Floral trait variation across individual plants within a population enhances defense capability to nectar robbing

Tie, Shuang; He, Yong‐Deng; Lázaro, Amparo; Inouye, David W.; Guo, Yingshi; Yang, Chun‐Feng

doi:10.1016/j.pld.2022.11.002

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Tecoma fulva in our study area show flowers with diurnal anthesis, moderate nectar volume (mean ± SD : 8.16 ± 2.78 μL), and moderate nectar concentration (26.9 ± 3.07°Bx), with peaks at the end of the afternoon (Figure S2 shows nectar volume and concentration during the day), typical nectar features in ornithophilous flowers (Faegri & van der Pijl, 1979; Fenster et al., 2004; Wilson et al., 2004). These nectar features are also common in flowers subject to bird‐ and bee‐mediated nectar robbing (Genini et al., 2010; Pelayo, 2017; Rojas‐Nossa et al., 2016; Tie et al., 2023).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These nectar features are also common in flowers subject to birdand bee-mediated nectar robbing (Genini et al, 2010;Pelayo, 2017;Rojas-Nossa et al, 2016;Tie et al, 2023).…”

Section: Study Site and Species Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Negative effects have been found for avian pollinators as some birds may be able to detect changes in nectar supply and are therefore less likely to visit nectar-robbed flowers (Irwin, 2000;Richman et al, 2017). In contrast, the effects usually can be neutral and positive when pollinators and nectar robbers are both insects (Irwin et al, 2001(Irwin et al, , 2010, as they may not be able to detect differences in nectar reward (but see Kohl &Steffan-Dewenter, 2022, andTie et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nectar robbing effects on pollinators of a key nectar source plant (Tecoma fulva, Bignoniaceae) in a dry tropical Andean valley

Maidana‐Tuco,

Larrea‐Alcázar,

Pacheco

2024

Biotropica

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Zoophilous flowering plants have features to attract their pollinators, which may also be used by exploiters like nectar robbers. Nectar robbers access nectar by probing flower corollas (primary robbing) or use existing holes (secondary robbing). Nectar robbing can negatively impact a plant's fitness directly by damaging the reproductive structures of the flower or indirectly by modifying the visitation patterns of pollinators. We tested the hypothesis that the robbed flowers are less visited by legitimate pollinators by comparing floral visitors and visitation frequency in primary‐, secondary‐, and un‐robbed flowers of Tecoma fulva spp. Altoandina, a native shrub species that is an important nectar source for nectarivores in the dry valleys of the Bolivian Andes (Bignoniaceae). The Giant Hummingbird, Patagona gigas (Trochilidae), was the main visitor of T. fulva and visited more frequently un‐robbed flowers, followed by secondary robbed and primary robbed flowers. The variation in visitation frequency may result in less pollen transport to robbed flowers, which may have negative consequences for the biological fitness, probably manifested in decreased seed production.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These nectar features are also common in flowers subject to birdand bee-mediated nectar robbing (Genini et al, 2010;Pelayo, 2017;Rojas-Nossa et al, 2016;Tie et al, 2023).…”

Section: Study Site and Species Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nectar robbing effects on pollinators of a key nectar source plant (Tecoma fulva, Bignoniaceae) in a dry tropical Andean valley

Maidana‐Tuco,

Larrea‐Alcázar,

Pacheco

2024

Biotropica

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“…Tirpitzia sinensis Hallier f. [9]) are more likely to be robbed. The frequency of robbing visits may depend on several attributes, like the abundance of flowers, corolla length, floral resource accessibility, and temporal and spatial change in the abundance of robbers [10][11][12]. Visitor morphometry (e.g., body size and proboscis length) and resource-collecting behaviour may also affect their robbing activity, but this remains unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floral visitors of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): Elucidating their nectar-robbing behaviour and impacts on the plant reproduction

Layek,

Bhandari,

Das

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Nectar robbing is common in angiosperms, especially in long tubular flowers or flowers with spurs that keep nectar out of reach of visitors. However, the robbing behaviour of bees is less understood. Here, we studied the sesame visitors, their robbing behaviour, and the impacts of robbing on plant reproductive fitness. Diverse insect species (primarily members of Hymenoptera) visited sesame flowers. The most effective pollinators were Amegilla zonata, Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Ceratina binghami, Halictus acrocephalus and Xylocopa amethystina. Almost all visitors with variable percentages revealed the nectar-robbing phenomenon. Robbing activity depended on a complex of multiple attributes, including the visitor’s body size, the corolla tube length, the availability and accessibility of nectar, and the resource-collecting task allocation of bees. Robbing activity varied according to flower-visiting species, flowering period and daytime. Robbing was comparatively higher in the late flowering period at 10.00–14.00 h. In the case of robbing visits, flower handling time was lower, and the visitation rate remained higher than non-robbing visits. Robbing visits did not significantly affect fruit and seed sets of sesame. Therefore, we can interpret the nectar-robbing interactions on sesame as commensal, with pollinators benefitting without altering the plant’s reproductive fitness.

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Does Reproductive Success in Natural and Anthropogenic Populations of Generalist Epipactis helleborine Depend on Flower Morphology and Nectar Composition?

Brzosko

Bajguz

Burzyńska

et al. 2023

IJMS

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The purpose of our study was to determine the role of flower structure and nectar composition in shaping the reproductive success (RS) of the generalist orchid Epipactis helleborine in natural and anthropogenic populations. We supposed that the distinct character of two groups of habitats creates different conditions for plant–pollinator relationships, thus influencing reproductive success in E. helleborine populations. Both pollinaria removal (PR) and fruiting (FRS) were differentiated between the populations. On average, FRS was almost two times higher in the anthropogenic than in the natural populations. The difference between the two population groups in PR was smaller but still statistically significant. RS parameters were correlated with some floral display and flower traits. Floral display influenced RS only in three anthropogenic populations. Flower traits had a weak influence on RS (10 of the 192 cases analyzed). The more important trait in shaping RS was nectar chemistry. The nectar of E. helleborine is relatively diluted with a lower sugar concentration in the anthropogenic than in the natural populations. In the natural populations, domination of sucrose over hexoses was found, while in the anthropogenic populations, hexoses were more abundant and the participation of sugars was balanced. In some populations, sugars influenced RS. In E. helleborine nectar, 20 proteogenic and 7 non-proteogenic amino acids (AAs) were found with a clear domination of glutamic acid. We noted relationships between some AAs and RS, but distinct AAs shaped RS in different populations, and their impact was independent of their participation. Our results indicate that the flower structure and nectar composition of E. helleborine reflect its generalistic character and meet the requirements of a wide range of pollinators. Simultaneously, the differentiation of flower traits suggests a variation in pollinator assemblages in particular populations. Knowledge about the factors influencing RS in distinct habitats helps to understand the evolutionary potential of species and to understand mechanisms and processes crucial for shaping interactions between plants and pollinators.

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Floral trait variation across individual plants within a population enhances defense capability to nectar robbing

Cited by 3 publications

References 46 publications

Nectar robbing effects on pollinators of a key nectar source plant (Tecoma fulva, Bignoniaceae) in a dry tropical Andean valley

Nectar robbing effects on pollinators of a key nectar source plant (Tecoma fulva, Bignoniaceae) in a dry tropical Andean valley

Floral visitors of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): Elucidating their nectar-robbing behaviour and impacts on the plant reproduction

Does Reproductive Success in Natural and Anthropogenic Populations of Generalist Epipactis helleborine Depend on Flower Morphology and Nectar Composition?

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