preventing the evolution of highly integrated flowers.

scholarly journals High selfing capability and low pollinator visitation in the epiphyte Pitcairnia heterophylla (Bromeliaceae) at a Costa Rican cloud forest

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis D. Ríos ◽  
Alfredo Cascante-Marín
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Floral Traits ◽  
Nectar Production ◽  
Pollinator Visitation ◽  
Visitation Rate ◽  
Pollinator Visitation Rate ◽  
Hand Pollination ◽  
Pollination Systems ◽  
Epiphytic Bromeliads

AbstractMost epiphytic bromeliads exhibit specialized pollination systems likely to promote out-crossing but, at the same time, possess floral traits that promote autonomous selfing. Adaptations that promote selfing in flowering plants with specialized pollination systems have been considered as a mechanism for reproductive assurance. In this paper, we analyzed the breeding system and pollinator visitation rate of the hummingbird-pollinated bromeliad Pitcairnia heterophylla in order to see if they fit such trend. We performed hand pollination experiments, video recording of floral visitors, and recorded floral traits in order to describe the reproductive and pollination system of the studied species in a cloud forest in Costa Rica. Results from the pollination treatments indicated that P. heterophylla is self-compatible (SCIf = 0.77), capable of autonomous pollination (AFIf = 0.78), and non-agamospermous (AGf = 0.01). Floral traits, such as scentless red flowers, with tubular corolla and nectar production, suggested ornithophily which was confirmed by the video recording of Lampornis calolaemus (Trochilidae) visiting flowers. However, the visitation rate was low (0.6 visits day-1 per plant) based on 918 hours of video recording using trail cameras. We suggest that the high selfing capability of the studied population of P. heterophylla might be related to the low pollinator visitation rate. If low pollinator visitation is common among hummingbird-pollinated and epiphytic bromeliads, then selfing could be a widespread mechanism to enhance their reproductive success.

Disentangling the ecological basis of floral trait variation in Neotropical Piper species

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriano Valentin-Silva ◽  
Marco Antonio Batalha ◽  
Elza Guimarães
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Floral Traits ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Floral Trait ◽  
Floral Diversification ◽  
Pollen Vectors ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Pollination Systems

Abstract In generalist pollination systems, it has been assumed that pollinators play a minor role in the diversification of floral traits, but recent studies have pointed to a different scenario. Although pollination in Piper is considered generalist, there are flower and inflorescence variations among subclades that may be associated with different pollinator functional groups. Based on this, we aimed to test whether pollinators influenced the evolution of floral traits in a clade of generalist plants, by studying 17 co-occurring Piper spp. Sixteen species were insect-pollinated (46 species: bees, beetles and flies). We found no evidence of anemophily. Eight species were dependent on pollen vectors for sexual reproduction, but no correlation between floral and pollinator traits was recorded. None of the floral traits presented phylogenetic signal, and the evolution of these traits was not correlated. Nine species were independent of pollen vectors for sexual reproduction. We did not find any evidence of pollinator-driven floral diversification of Piper spp.; we suggest a possible role of abiotic factors as agents of selection on floral diversification. As self-pollination seems to be a common feature in the genus, the flexibility of mating systems could be another important factor related to the maintenance of floral phenotypic variation.

Rarity and reproductive biology: habitat specialists reveal a complex relationship

Botany ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 349-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole E. Miller-Struttmann
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Habitat Specificity ◽  
Range Restriction ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Fragmented Populations ◽  
Floral Displays ◽  
Pollen Receipt ◽  
Pollination Systems

Understanding how species with historically fragmented populations are able to persist will provide insights into which factors may be important for the maintenance of newly fragmented populations. Plants with fragmented and isolated populations, such as habitat-specialist (HS) species, are likely less attractive to pollinators and may have adaptive traits that compensate for these distributional challenges, such as larger flowers and more specialized pollination systems. If they do not have these adaptations, HS species are predicted to have lower reproductive success and be more pollen limited than widespread species. Here, I test three predictions concerning differences in reproductive traits that are known to affect attractiveness to pollinators, pollen receipt, and reproductive success, by comparing three HS species to congeneric species with broader habitat use (HT, habitat tolerators). Two of the three HS species lend partial support to the predictions that HS species have larger floral displays and more specialized pollination systems. The third HS species did not have either of these traits but did have lower relative seedset compared to its matched HT. These results provide preliminary support for a positive relationship between habitat specificity and pollination specialization, and for the role of low fecundity in contributing to range restriction of HS species.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document