Reproductive Role of Sterile Pollen in Saurauia (Actinidiaceae), a Cryptically Dioecious Neotropical Tree

Biotropica ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 493 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Cane

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuhiro Kawagoe ◽  
Nobuhiko Suzuki

Female flowers of some dioecious species are known to develop stamens with sterile pollen, a sexual system known as cryptic dioecy. A convincing hypothesis explaining this phenomenon is that stamens in female flowers attract pollinators and so ensure seed production. However, because this hypothesis has rarely been tested experimentally, we tested it in a cryptically dioecious species, Actinidia polygama (Sieb. et Zucc.) Planch. ex Maxim. Our findings show that pollinators do not show a consistent preference based on the sex of the flowers, and that the removal of stamens from female flowers results in a significant reduction in the frequency of insect visits and fruit production. These results strongly support the pollinator attraction hypothesis in A. polygama. Given the evident role of stamens in female flowers in A. polygama reproduction, we discuss why cryptic dioecy is a rare phenomenon.Key words: Actinidia polygama, cryptic dioecy, pseudopollen, pollinator attraction, unisexual flowers.



2011 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Ślusarczyk ◽  
Andrzej Wierzbicki ◽  
Marcin Przewłoka ◽  
Teresa Tykarska ◽  
Andrzej Jerzmanowski ◽  
...  

As continuation of investigations in to the mechanism of the role of the H1 histone, which is a crucial protein component chromosomes of all eukaryotes, transgenic tobacco plants with different levels of the H1 histone variants were examined. Tobacco has six sequential variants of the H1 histone: two major ones (H1A and H1B), constituting ca. 90% of all H1, and four minor ones (H1C, H1D, H1E and H1F), occurring in very small quantities. The following groups of plants were examined: K - control group with a full set of histone variants; -AB -with the A and B variants removed; -ABCD - with the A, B, C and D variants removed; and -CD - with the C and D variants removed. The analysis of microsporogenesis in those plants, based on preparations squeezed in acetoorcein, revealed the asynchronous course of meiosis in -AB and -ABCD plants, occurrence of chromosomal aberration, and, consequently, the formation of sterile pollen grains (accordingly: 84,4% and 81,4%). In -CD plants, the percentage of aberration and sterile pollen grains was similar to the control material. Electron microscope observations of microsporogenesis showed ultrastructural changes. In -AB and -ABCD plants, a major portion of the pollen grains were degraded. The smallest number of degraded pollen grains, in comparison with the control, was found in the -CD group.



2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 279-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Dick ◽  
R. Toby Pennington

Early botanical explorers invoked biogeographic history to explain the remarkable tree diversity of Neotropical forests. In this context, we review the history of Neotropical tree diversity over the past 100 million years, focusing on biomes with significant tree diversity. We evaluate hypotheses for rain forest origins, intercontinental disjunctions, and models of Neotropical tree diversification. To assess the impact of biotic interchange on the Amazon tree flora, we examined biogeographic histories of trees in Ecuador's Yasuní Forest, which suggest that nearly 50% of its species descend from immigrant lineages that colonized South America during the Cenozoic. Long-distance and intercontinental dispersal, combined with trait filtering and niche evolution, are important factors in the community assembly of Neotropical forests. We evaluate the role of pre-Columbian people on Neotropical tree diversity and discuss the future of Neotropical forests in the Anthropocene.



JAMA ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 195 (12) ◽  
pp. 1005-1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Fernbach
Keyword(s):  


JAMA ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 195 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. E. Van Metre


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winnifred R. Louis ◽  
Craig McGarty ◽  
Emma F. Thomas ◽  
Catherine E. Amiot ◽  
Fathali M. Moghaddam

AbstractWhitehouse adapts insights from evolutionary anthropology to interpret extreme self-sacrifice through the concept of identity fusion. The model neglects the role of normative systems in shaping behaviors, especially in relation to violent extremism. In peaceful groups, increasing fusion will actually decrease extremism. Groups collectively appraise threats and opportunities, actively debate action options, and rarely choose violence toward self or others.



2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Arceneaux

AbstractIntuitions guide decision-making, and looking to the evolutionary history of humans illuminates why some behavioral responses are more intuitive than others. Yet a place remains for cognitive processes to second-guess intuitive responses – that is, to be reflective – and individual differences abound in automatic, intuitive processing as well.



2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefen Beeler-Duden ◽  
Meltem Yucel ◽  
Amrisha Vaish

Abstract Tomasello offers a compelling account of the emergence of humans’ sense of obligation. We suggest that more needs to be said about the role of affect in the creation of obligations. We also argue that positive emotions such as gratitude evolved to encourage individuals to fulfill cooperative obligations without the negative quality that Tomasello proposes is inherent in obligations.



2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Whiten

Abstract The authors do the field of cultural evolution a service by exploring the role of non-social cognition in human cumulative technological culture, truly neglected in comparison with socio-cognitive abilities frequently assumed to be the primary drivers. Some specifics of their delineation of the critical factors are problematic, however. I highlight recent chimpanzee–human comparative findings that should help refine such analyses.



2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Parr

Abstract This commentary focuses upon the relationship between two themes in the target article: the ways in which a Markov blanket may be defined and the role of precision and salience in mediating the interactions between what is internal and external to a system. These each rest upon the different perspectives we might take while “choosing” a Markov blanket.



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