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

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.

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Flower-visitors, nectar production, and inflorescence size of Asclepias syriaca

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b79-172 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 57 (12) ◽

pp. 1380-1388 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

M. F. Willson ◽

R. I. Bertin

Keyword(s):

Honey Bees ◽

Native Species ◽

Flowering Phenology ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽

Floral Display ◽

Asclepias Syriaca ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Inflorescence Size ◽

Visitation Rates ◽

The Common

Spatial and temporal variation in insect visitation rates are analyzed with respect to nectar production and inflorescence size of Asclepias syriaca L., the common milkweed. Nectar sugar production peaked in the afternoon and evening but this trend was not paralleled by visitations of native insects (either vectors or thieves). The main pollinia vectors were noctuid moths at night and honey bees (Apis mellifera) in the afternoon. Vector visitation rates were highest at the beginning (native species) or middle (total vectors) of the blooming season, declining markedly toward the end, probably as a result of decreasing frequencies of A. syriaca flowers. Large inflorescences attracted more vectors and more thieves and a higher proportion of all visits were made by vectors but the species composition of visitors did not usually change with inflorescence size. We discuss the possibility that honey bees may provide major 'new' selection pressures on floral display, nectar production patterns, and flowering phenology in the common milkweed.

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Plant-hummingbird interactions and temporal nectar availability in arestinga from Brazil

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ◽

10.1590/0001-3765201520140349 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 87 (4) ◽

pp. 2163-2175 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

LORENA C.N. FONSECA ◽

JEFERSON VIZENTIN-BUGONI ◽

ANDRÉ R. RECH ◽

MARIA ALICE S. ALVES

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Resource Availability ◽

Flowering Phenology ◽

Floral Resources ◽

Coastal Vegetation ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Nectar Volume ◽

Foraging Area ◽

Almost All ◽

Nectar Availability

ABSTRACT Hummingbirds are the most important and specialized group of pollinating birds in the Neotropics and their interactions with plants are key components to many communities. In the present study we identified the assemblage of plants visited by hummingbirds and investigated the temporal availability of floral resources in an area of restinga, sandy plain coastal vegetation associated with the Atlantic forest, in Southeastern Brazil. We recorded flower and nectar features, flowering phenology and interactions between plants and hummingbirds and estimated the amount of calories produced per hectare from June 2005 to August 2006. Ten plant species were visited by two hummingbirds,Amazilia fimbriata and Eupetomena macroura. Resource availability was highly variable among plant species and over time. Nectar volume and concentration per flower were similar to other Neotropical hummingbird-visited plant assemblages. The estimated nectar resource availability between months varied from 0.85 to 5.97 Kcal per hectare/day, demanding an area between one and 6.8 ha to support a single hummingbird. Our study reports an unusual tropical setting where almost all interactions between hummingbirds and plants were performed by a single hummingbird species,A. fimbriata. Hence, the variable nectar availability is probably influencing hummingbird movements, its foraging area, and consequently plant pollination.

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Flower mites decrease nectar availability in the rain-forest bromeliad Neoregelia johannis

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467410000179 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 373-379 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tadeu J. Guerra ◽

Gustavo Q. Romero ◽

Woodruff W. Benson

Keyword(s):

Rain Forest ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Sugar Concentration ◽

Production Rates ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Nectar Volume ◽

Bombus Morio ◽

Nectar Rewards ◽

Flower Mites ◽

Nectar Availability

Abstract:Nectarivorous flower mites can reduce the volume of nectar available to pollinators. The effects of the flower mite Proctolaelaps sp. on nectar availability in flowers of a melittophilous bromeliad Neoregelia johannis (Bromeliaceae) was evaluated in a coastal rain forest in south-eastern Brazil. In a randomized block experiment utilizing 18 flower pairs, one per bromeliad ramet, pollinators (Bombus morio) and mites were excluded, and then nectar volume, sugar concentration and sugar mass were quantified over the anthesis period. Mites significantly reduced nectar volume early in the morning (6h00–8h00), but not later (10h00–12h00). Mites decreased total volume of nectar available up to 22%. Sugar concentration in nectar was higher earlier in the morning, and decreased between 10h00–12h00. The pronounced consumption of nectar by mites during the period of higher sugar concentration reduced the total amount of sugar available to pollinators by 31%. This is the first study showing that flower mites decrease nectar rewards in a melittophilous plant. Because nectar volume by itself incompletely describes nectar production rates and the effects of nectar removal by flower mites on the availability of sugar, our study highlights the inclusion of sugar content in future studies assessing the effects of thieves on nectar production rates.

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Floral Resources Sustaining African Meliponine Bee Species (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in a Fragile Habitat of Kenya

Journal of Biology and Life Science ◽

10.5296/jbls.v8i1.10127 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 42 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bridget O. Bobadoye ◽

Paul N. Ndegwa ◽

Lucy Irungu ◽

Fombong Ayuka ◽

Robert Kajobe

Keyword(s):

Flowering Phenology ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Floral Resources ◽

Habitat Gradients ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Taita Hills ◽

Insect Pollinators ◽

Diverse Habitat

A vast majority of insects visit flowers for food, generally termed as floral rewards. Detailed insights on flowering phenology of plants could give a hint of habitat status and the extent to which such landscapes could support insect pollinators to render both direct and indirect ecosystem services. This study monitored flowering plants which could potentially provide both pollen and nectar sources to four African meliponine bee species (Apidae: Meliponini) naturally occurring in six diverse habitat gradients of the eastern arc mountains (Taita hills) of Kenya. Blooming sequences of identified flowering plants overlapped across seasons with approximately 80 different plant species belonging to 34 families recorded, with the highest proportions from Fabaceae and Asteraceae families dominating flowering plants that were visited (67% of the visits). A flowering calendar is presented to indicate the phenological pattern of all identified floral resources. Hypotrigona gribodoi being the most abundant species had the highest visitation rates on plants belonging to Fabaceae and Asteraceae families, followed by Meliponula ferruginea (black), Plebeina hildebrandti and Hypotrigona ruspolii. This indicates that such fragile habitat could invariably sustain nutritional requirements essential for the survival of insect pollinators such as native meliponine bee species, though bee abundance at flowers did not significantly correlate to food availability (expressed by flowering plant richness).

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The pig of the Lençóis Maranhenses, first record of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Maranhão State, Brazil

Check List ◽

10.15560/15.4.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

Gilberto Nepomuceno Salvador ◽

Nathali Garcia Ristau ◽

Isabel Sanches da Silva ◽

André Nunes

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Wild Boar ◽

Sus Scrofa ◽

Native Species ◽

National Park ◽

First Record ◽

Negative Effects ◽

The World

The wild boar is one of the most dangerous invasive species. It is widespread in the world, including records for many Brazilian states. However, there is a lack of record from Maranhão state. In the present study, we reported a population of wild boar inside the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, in Barrerinhas county, State of Maranhão. We discuss about the negative effects of this introduction on native species, including a record of predation by wild boar in nests of endangered turtles.

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Butter fly Feeding Preferences of Lantana camara Cultivars and Lantana montevidensis ‘Weeping Lavender’ in the Landscape and Nectar Characteristics

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898-26.1.9 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 9-18

Author(s):

Laura L. Bruner ◽

Donald J. Eakes ◽

Gary J. Keever ◽

James W. Baier ◽

Celia Stuart Whitman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Index ◽

Flower Color ◽

Corolla Tube ◽

Lantana Camara ◽

Cultivar Differences ◽

Tube Length ◽

Butterfly Species ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Design Data ◽

Nectar Volume

Abstract In landscape studies conducted in 2002 and 2003, Lantana camara (L.) ‘New Gold’ and ‘Radiation’ were visited by native butterflies to a greater extent than the remaining eight lantana in the studies. Other lantana visited preferentially but not as consistently included L. camara ‘White Doves’, ‘Firewagon’, ‘Confetti’, and Lantana montevidensis (Spreng.) ‘Weeping Lavender’. In general, the lowest visitation was experienced by L. camara ‘Cherry’ and ‘Carlos’. Total visit duration by one randomly selected butterfly was greater for ‘New Gold’, ‘Radiation’, ‘Firewagon’, and ‘White Doves’ than the remaining lantana. Plant characteristics including inflorescence number, number of flowers per inflorescence, percentage of yellow flowers per inflorescence, growth index, flower morphology, and flower color characteristics differed among cultivars. Cultivar differences that consistently correlated with visitation preferences were inflorescence number in 2002 and 2003, flower number per inflorescence in 2003, percentage of yellow flowers per inflorescence in 2002 and 2003, and growth index in 2003. Flower lightness and flower chroma correlated sporadically with visitation in late September and October 2002 and 2003. Percentage light reflectance of flowers for the wavelengths of green, yellow, orange, and red correlated with visitation in 2003. Based on correlation analysis, the cultivar characteristics that did not contribute to visitation differences included inflorescence width, corolla width, and corolla tube length. In a separate study conducted in 2003 using the same lantana as in the visitation study, nectar volume, carbohydrate composition, and sucrose and fructose concentrations differed among inflorescences. Of ten Lantana evaluated, ‘Carlos’ and ‘Confetti had the largest inflorescence nectar volumes combined from nine flowers while ‘New Gold’, ‘White Doves’, and ‘Weeping Lavender’ had the smallest. The ratio of sucrose to hexose (fructose and glucose) in nectar from ‘Weeping Lavender’, ‘White Doves’, and ‘New Gold’ was greater than that of the remaining Lantana. The lowest ratios of sucrose to hexose were found for ‘Irene’, ‘Hot Country’, and ‘Carlos’, while similar to ‘Cherry’ and ‘Radiation’. The sucrose to hexose ratio for recently opened inner flowers was double that of middle and outer flowers. Sucrose and total sugar concentrations were greatest in recently opened inner flowers compared to middle and outer flowers. While direct comparison to the 2002 and 2003 studies of butterfly visitation preferences was not possible due to experimental design, data trends suggest a possible relationship between sugar composition, inflorescence nectar production and visitation from native butterfly species.

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Earthworm diversity in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4496.1.43 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4496 (1) ◽

pp. 562 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

GERUSA PAULI KIST STEFFEN ◽

RICARDO BEMFICA STEFFEN ◽

MARIE LUISE CAROLINA BARTZ ◽

SAMUEL WOOSTER JAMES ◽

RODRIGO JOSEMAR SEMINOTTI JACQUES ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Native Species ◽

Rio Grande ◽

First Record ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Rio Grande Do Sul ◽

Earthworm Species ◽

Aporrectodea Trapezoides ◽

Native Pastures

The knowledge regarding earthworm species richness in subtropical Brazil is limited, particularly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), where only a few sites have been sampled. In this study we assessed earthworm richness in different ecosystems of RS, prioritizing un-sampled regions. Fifteen ecosystems, including native vegetation and other ecosystems with variable levels of disturbance were sampled in 30 counties in RS, totaling 77 sampling points, mainly in the Pampa biome. Qualitative sampling was performed by handsorting soil monoliths and fixing the earthworms in 4% formalin solution. Species identification was based on morphological characters, and species richness and Shannon (H) and McIntosh (U) diversity indices were calculated for each ecosystem. Twenty-one earthworm species were identified, belonging to seven families: Glossoscolecidae (8), Rhinodrilidae (2), Ocnerodrilidae (4), Megascolecidae (4), Acanthodrilidae (1), Lumbricidae (1) and Criodrilidae (1). From these, ten are new species belonging to the genera: Glossoscolex (6), Fimoscolex (1), Kerriona (1), Eukerria (1), and one aquatic species of the Criodrilidae family, belonging to a new genus. Most of the native species (Urobenus brasiliensis, Fimoscolex n.sp.1 and the Glossoscolex spp.) predominated in ecosystems little altered by human activity, while exotic (Amynthas gracilis, Amynthas rodericensis, Metaphire californica, Aporrectodea trapezoides) and peregrine species (Pontoscolex corethrurus) predominated in areas with more human disturbance. Native ecosystems with lower disturbance, particularly forests and native pastures had higher diversity than disturbed sites. This is the first record of A. rodericencis for Brazil and most sites represent new collection records for the known species in RS.

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Salvage of floral resources through re-absorption before flower abscission

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-72994-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Graham H. Pyke ◽

Zong-Xin Ren ◽

Judith Trunschke ◽

Klaus Lunau ◽

Hong Wang

Keyword(s):

Floral Resources ◽

Floral Nectar ◽

Nectar Volume ◽

Flower Colours ◽

Nectar Concentration ◽

Nectar Sugar ◽

Biochemical Mechanisms ◽

Floral Resource ◽

Almost All

Abstract Plants invest floral resources, including nectar and pigment, with likely consequent reproductive costs. We hypothesized that plants, whose flowers abscise with age, reabsorb nectar and pigment before abscission. This was tested with flowers of Rhododendron decorum, which has large, conspicuous white flowers that increasingly abscise corollas as flowers age. As this species is pollinated by bees, we also hypothesized that nectar concentration would be relatively high (i.e., > 30% wt/vol) and petals would contain UV-absorbing pigment. Floral nectar volume and concentration were sampled on successive days until abscission (up to ten days old, peak at five days) and for sub-sample of four-day-old flowers. Flowers just abscised were similarly sampled. Flower colours were measured using a modified camera, with recordings of spectral reflectance for abscised and open non-abscised flowers. Pigment content was summed values of red, green, blue channels of false color photos. As expected, flowers reabsorbed almost all nectar before abscission, separately reabsorbing nectar-sugar and nectar-water, and petals contained UV-absorbing pigment. However, flowers did not reabsorb pigment and nectar-concentration was < 30% wt/vol. That flowers reabsorb nectar, not pigment, remains unexplained, though possibly pigment reabsorption is uneconomical. Understanding floral resource reabsorption therefore requires determination of biochemical mechanisms, plus costs/benefits for individual plants.

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Introduced and native grass-derived smoke effects on Cymbopogon obtectus germination

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt14227 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 62 (6) ◽

pp. 465 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paul R. Williams ◽

Eleanor M. Collins ◽

Mick Blackman ◽

Clare Blackman ◽

Jackie McLeod ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Native Plants ◽

First Record ◽

Northern Australia ◽

Untreated Seed ◽

Native Grass ◽

Buffel Grass ◽

Lemon Grass ◽

Germination Cues

Introduced grasses, such as buffel, alter the dynamics of grassy ecosystems by replacing native species and influencing recruitment. Several different smoke-derived chemicals are separately responsible for the promotion and inhibition of germination of various plant species. We tested whether smoke derived from the introduced buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) produced the same density of germination as provided by smoke derived from a native spinifex grass (Triodia brizoides). Smoke from both spinifex and buffel grass significantly enhanced the germination of a native lemon grass (Cymbopogon obtectus) in comparison to untreated seed, reflecting the significant role of fire in woodlands across northern Australia. This is the first record of smoke-promoted germination in a species of Cymbopogon. However, smoke from the exotic buffel grass provided the same level of germination as that from the native spinifex, suggesting similarity in smoke chemicals involved. Further research is required to test the effect of buffel smoke on the germination of other species and whether exotics such as buffel grass provide the same temperature profile in the topsoil as does spinifex, and therefore equivalent germination cues to heat-shock responsive native plants.

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Variation in Nectar Volume and Sugar Concentration ofAllium ursinumL. ssp.ucrainicumin Three Habitats

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/2012/138579 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Ágnes Farkas ◽

Réka Molnár ◽

Tamás Morschhauser ◽

István Hahn

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Brown Forest Soil ◽

Full Bloom ◽

Floral Nectar ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Nectar Volume ◽

Sessile Oak ◽

Microclimatic Conditions ◽

The Difference

Floral nectar volume and concentration of ramson (Allium ursinumL. ssp.ucrainicum) were investigated in three different habitats, including two types of sessile oak-hornbeam association on brown forest soil with clay illuviation and a silver lime-flowering ash rock forest association on rendzina. Daily nectar production ranged from 0.1 to 3.8 μL per flower with sugar concentrations of 25 to 50%. Mean nectar volumes and concentrations showed significant differences between freely exposed flowers and covered flowers, which had been isolated from flower visitors 24 h prior to nectar studies. Both the amount and quality of nectar were affected by microclimatic conditions and soil properties and varied between populations at different habitats. In the silver lime-flowering ash rock-forest association mean nectar volumes and concentrations were lower than in a typical sessile oak-hornbeam association on three occasions, the difference being significant in two cases. During full bloom, the date of sampling did not have a profound effect on either nectar volume or concentration.

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