Nocturnal ant integrates generalist pollination system in the Caatinga dry forest

Domingos‐Melo, Arthur; Nadia, Tarcila de Lima; Leal, Inara R.; Machado, Isabel Cristina

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.235508

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…Nocturnal ant pollination is a very rare phenomenon, and has previously only been recorded in much milder climates: Technomyrmex albipes (Dolichoderinae) is a diurnal and nocturnal pollinator of Syzgium occidentale (Myrtaceae) in Indian tropical rainforest (Kuriakose et al, 2018), Camponotus pilicornis (Formicinae) pollinates the spring flowering root holoparasite Cytinus hypocistis (Cytinaceae) at night in Huelva in south‐west Spain (de Vega et al, 2009), C. pallescens is a nocturnal pollinator of Ditassa hastata (Apocynaceae) in the tropical Caatinga tropical dry forest of Brazil (Domingos‐Melo et al, 2021), while two species of root holoparasites, Balanophora kurowiwai and B. tobiracola (Balanophoraceae) in subtropical Japan are pollinated geitonogamously during the day and night by ants; B. kurowiwai by Leptothorax sp. (Myrmicinae) and B. tobiracola by Paratrechina flavipes (Formicinae), and Aphaenogaster sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ants have been regarded as poor agents of cross‐pollination for a number of reasons, including their small size, frequent grooming which removes pollen before transport, and because workers lack wings, restricting them to resources near the nest (Del‐Claro et al, 2019; Domingos‐Melo et al, 2021). However, it is argued that the main reason that ants make poor pollinators is because secretions from their metapleural glands, which act antibiotically against fungal and bacterial attack, reduce pollen grain viability (Beattie et al, 1984; Dutton & Frederickson, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In none does the number of ants observed on flowers approach those we observed on R. dracophylla . For Cytinus hypocistis the peak number of individual C. pilicornis foraging on flowers was only one every 5 min (de Vega et al, 2009), C. pallescens visits to Ditassa hastata peaked at 17 ants/h at 20:00 (Domingos‐Melo et al, 2021), B. kurowiwai peak inflorescence visitation rates were five ants/h and for B. tobiracola , nine ants/h.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pollination of Richea dracophylla (Ericaceae) and the role of the nocturnal ant Notoncus hickmani (Formicinae)

Nicol,

McLachlan‐Troup,

McQuillan

2023

Austral Ecology

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Our observation of large numbers of ants Notoncus hickmani (Formicinae) on the flowers of a Tasmanian endemic shrub Richea dracophyllum (Ericacea) during the night in winter prompted us to carry out a more extensive study of pollination of R. dracophyllum at two sites. Terminal panicles bear inflorescences of 300+ flowers whose petals are fused into calyptrae covering the reproductive organs, and the calyptrae must be removed before pollination can occur. To exclude birds, we placed mesh bags over some inflorescences. Inflorescences with exclusion bags had a high proportion of retained calyptra and the numbers of viable seeds were greatly reduced. We found R. dracophyllum to have a very long flowering period (more than 6 months) and a range of floral visitors, including honey‐eaters (Meliphagidae) and flying insects. At one site we observed large numbers (up to 100) of N. hickmani on inflorescences between dusk and midnight during winter at air temperatures down to 2.5°C. They fed on nectar from flowers that had lost their calyptra where they were exposed to pollen from the anthers and scanning electron microscopy showed high numbers of pollen grains being carried on the ants. The feeding behaviour of these ants would facilitate pollination between adjacent flowers (geitonogamy). Smaller numbers of dolichoderine ants (Iridomyrmex bicknelli?) were observed during the daytime in spring but mainly fed under partially detached calyptrae where they had little exposure to pollen. We suggest that R. dracophylla is pollinated by a range of species and functional groups—birds, flying insects and ants, and that the pollinating species will vary during the year and between sites, although insects depend on birds to remove the calyptrae. Ant pollination is rare, nocturnal ant pollination is extremely rare, and pollination by nocturnal cryophilic ants has not been documented previously.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%