Phenology of Gymnospermium odessanum (DC.) Takht. in the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine

The aim is to find out the peculiarities of the phenology of the rare endemic species Gymnospermium odessanum (DC.) Takht. in the conditions of introduction on the botanical-geographical plot “Steppes of Ukraine” of the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in 2021. Methods — field stationary and cameral. It is established that the vegetation period of G. odessanum in 2021 lasted from March 24 to May 22 and amounted to 60 days. 10 phenological phases are singled out and characterized: 1) the beginning of vegetation and budding, 2) mass budding and beginning of flowering, 3) mass flowering and completion of budding, 4) flowering peak, 5) mass flowering and the beginning of fruit formation, 6) completion of flowering and mass fruit formation, 7) fruit growth, 8) fruit opening, 9) ripening of seeds in open capsules, 10) dissemination and completion of the vegetation. It was found that during the mass formation of fruits, a significant number of fruits stopped their growth and development and did not form seeds in the future. This could be due to the night frosts on the eve or the difference in the conditions of the region of introduction from the natural habitats of the species. Budding and flowering (in total) account for a smaller part (30%) of the vegetation period. Most (70%) of the vegetation period is associated with fruits and seeds. A significant proportion of the vegetation period is the phenophase of ripening of seeds in open capsules (27%).

Oilseed Rape Shares Abundant and Generalized Pollinators with Its Co-Flowering Plant Species

Mass-flowering crops, such as Oilseed Rape (OSR), provide resources for pollinators and benefit from pollination services. Studies that observe the community of interactions between plants and pollinators are critical to understanding the resource needs of pollinators. We observed pollinators on OSR and wild plants in adjacent semi-natural areas in Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany to quantify (1) the co-flowering plants that share pollinators with OSR, (2) the identity and functional traits of plants and pollinators in the network module of OSR, and (3) the identity of the plants and pollinators that act as network connectors and hubs. We found that four common plants share a high percentage of their pollinators with OSR. OSR and these plants all attract abundant pollinators in the community, and the patterns of sharing were not more than would be expected by chance sampling. OSR acts as a module hub, and primarily influences the other plants in its module that have similar functional traits. However, the plants that most influence the pollination of OSR have different functional traits and are part of different modules. Our study demonstrates that supporting the pollination of OSR requires the presence of semi-natural areas with plants that can support a high abundances of generalist pollinators.

Patterns of flower-visiting insects depend on flowering phenological shifts along an altitudinal gradient in subalpine moorland ecosystems

Alpine and subalpine moorland ecosystems contain unique plant communities, often with many endemic and threatened species, some of which depend on insect pollination. Although alpine and subalpine moorland ecosystems are vulnerable to climatic change, few studies have investigated flower-visiting insects in such ecosystems and examined the factors regulating plant-pollinator interactions along altitudinal gradients. Here, we explored how altitudinal patterns in flower visitors change according to altitudinal shifts in flowering phenology in subalpine moorland ecosystems in northern Japan. We surveyed flower-visiting insects and flowering plants at five sites differing in altitude in early July (soon after snowmelt) and mid-August (peak growing season). In July, we found a higher visiting frequency by more variable insect orders including Dipteran, Hymenopteran, Coleopteran, and Lepidopteran species at the higher altitude sites in association with the mass flowering of Geum pentapetalum and Nephrophyllidium crista-galli. In August, such altitudinal patterns were not observed, and Dipteran species dominated across the sites due to the flowering of Narthecium asiaticum and Drosera rotundifolia. Earlier snowmelt associated with recent climate change is expected to extend the growth period of moorland plants and modify flowering phenology in moorland ecosystems, leading to altered plant-pollinator interactions. Our study provides key baselines for the detection of endangered biotic interactions and extinction risks of moorland plants under ongoing climate change.

Mass-flowering monoculture attracts bees, amplifying parasite prevalence

As the global agricultural footprint expands, it is increasingly important to address the link between the resource pulses characteristic of monoculture farming and wildlife epidemiology. To understand how mass-flowering crops impact host communities and subsequently amplify or dilute parasitism, we surveyed wild and managed bees in a monoculture landscape with varying degrees of floral diversification. We screened 1509 bees from 16 genera in sunflower fields and in non-crop flowering habitat across 200 km 2 of the California Central Valley. We found that mass-flowering crops increase bee abundance. Wild bee abundance was subsequently associated with higher parasite presence, but only in sites with a low abundance of non-crop flowers. Bee traits related to higher dispersal ability (body size) and diet breadth (pollen lecty) were also positively related to parasite presence. Our results highlight the importance of non-crop flowering habitat for supporting bee communities. We suggest monoculture alone cannot support healthy bees.

Morphological variability and state of Delphinium pubiflorum (Ranunculaceae) populations in the Saratov region

The article presents the results of studying the morphological state of three populations of Delphinium pubiflorum on the basis of quantitative traits measured over four years during the period of mass flowering of plants. The greatest difference in quantitative characteristics was shown by the populations from the Krasnoarmeisky and Tatishchevsky districts of the Saratov region. The differences between the populations are mainly associated with the overall size of the leaves and the quantitative indicators of the axial structure, in particular the length of the generative shoot, as well as the generative sphere – the length of the inflorescence and the number of flowers associated with the latter. In the field, with a visual assessment of the state of the populations, it was noted that plants in the best condition, were those from the Tatishchevsky district. As for the population from the Krasnoarmeisky district, the state of its individuals was the worst.

The morphological and biological characteristics of the specimens from Monarda didyma

The plants of the genus Monarda of the family Lamiaceae are little known in our country. The species Monarda didyma is mainly distributed. It is used in landscaping as a perennial ornamental crop. In addition to its original blossoms, it has a pleasant aroma combining the aromas of bergamot, lemon and mint, due to the essential oils contained in the leaves, blossoms and stems of the plant. The Institute of Ornamental and Medicinal Plants - Sofia has a perennial species collection in which the genus Monarda is represendted by 32 genotypes of the Monarda didyma species. The plants are characterized by different habit, color and shape of the blossoms. During the phenological observations it was established that in the Sofia field region the Мonarda vegetation begins in the beginning of March and ends in the beginning of October. The flowering period in almost all samples covers the months of June to August, with mass flowering in the beginning of July. Biometric measurements show differences in the size of the tufts formed, the size of the leaves and the flowers. After analyzes, genotypes with emphasized decorative qualities were separated, which will be used to diversify the range of seedlings in the Monarda didyma type offered on the market.