Summary Pollination syndromes describe recurring adaptation to selection imposed by distinct pollinators. We tested for pollination syndromes in Merianieae (Melastomataceae), which contain bee‐ (buzz‐), hummingbird‐, flowerpiercer‐, passerine‐, bat‐ and rodent‐pollinated species. Further, we explored trait changes correlated with the repeated shifts away from buzz‐pollination, which represents an ‘adaptive plateau’ in Melastomataceae. We used random forest analyses to identify key traits associated with the different pollinators of 19 Merianieae species and estimated the pollination syndromes of 42 more species. We employed morphospace analyses to compare the morphological diversity (disparity) among syndromes. We identified three pollination syndromes (‘buzz‐bee’, ‘mixed‐vertebrate’ and ‘passerine’), characterized by different pollen expulsion mechanisms and reward types, but not by traditional syndrome characters. Further, we found that ‘efficiency’ rather than ‘attraction’ traits were important for syndrome circumscription. Contrary to syndrome theory, our study supports the pooling of different pollinators (hummingbirds, bats, rodents and flowerpiercers) into the ‘mixed‐vertebrate’ syndrome, and we found that disparity was highest in the ‘buzz‐bee’ syndrome. We conclude that the highly adaptive buzz‐pollination system may have prevented shifts towards classical pollination syndromes, but provided the starting point for the evolution of a novel set of distinct syndromes, all having retained multifunctional stamens that provide pollen expulsion, reward and attraction.

Angiosperm flowers have diversified in adaptation to pollinators, but are also shaped by developmental and genetic histories. The relative importance of these factors in structuring floral diversity remains unknown. We assess the effects of development, function and evolutionary history by testing competing hypotheses on floral modularity and shape evolution in Merianieae (Melastomataceae). Merianieae are characterized by different pollinator selection regimes and a developmental constraint: tubular anthers adapted to specialized buzz-pollination. Our analyses of tomography-based 3-dimensional flower models show that pollinators selected for functional modules across developmental units and that patterns of floral modularity changed during pollinator shifts. Further, we show that modularity was crucial for Merianieae to overcome the constraint of their tubular anthers through increased rates of evolution in other flower parts. We conclude that modularity may be key to the adaptive success of functionally specialized pollination systems by making flowers flexible (evolvable) for adaptation to changing selection regimes.

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Pragmatic methods to assess the status of biodiversity at multiple scales are required to support conservation decision-making. At the intersection of several major biogeographic zones, Bolivia has extraordinary potential to develop a monitoring strategy aligned with the objectives of the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). Bolivia, a GEO Observer since 2005, is already working on the adequacy of national earth observations towards the objectives of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). However, biodiversity is still an underrepresented component in this initiative. The integration of biodiversity into Bolivia's GEO framework would confirm the need for a country level biodiversity monitoring strategy, fundamental to assess the progress towards the 2020 Aichi targets. Here we analyse and discuss two aspects of the process of developing such a strategy: (1) identification of taxonomic, temporal and spatial coverage of biodiversity data to detect both availability and gaps; and (2) evaluation of issues related to the acquisition, integration and analyses of multi-scale and multi-temporal biodiversity datasets. Our efforts resulted in the most comprehensive biodiversity database for the country of Bolivia, containing 648,534 records for 27,534 species referenced in time and space that account for 92.5% of the species previously reported for the country. We capitalise this information into recommendations for the implementation of the Bolivian Biodiversity Observation Network that will help ensure that biodiversity is sustained as the country continues on its path of development. Pragmatic methods to assess the status of biodiversity at multiple scales are required to support conservation decision-making. At the intersection of several major biogeographic zones, Bolivia has extraordinary potential to develop a monitoring strategy aligned with the objectives of the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). Bolivia, a GEO Observer since 2005, is already working on the adequacy of national earth observations towards the objectives of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). However, biodiversity is still an underrepresented component in this initiative. The integration of biodiversity into Bolivia's GEO framework would confirm the need for a country level biodiversity monitoring strategy, fundamental to assess the progress towards the 2020 Aichi targets. Here we analyse and discuss two aspects of the process of developing such a strategy: (1) identification of taxonomic, temporal and spatial coverage of biodiversity data to detect both availability and gaps; and (2) evaluation of issues related to the acquisition, integration and analyses of multi-scale and multi-temporal biodiversity datasets. Our efforts resulted in the most comprehensive biodiversity database for the country of Bolivia, containing 648,534 records *Corresponding author. Email: miguel.fernandez.trigoso@gmail.com . 16, Nos. 2-3, 86-98, http://...

Three new species of Monochaetum (Melastomataceae: Melastomeae) are described from Colombia. Monochaetum carbonoi, known only from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, is characterized by its overall pubescence of smooth and unbranched trichomes, prominent flap-like scars on the inflorescence nodes, calyx lobes that are deciduous after anthesis, glabrous hypanthia, dimorphic stamens, and sessile, oblong-ovate bracteoles. Monochaetum longicaudatum, known from only one population on the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and one population in the Central Cordillera of the Andes (Nevado del Ruíz and Santa Isabel area), is characterized by its dense and congested inflorescences, abaxial foliar surface with dense, long and divergent trichomes, ovate to ovate-elliptic petals with a broadly acute apex, deciduous calyx lobes, long filaments and appendages on the antesepalous stamens, and its long setulose style. Monochaetum perijensis, known only from the Serranía de Perijá in the northern Cordillera Oriental of the Andes, is characterized by leaves that are basally nerved, glabrous hypanthia, ciliate petals, and persistent calyx lobes that are oblong and acute apically. Each species is illustrated, compared with presumed relatives, and provided with a conservation assessment using IUCN guidelines.

Two new species of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) are described from the Andean region of Colombia (Northern Andes) in the departments of Caldas, Cauca and Putumayo. Meriania barbosae, known only from one locality in Selva de Florencia National Park, is characterized by its calyptrate flowers, calyptras with obtuse apex, dimorphic stamens and presence of a glandular pubescence on the vegetative organs. Meriania fantastica, from the departments of Cauca and Putumayo, is characterized by its few flowered inflorescences (up to 12 flowers), large flowers (ca. 15 cm in diameter) with bright orange petals and the presence of a scutum at the petiole apex. Both species are Colombian endemics and are only known from a few specimens. Each species is illustrated, compared with presumed relatives, and provided with a conservation assessment using IUCN guidelines. ResumenSe describen e ilustran dos nuevas especies de Meriania de Colombia procedentes de la región andina (Andes del Norte) en los departamentos de Caldas, Cauca y Putumayo. Meriania barbosae, conocida solo de una localidad del Parque Nacional Natural Selva de Florencia, se caracteriza principalmente por sus flores caliptradas, caliptras de ápice obtuso, estambres dimórficos y presencia de tricomas glandulares en las partes vegetativas. Meriania fantastica, de los departamentos de Putumayo y Cauca, se caracteriza principalmente por sus inflorescencencias con pocas flores (hasta 12 flores), grandes flores (ca.15 cm de diámetro) de pétalos color naranja y ápice del pecíolo con escutelo. Ambas especies son endémicas de Colombia y solo se conocen de unos pocos registros. Para cada especie se incluye una ilustración, comparación con las presuntas especies cercanas, y una evaluación del estado de conservación con base en los criterios de la UICN.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM), the world’s highest coastal mountain range, has long been recognized for its high levels of biological diversity and endemism but no exhaustive inventory of the flora exists today. Here we present an annotated catalogue of the angiosperm family Melastomataceae from this diverse massif. The annotated species list is based largely on the treatment of Melastomataceae for the forthcoming Catalogue of the Plants of Colombia together with several floristic data sources, confirmed specimen records held in different herbaria, and recent field work. The catalogue of Melastomataceae presented here includes 20 genera and 86 species, 21 of which are endemic to Colombia and 15 of those are endemic to the SNSM. We also include floristic similarity analyses to compare the species of Melastomataceae from the SNSM with those from other Colombian biogeographic regions and other Neotropical countries or regions.

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