Pollen loads and pollen diversity on bodies of Eulonchus tristis (Diptera: Acroceridae): implications for pollination and flower visitation

2008 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Borkent ◽  
Evert I. Schlinger
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Pollen Loads ◽  
Flower Visitation ◽  
Pollen Species ◽  
Plant Pollen

AbstractAcroceridae is a family of spider-parasitic flies that often visit flowers as adults, although little is known about their possible role as pollinators. Eulonchus tristis Loew visiting flowers of Brodiaea elegans Hoover (Liliaceae s.l.) and Iris douglasiana Herbert (Iridaceae) were collected in California. Individuals carried large pollen loads, although visitors to B. elegans carried significantly more pollen grains than visitors to I. douglasiana. Visitors to B. elegans also carried a higher percentage of focal-plant pollen (91%) than visitors to I. douglasiana (38%). There was no difference in the diversity of pollen species (approximately nine) carried by visitors to either plant species. For visitors to B. elegans, no difference was seen in the amount or diversity of pollen carried with respect to the sex of the visitor. The behaviour potentially resulting in the acquisition of these pollen loads is discussed. These results show that E. tristis has the potential to be an important pollinator for these plant species, particularly B. elegans.

scholarly journals Pollen harvest features of the Central Amazonian bee Scaptotrigona fulvicutis Moure 1964 (Apidae: Meliponinae), in Brazil

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Carlos Marques-Souza ◽  
Maria Lúcia Absy ◽  
Warwick Estevam Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Pollen Loads ◽  
Pollen Types ◽  
Large Groups

Over a twelve-month period, pollen loads transported by Scaptotrigona fulvicutis Moure 1964 were collected from the workers corbiculae right after the hive entrance closure in an area of old secondary forest mixed with some exotic fruit trees and ornamentals. Once the pollen grains were identified, their monthly frequency in the samples and grouping by botanical family established that Mimosaceae, Myrtaceae and Sapindaceae were the most frequently visited. The workers harvested the pollen from 97 plant species distributed in 73 genera and 36 families, mostly: Stryphnodendron guianense (Aubl.) Benth. in April (57,37%) and Schefflera morototoni (Aubl.) Frodin in May (54,73%). The harvested pollen types abundance matrix showed that there was little species dissimilarity between the months, which resulted in the formation of two large groups.

Small dasyurid marsupials - are they effective pollinators?

2000 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Pollen Load ◽  
Pollen Loads ◽  
Flower Visitation ◽  
Nectar Feeding ◽  
Antechinus Stuartii ◽  
Line Tracking ◽  
Species Being ◽  
Effective Pollinators ◽  
Effective Pollinator

The evidence that several species of dasyurid marsupial commonly visit flowers and therefore act as pollinators is reviewed. Three species of Antechinus have frequently been trapped visiting flowering banksias. Several studies provide compelling evidence that Antechinus stuartii is an effective pollinator. It was recorded visiting flowering banksias at eight locations, where it carried abundant pollen on its snout and in its faeces. At one site, regular flower visitation was demonstrated by automated photography and by spool-and-line tracking. Pollen load data for Sminthopsis murina and Sminthopsis griseoventer suggest that these species may also act as pollinators. Evidence for pollination by Phascogale tapoatafa is anecdotal but studies at three locations report extended bouts of nectar feeding, and heavy pollen loads were directly observed at one site. Some 38 plant species are known to be visited by 10 dasyurid species, with 4–10 plant species being visited by each of five dasyurid species. These observations suggest that several species of dasyurid are likely to be important pollinators. Further studies are needed to clarify the extent of their role. This review highlights the types of data that should be sought.

scholarly journals Mauritian coloured nectar no longer a mystery: a visual signal for lizard pollinators

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis M Hansen ◽  
Karin Beer ◽  
Christine B Müller
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Visual Signal ◽  
Honest Signal ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
Floral Trait ◽  
Flower Visitation ◽  
Artificial Flowers ◽  
Endemic Plant Species

Most floral nectars are clear as water, and the enigmatic coloured nectar in three endemic plant species in Mauritius has puzzled scientists studying it. One hypothesis about the possible ecological function of coloured nectar is that it serves as a visual signal for pollinators. Recent studies have shown that at least two of the three Mauritian plant species with coloured nectar are visited and pollinated by endemic Phelsuma geckos. We here provide experimental evidence for the visual signal hypothesis by showing that Phelsuma ornata geckos prefer coloured over clear nectar in artificial flowers. In flowering plants, coloured nectar could additionally function as an honest signal that allows pollinators to assert the presence and judge the size of a reward prior to flower visitation, and to adjust their behaviour accordingly, leading to increased pollinator efficiency. Our study provides a first step in understanding this rare and intriguing floral trait.

scholarly journals Flower Constancy in the Generalist PollinatorCeratina flavipes(Hymenoptera: Apidae): An Evaluation by Pollen Analysis

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Midori Kobayashi-Kidokoro ◽  
Seigo Higashi
Keyword(s):  
Food Habits ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Flowering Plant ◽  
Solitary Bee ◽  
Flower Constancy ◽  
Pollen Loads ◽  
Pollen Sources ◽  
Flowering Plant Species ◽  
Seasonal Pollen

The food habits of the solitary beeCeratina flavipeswere studied by observation on foraging behavior and identifying the pollen grains that they collected. It appeared thatC. flavipestend to collect pollen from particular species; however, they visit multiple flowering species. We analyzed pollen sources from pollen loads of dried specimens from single foraging trips (SFT) and in pollen balls created from a single foraging day (SD). The pollen from all pollen balls in a nest represented the harvest from an entire breeding season (BP). This analysis showed that each bee on average collected pollen from 3.24 (SFTs), 2.02 (SD), and 3.12 (BP) flowering species. Bees collected pollen from a total of 14 flowering plant species. Furthermore, we calculated when pollen balls were created and found no significant interaction between seasonal pollen availability and bee preferences. Moreover, bees had consistent flower preferences, even if the preferred flower was not dominant at all times. These results indicate thatC. flavipesexhibits flower constancy, and therefore, the generalist pollinatorC. flavipescould function like a specialist pollinator.

scholarly journals Dating of seasonal snow/firn accumulation layers using pollen analysis

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (174) ◽  
pp. 483-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumio Nakazawa ◽  
Koji Fujita ◽  
Nozomu Takeuchi ◽  
Toshiyuki Fujiki ◽  
Jun Uetake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Erosion ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Altai Mountains ◽  
Counting Problems ◽  
Annual Layer ◽  
Alpine Glaciers ◽  
Pollen Species ◽  
Dating Method ◽  
Precipitation Records

AbstractReliable chronologies in ice cores and snow pits from many alpine glaciers in latitudes between 60° N and 60° S are often difficult to establish owing to problems with annual-layer counting. Problems arise from melting, wind erosion and the negligible amount of precipitation in some seasons, all of which tend to obscure the seasonal variations in δ18O and chemical concentrations that are typically used to date ice cores. However, alpine glaciers contain many species of pollen grains that peak at particular times of the year. We used the peaks in Betulaceae, Pinus, Artemisia and a combination of Abies and Picea pollen species to determine the four seasonal layers of a snow pit on Belukha glacier in Russia’s Altai Mountains. Comparing the pollen-dated profiles with wind and precipitation records allows us to determine where a seasonal layer is missing. Thus, the pollen-dating method described here may be a useful tool to measure the annual snow deposition on alpine glaciers, even when some seasonal layers are eroded by wind or missing due to negligible precipitation.

scholarly journals Botanical profile of bee pollen from the southern coastal region of Bahia, Brazil

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 862-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos da Costa Dórea ◽  
Jaílson Santos de Novais ◽  
Francisco de Assis Ribeiro dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Botanical Origin ◽  
Mimosa Pudica ◽  
Bee Pollen ◽  
Pollen Loads ◽  
Pollen Types ◽  
Pollen Sources ◽  
Forest Biome

This paper aims to identify the botanical origin of pollen loads collected by Apis mellifera L. in Canavieiras municipality, Bahia state. It provides a list of polliniferous plant species from the Atlantic Forest biome that are important for the development of regional apiculture. Using the acetolysis method, 35 bee-pollen samples were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results showed that pollen types Elaeis (23.99%), Mimosa pudica (22.78%) and Cecropia (13.68%) were the most abundant among the samples. These also showed the highest relative frequencies of the material studied and were important pollen sources for bees in the study area.

scholarly journals Experimental species removals impact the architecture of pollination networks

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 20170243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berry J. Brosi ◽  
Kyle Niezgoda ◽  
Heather M. Briggs
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Dynamic Responses ◽  
Resource Overlap ◽  
Flower Visitation ◽  
Resource Complementarity ◽  
Dietary Niche ◽  
Pollination Network

Mutualistic networks are key for the creation and maintenance of biodiversity, yet are threatened by global environmental change. Most simulation models assume that network structure remains static after species losses, despite theoretical and empirical reasons to expect dynamic responses. We assessed the effects of experimental single bumblebee species removals on the structure of entire flower visitation networks. We hypothesized that network structure would change following processes linking interspecific competition with dietary niche breadth. We found that single pollinator species losses impact pollination network structure: resource complementarity decreased, while resource overlap increased. Despite marginally increased connectance, fewer plant species were visited after species removals. These changes may have negative functional impacts, as complementarity is important for maintaining biodiversity–ecological functioning relationships and visitation of rare plant species is critical for maintaining diverse plant communities.

Pollination ecology of the dioecious tree Commiphora guillauminii in Madagascar

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Farwig ◽  
Emile F. Randrianirina ◽  
Friederike A. Voigt ◽  
Manfred Kraemer ◽  
Katrin Böhning-Gaese
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Pollination Ecology ◽  
Floral Display ◽  
Flower Visitation ◽  
Visitation Rates ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Female Flowers

In dioecious plant species differences in morphology and resources between female and male flowers can have consequences for flower visitation rates. Female flowers sometimes lack pollen and can be less attractive to pollinators than male flowers. We studied the pollination ecology of the dioecious tree Commiphora guillauminii in a dry deciduous forest in western Madagascar. We recorded floral display, visiting insect species and visitation rates for female and male trees. The results showed that female trees produce significantly larger but fewer flowers per inflorescence than male ones. Number of flowers per tree did not differ between the sexes. During 270 observation-hours we observed 17 insect and two bird species visiting the flowers. Mean visitation rates of male flowers were 6.1 times higher than those of female flowers (1.07 vs. 0.18 visitors per flower h−1). Visitation rates to female and male trees showed similar daily and seasonal patterns. Fruit set (2.9%) was low, which could have been caused by pollinator or pollen limitation. This study suggests that dioecy may pose a risk for fruit set and, potentially, reproductive success for plant species with depauperate pollinator faunas on islands such as Madagascar.

The pollination ecology of the late-successional tree, Oroxylum indicum (Bignoniaceae) in Thailand

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (05) ◽  
pp. 477-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuanjit Srithongchuay ◽  
Sara Bumrungsri ◽  
Ekapong Sripao-raya
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Pollen Load ◽  
Pollination Success ◽  
Oroxylum Indicum ◽  
Tropical Plant ◽  
Fruit Bat ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Multiple Species

Abstract:Although plant species that attract multiple species of pollinators predominate in tropical plant communities, pollination specialists appear to be at a greater advantage in tropical ecosystems in which pollinators are numerous and many plants flower synchronously. The present study determined the breeding system and legitimate pollinators ofOroxylum indicumVent. in Songkhla and Patthalung Provinces, Thailand.Oroxylum indicumexhibits steady-state flowering, with one or two flowers per inflorescence opening each night. Flowers open in the evening and drop off shortly after midnight, while its bilabiate stigma is highly sensitive, and quickly close upon being touched.Oroxylum indicumis self-incompatible. Hand-cross pollination and open pollination yielded the highest pollination success (47.7% and 31.2% respectively, n = 7 trees). About 900 pollen grains are needed for initiating fruit set. It is confirmed that a fruit bat,Eonycteris spelaea, is the legitimate pollinator. Bats are responsible for all pollen load and the pollen load from only one visit is generally sufficient to initiate fruit set. AlthoughEonycteris spelaeais effective, it is an inefficient pollinator. Compared with plant species pollinated by multiple animal species, the likelihood of pollination failure resulting from the decline in populations ofEonycteris spelaeawill be much more intense inOroxylum indicum.

scholarly journals Sensitivity of commercial pumpkin yield to potential decline among different groups of pollinating bees

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 170102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja C. Pfister ◽  
Philipp W. Eckerter ◽  
Jens Schirmel ◽  
James E. Cresswell ◽  
Martin H. Entling
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Pollen Deposition ◽  
Insect Pollination ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Flower Visitation ◽  
Pollen Receipt ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pollinator Fauna

The yield of animal-pollinated crops is threatened by bee declines, but its precise sensitivity is poorly known. We therefore determined the yield dependence of Hokkaido pumpkin in Germany on insect pollination by quantifying: (i) the relationship between pollen receipt and fruit set and (ii) the cumulative pollen deposition of each pollinator group. We found that approximately 2500 pollen grains per flower were needed to maximize fruit set. At the measured rates of flower visitation, we estimated that bumblebees (21 visits/flower lifetime, 864 grains/visit) or honeybees (123 visits, 260 grains) could individually achieve maximum crop yield, whereas halictid bees are ineffective (11 visits, 16 grains). The pollinator fauna was capable of delivering 20 times the necessary amount of pollen. We therefore estimate that pumpkin yield was not pollination-limited in our study region and that it is currently fairly resilient to single declines of honeybees or wild bumblebees.

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