Bat and bee pollination in <i>Psittacanthus</i> mistletoes, a genus regarded as exclusively hummingbird‐pollinated

Fadini, Rodrigo Ferreira; Fischer, Erich Arnold; Castro, Sônia J.; Araujo, Andréa Cardoso; Ornelas, Juan Francisco; Souza, Paulo Robson de

doi:10.1002/ecy.2140

Cited by 23 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…robustus by bats can even surpass local chiropterophilous flowers in terms of relative usage of floral resources. This is the second empirical observation of bat visitation, and potentially pollination, in a species of the genus (Araujo & Sazima, 2003; Fadini et al, 2018; Kuijt & Hansen, 2015). The richness of bat species vising P .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…acinarius (synonym of P . corynocephalus , Kuijt, 2009) is the sole known case of bat pollination in a group of about 120 species previously thought to be strictly ornithophilous (Araujo & Sazima, 2003; Fadini et al, 2018). However, as loranthaceous mistletoes are poorly studied in terms of pollination ecology (Arruda et al, 2012), exploring and understanding the dependence on nocturnal pollinators in ornithophilous species in the family is a significant step toward clarifying the evolution of vertebrate‐pollination syndromes in this group, as well as potential mechanisms underlying the transition between ornithophily and chiropterophily.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Changing the main course: strong bat visitation to the ornithophilous mistletoe Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae) in a Neotropical savanna

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Neotropical genus Psittacanthus comprises mostly specialized ornithophilous mistletoes, with rare exceptions. Psittacanthus robustus is a common ornithophilous species from the South American savannas whose bright yellow flowers secrete copious diluted nectar. Due to a three‐day‐long anthesis and a short, non‐restrictive floral tube, we suggest that the species also serves as a resource for flower‐visiting bats. In a Cerrado area in central Brazil, we investigated the usage of the species by bats through systematic bat captures for pollen sampling, its nocturnal nectar secretion dynamics, mating system, and the relative dependence on diurnal and nocturnal pollinators for reproduction. Nine phyllostomid bat species visited P. robustus. Up to 50% of pollen samples from bats contained the species during peak flowering, equating or surpassing the prevalence of chiropterophilous species and representing roughly a third of the floral resources consumed by specialized nectarivores Glossophaga soricina and Anoura caudifer. Flowers actively produced nectar at night with volume and concentration values in the ideal ranges for bat consumption. Nectar is continuously secreted after sunset and accumulates in the absence of visitors. Psittacanthus robustus is self‐compatible but seeds are set mostly by diurnal visitors. Nocturnal animals had a low and secondary contribution to plant fitness. This is the second report of bat pollination for the genus Psittacanthus, and the largest assemblage of bat visitors for the family Loranthaceae. Although ornithophilous, P. robustus is an important resource for bats in the Brazilian savanna, potentially representing a mixed or early transitional state toward bat pollination. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing the main course: strong bat visitation to the ornithophilous mistletoe Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae) in a Neotropical savanna

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Mistletoes comprise an aerial parasitic plants composed of around of 1,500–1,600 species worldwide ( Nickrent et al, 2010 ). They are present in a variety of forms and are exclusively found in the tropical native species of South and Central America, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand ( Fadini et al, 2018 ). These plants usually present different traits to manipulate the pollinator behavior that include: extended flowering lifetime ( Azpeitia and Lara, 2006 ), production of high quality FN ( Rivera et al, 1996 ; Pérez-Crespo et al, 2016 ), VOCs emission ( Bungert et al, 2002 ; Sipes et al, 2014 ) and the developments of bright colored flowers ( Pérez-Crespo et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochemical Traits in the Flower Lifetime of a Mexican Mistletoe Parasitizing Mesquite Biomass

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Psittacanthus calyculatus is a hemiparasitic plant that infects a wide range of trees. Mainly the biology reproduction of this mistletoe lies in bright colored flower development. Furthermore, it uses the nectar secretion as the only reward to engage different flower visitors. We investigated the physiological mechanisms of the flower phenology per hour and per day to analyze the spatial-temporal patterns of the nectar secretion, Cell Wall Invertase Activity (key enzyme in the quality of nectar), nectar chemistry, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission, synthesis of carotenoids and frequency of floral visitors. Flowers lasted 4 days, total nectar was loaded just before the anthesis and the secretion was maintained over day 1 and 2, decreased on day 3, and stopped on day 4. The diurnal nectar secretion dynamic per hour on day 1 and 2 showed similar patterns with high production on the morning and a decrease in the afternoon, the secretion declined on day 3 and ceased on day 4. On the other hand, CWIN activity per day was less before the anthesis and increased on day 1 and 2, this enzymatic activity decreased on the old flower phenology. Moreover, diurnal CWIN activities showed different patterns in the morning, noon, and lastly in the afternoon. Nectar chemistry varied significantly throughout of the flower lifetime, sucrose decreased along the flower phenology increasing glucose and fructose. Amino acids showed the prevalence of proline and oxo-proline, both increased on the day 1 and diminished in subsequent old flower stages. The spatial VOCs emission showed the presence of 11 compounds being β-ocimene the main volatile; its release increased on day 1 and remained constant in the flower lifetime. Lutein, lycopene, and β-carotene were concentrated in old stages of the flowers. In field, the most frequent flower visitors were the hummingbirds that usually foraging in all phenologic flower stage and their foraging events decreased with the phenological flower lifetimes. The results showed that these traits presented by P. calyculatus flowers are able to engage and manipulate the behavior of flower visitors and contribute to the reproduction of the parasitic plant.

show abstract

“…The present results, therefore, increase the diversity of pollinators documented for Asteraceae and add evidence that lineages with conserved floral ‘bauplans’ can accommodate diverse pollination systems through changes in some floral traits (Fadini et al . 2018; Ronse De Craene 2018; Vasconcelos et al . 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gongylolepis martiana, an Asteraceae pollinated by bats in the Amazon

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Most Asteraceae species are pollinated by insects, mainly bees and butterflies, although pollination by birds has been documented and pollination by bats has been suggested for some species. Here, we investigated the pollination of Gongylolepis martiana, a species supposedly pollinated by bats. We assessed floral traits and visitors in a population of G. martiana in the Brazilian Amazon, measuring pollen removal from anthers and deposition on stigmas by diurnal and nocturnal visitors. Florets opened at dusk and lasted for 4 days, with the male phase starting on the first night and the female phase on the third night. Accumulated nectar per capitulum was 69.6 μl per night and sugar concentration was 15%. Nectar‐feeding bats and hummingbirds contacted the sexual parts, but pollen removal and deposition were greater throughout the night than during the day, when Meliponini bees considerably reduced pollen availability. Other nocturnal visitors of G. martiana were rare, including nocturnal bees and moths that foraged for pollen and nectar, respectively. Our results support that nectarivorous bats are the main pollinators of G. martiana, confirming Vogel’s hypothesis of bat pollination in Asteraceae, particularly in the genus Gongylolepis. Since anthesis and each sexual floral phase started in the evening, nectarivorous bats and diurnal bees caused additive priority effects, preventing hummingbirds from being efficient pollinators. The high density of flowering individuals of G. martiana in patches from white‐sand forests likely increases bat attraction, while the small amount of nectar per plant favours cross‐pollination.

show abstract

Bat and bee pollination in Psittacanthus mistletoes, a genus regarded as exclusively hummingbird‐pollinated

Cited by 23 publications

References 9 publications

Changing the main course: strong bat visitation to the ornithophilous mistletoe Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae) in a Neotropical savanna

Changing the main course: strong bat visitation to the ornithophilous mistletoe Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae) in a Neotropical savanna

Biochemical Traits in the Flower Lifetime of a Mexican Mistletoe Parasitizing Mesquite Biomass

Gongylolepis martiana, an Asteraceae pollinated by bats in the Amazon

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About