scholarly journals Why do leafcutter bees cut leaves? New insights into the early evolution of bees

2011 ◽  
Vol 278 (1724) ◽  
pp. 3593-3600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica R. Litman ◽  
Bryan N. Danforth ◽  
Connal D. Eardley ◽  
Christophe J. Praz
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Evolutionary Constraints ◽  
Foreign Material ◽  
Larval Food ◽  
Key Innovation ◽  
The Family ◽  
Angiosperm Pollen ◽  
Cut Leaves ◽  
Key Innovations

Stark contrasts in clade species diversity are reported across the tree of life and are especially conspicuous when observed in closely related lineages. The explanation for such disparity has often been attributed to the evolution of key innovations that facilitate colonization of new ecological niches. The factors underlying diversification in bees remain poorly explored. Bees are thought to have originated from apoid wasps during the Mid-Cretaceous, a period that coincides with the appearance of angiosperm eudicot pollen grains in the fossil record. The reliance of bees on angiosperm pollen and their fundamental role as angiosperm pollinators have contributed to the idea that both groups may have undergone simultaneous radiations. We demonstrate that one key innovation—the inclusion of foreign material in nest construction—underlies both a massive range expansion and a significant increase in the rate of diversification within the second largest bee family, Megachilidae. Basal clades within the family are restricted to deserts and exhibit plesiomorphic features rarely observed among modern bees, but prevalent among apoid wasps. Our results suggest that early bees inherited a suite of behavioural traits that acted as powerful evolutionary constraints. While the transition to pollen as a larval food source opened an enormous ecological niche for the early bees, the exploitation of this niche and the subsequent diversification of bees only became possible after bees had evolved adaptations to overcome these constraints.

Pollen morphology of some Tamarix (Tamaricaceae) species of Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 151-161
Author(s):  
T. Shagholi ◽  
M. Keshavarzi ◽  
M. Sheidai
Keyword(s):  
North Africa ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Multivariate Statistical Methods ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Petal Length ◽  
Electron Microscopes ◽  
High Level ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopes

Tamarix L. (Tamaricaceae) is a halophytic shrub in different parts of Asia and North Africa. Taxonomy and species limitation of Tamarix is very complex. This genus has three sections as Tamarix, Oligadenia, and Polyadenia, which are mainly separated by petal length, the number of stamens, the shape of androecial disk and attachment of filament on the androecial disk. As there was no palynological data on pollen features of Tamarix species of Iran, in the present study 12 qualitative and quantitative pollen features were evaluated to find diagnostic ones. Pollen grains of 8 Tamarix species were collected from nature. Pollen grains were studied without any treatment. Measurements were based on at least 50 pollen grains per specimen. Light and scanning electron microscopes were used. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to clarify the species relationships based on pollen data. All species studied showed monad and tricolpate (except some individuals of T. androssowii). Some Tamarix species show a high level of variability, in response to ecological niches and phenotypic plasticity, which make Tamarix species separation much more difficult. Based on the results of the present study, pollen grains features are not in agreement with previous morphological and molecular genetics about the sectional distinction.

Comparative morphological, anatomical, micromorphological, and palynological studies on the genera Opopanax and Crenosciadium (Apiaceae)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 372 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
ÖZLEM ÇETIN ◽  
MUSTAFA ÇELIK
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Monotypic Genus ◽  
Western Asia ◽  
The Family ◽  
Surface Ornamentation ◽  
Fruit Surface

In the present study, morphological, micromorphological, palynological and anatomical characteristics of the genera Opopanax and Crenosciadium are reviewed and compared. The genus Opopanax is distributed in southern Europe, the Mediterranean region and Western Asia, and it is represented by three species in Turkey. Crenosciadium is a poorly known monotypic genus from Turkey, recently treated as synonym in Opopanax. Expanded descriptions, phenology, geographic distributions, and images of habitus of Opopanax and Crenosciadium are given. The differences between the two genera are discussed. The pollen morphology of Opopanax and Crenosciadium is studied by SEM and LM. The palynological results confirmed the stenopalynous characteristic of the family Apiaceae, and revealed that the pollen grains of both genera are perprolate in shape. Also fruit surface ornamentation of both genera is typically striate, and epidermal cells are polygonal or elongated in one direction. Cross-sections of mature fruits are examined and a detailed anatomical description is presented. Mericarp shape and width are very useful characters for discrimination between Opopanax and Crenosciadium; mericarp ribs are also very significant characteristics to discriminate both genera. Our findings, together with previous molecular data, clearly indicate that Crenosciadium differs considerably from Opopanax, and therefore it should be accepted at genus rank.

scholarly journals Pollen characters as taxonomic evidence in some species of Dipsacaceae from Iran

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebadi-Nahari Mostafa ◽  
Nikzat-Siahkolaee Sedigheh ◽  
Eftekharian Rosa
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Pollen Grain ◽  
Pollen Type ◽  
Upgma Tree ◽  
Pollen Characters ◽  
Exine Ornamentation ◽  
The Family ◽  
The World ◽  
Plant Taxon

Pollen morphology of nine species representing four genera: Cephalaria Schrad, Dipsacus L., Pterocephalus Vaill. and Scabiosa L. of the family Dipsacaceae in Iran has been investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that pollen grains were triporate and tricolpate. The pollen type of Scabiosa rotata Bieb. (tri- and tetraporate) is the first report in the world. The sizes of pollen grains fall into the classification group magna (pollen grain diameter 50–100 μm). Pollen shapes vary from preoblate to prolate and their polar views were triangulate and lobate. The exine ornamentation varies from gemmate in S. rotata to spinulate in the rest studied species. Species of Scabiosa have been dispersed in UPGMA tree that this confirmed the previous studies about taxonomic problems and species complexity in this genus. These results show the transfer of the some Scabisoa species to Lomelosia Raf. based on palynological characters. Pollen morphology of the family is helpful at the generic and specific level.Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 24(2): 129–136, 2017 (December)

scholarly journals Pollen, Tapetum, and Orbicule Development inColletia paradoxaandDiscaria americana(Rhamnaceae)

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gotelli ◽  
B. Galati ◽  
D. Medan
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Pollen Grain ◽  
Ultrastructural Changes ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
The Family ◽  
Tapetal Cells ◽  
Grain Formation

Tapetum, orbicule, and pollen grain ontogeny inColletia paradoxaandDiscaria americanawere studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ultrastructural changes observed during the different stages of development in the tapetal cells and related to orbicule and pollen grain formation are described. The proorbicules have the appearance of lipid globule, and their formation is related to the endoplasmic reticulum of rough type (ERr). This is the first report on the presence of orbicules in the family Rhamnaceae. Pollen grains are shed at the bicellular stage.

Virola dominicana sp. nov. (Myristicaceae) from Dominican amber

Botany ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (8) ◽  
pp. 530-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Poinar ◽  
Royce Steeves
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
First Record ◽  
Western Hemisphere ◽  
Dominican Amber ◽  
The Family ◽  
Small Pollen ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Staminal Column

The Myristicaceae is a member of the early diverging angiosperm order Magnoliales; however, the family is poorly represented by fossil collections. We describe Virola dominicana sp. nov. (Myristicaceae), the first record of fossilized Myristicaceae flowers, from mid-Tertiary (45–15 million years ago) Dominican amber. The description is based on 24 male flowers in 17 pieces of amber, thus providing some indication of intraspecific variation, including a two-tepaled flower. Diagnostic characters of the new species are the long-simple or few-branched trichomes on the perianth margins, the small pollen grains, and a short staminal column. These fossils also show co-occurring insects, some of which could be Virola pollinators. It is speculated that V. dominicana disappeared from Hispaniola during the Pliocene–Pleistocene cooling events leaving no native members of the Myristicaceae in this region today. Additionally, these fossils demonstrate that Myristicaceae was present in the Western Hemisphere during the mid-Tertiary.

scholarly journals Morphological diversity in tenrecs (Afrosoricida, Tenrecidae): comparing tenrec skull diversity to their closest relatives

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sive Finlay ◽  
Natalie Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Lateral View ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Geometric Morphometric ◽  
Skull Shape ◽  
Morphometric Analyses ◽  
The Family

Morphological diversity is often studied qualitatively. However, to truly understand the evolution of exceptional diversity, it is important to take a quantitative approach instead of relying on subjective, qualitative assessments. Here, we present a quantitative analysis of morphological diversity in a Family of small mammals, the tenrecs (Afrosoricida, Tenrecidae). Tenrecs are often cited as an example of an exceptionally morphologically diverse group. However, this assumption has not been tested quantitatively. We use geometric morphometric analyses of skull shape to test whether tenrecs are more morphologically diverse than their closest relatives, the golden moles (Afrosoricida, Chrysochloridae). Tenrecs occupy a wider range of ecological niches than golden moles so we predict that they will be more morphologically diverse. Contrary to our expectations, We find that tenrec skulls are only more morphologically diverse than golden moles when measured in lateral view. Furthermore, similarities among the species-rich Microgale tenrec Genus appear to mask higher morphological diversity in the rest of the Family. These results reveal new insights into the morphological diversity of tenrecs and highlight the importance of using quantitative methods to test qualitative assumptions about patterns of morphological diversity.

scholarly journals Embriología de Pachycereus militaris (Audot) Hunt (Cactaceae)

2017 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Citlali Núñez-Mariel ◽  
E. Mark Engleman ◽  
Judith Márquez-Guzmán
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Anther Wall ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Taxonomic Importance ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Functional Megaspore

This is a contribution to the embryology of cacti and to the definition of their reproductory structures. The development of anthers, ovules and seeds of Pachycereus militaris is described. The type of development of the anther wall is monocotyledonous. This may have taxonomic importance above the family level. The endothecium is formed by a single stratum and the pollen grains are tricolpate, spinulate and punctitegilate. A lineal triad of megaspores was observed. The functional megaspore is the chalazal one. It is proposed that the term campylotropous should be uti lized for describing the ovule type, while the term circinotropous should be reserved for the funicle. In contrast to the stated by other authors, this study suggests that the seeds of Pachycereus militaris should be considered as non-albuminous and non-perispermous.

scholarly journals The Nossa Senhora da Luz flora from the Early Cretaceous (early Aptian-late Albian) of Juncal in the western Portuguese Basin

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mário Miguel Mendes ◽  
Else Marie Friis
Keyword(s):  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Fossil Flora ◽  
Spores And Pollen ◽  
Fossil Assemblage ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Palynological Assemblage ◽  
Conifer Seeds ◽  
Angiosperm Pollen ◽  
The Village

AbstractA new fossil flora is described from the Early Cretaceous of the western Portuguese Basin, based on a combined palynological-mesofossil study. The fossil specimens were extracted from samples collected in the Nossa Senhora da Luz opencast clay pit complex near the village of Juncal in the Estremadura region. The plant-bearing sediments belong to the Famalicão Member of the Figueira da Foz Formation, considered late Aptianearly Albian in age. The palynological assemblage is diverse, including 588 spores and pollen grains assigned to 30 genera and 48 species. The palynoflora is dominated by fern spores and conifer pollen. Angiosperm pollen is also present, but subordinate. The mesofossil flora is less diverse, including 175 specimens ascribed to 17 species, and is dominated by angiosperm fruits and seeds. The mesofossil flora also contains conifer seeds and twigs as well as fossils with selaginellaceous affinity. The fossil assemblage indicates a warm and seasonally dry climate for the Nossa Senhora da Luz flora.

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