Extreme variation in floral characters and its consequences for pollinator attraction among populations of an Andean cactus

Abstract

The results suggest incipient differentiation at the population level and local adaptation to either bee or hawkmoth (potentially plus bee) pollination.

Notes on the floral biology and pollination syndrome of Echinopsis chiloensis (Colla) Friedrich & G.D.Rowley (Cactaceae) in a population of semiarid Chile

“…For instance, Valiente-Banuet et al (2004) showed that variation in the time of anthesis across the geographic range of the columnar species Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum, can be explained by variation in the pollinator availability among populations. Similarly, Schlumpberger et al (2009) described that depending of the population; Echinopsis ancsistrophora may show diurnal, short, and bee-pollinated flowers, or alternatively, nocturnal, long, and hawkmothpollinated flowers. Our results on E. chiloensis show a similar phenomenon.…”

“…Unlike the species indicated above, Echinopsis ancistrophora Speg. presents diurnal or nocturnal anthesis depending on the population, and their flowers are pollinated by bees and hawkmoths (Schlumpberger et al 2009). Recently, Walter (2010 described that, contrary to previous reports indicating diurnal anthesis (Hoffmann 1989, Hoffmann & Walter 2004, flowers of Echinopsis chiloensis (Colla) Friedrich & G.D.Rowley open at dusk and have a long longevity (17 -42 h), which permits a mixed pollinator (bees and hawkmoths) syndrome in populations near to the southern distribution limit of the species.…”

Intraplant variation in nectar traits in Helleborus foetidus (Ranunculaceae) as related to floral phase, environmental conditions and pollinator exposure

“…However, most studies have focused on nectar analyses at the species level or above (for a recent review see Herrera et al, 2006), and therefore may not have detected variation at other levels. For example, several studies have revealed that nectar sugar composition, concentration and volume may differ among individuals, populations, cultivars or subspecies of the same species (Baker and Baker, 1983a;Freeman and Wilken, 1987;Freeman et al, 1985;Gottsberger et al, 1989;Lanza et al, 1995;Reid et al, 1985;Roldán-Serrano and Guerra-Sanz, 2004;Schlumpberger et al, 2009;Severson and Erickson, 1984;Stiles and Freeman, 1993;Witt et al, 1999). Intraplant variation in nectar traits can also be extensive and responds to environmental stimuli (e.g.…”

A New Female Elytral Character for the Tribe Cyclocephalini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) and an Observation of its Possible Function

“…Cyclocephaline species (and populations) likely are biased towards a wide range of floral scent compounds. Eudicot species with geographically variable floral scent profiles may evolve scents that incidentally stimulate cyclocephaline aggregation by randomly sampling the sensory bias range of scarabs present in that area (e.g., Schlumpberger and Raguso 2008;Schlumpberger et al 2009). This scenario, if accurate, would lend support to the hypothesis of Schiestl and Dötterl (2012) that preexisting sensory biases in cyclocephalines have an important role in determining the host flower profile of a given cyclocephaline species.…”