Flowering phenology of Catopsis compacta (Bromeliaceae), a dioecious epiphyte in an oak forest

Abstract

Background: Knowledge of the flowering phenology of species with an epiphytic habit and a dioecious sexual system is scarce. Conclusions:The high flowering synchrony between the sexes, together with a flowering season that coincided with the period of highest rainfall when the number of arthropods (potential pollinators) is the highest, could favor breeding and, therefore, reproductive success. Key words: Bromeliaceae, Catopsis, epiphytes, phenology, dioecy. Fenología florar de Catopsis compacta (Bromeliaceae), una epífita decidua en un bosque de roble ResumenAntecedentes: El conocimiento de la fenología de floración de las especies con hábito epífito y sistema sexual dioico es escaso. Preguntas: En este estudio se evaluó la fenología de floración de una población de Catopsis compacta, una bromelia dioica, en un bosque de encino en Oaxaca, México, con el fin de contestar las siguientes preguntas: 1) ¿qué tipo de floración presenta la población de C. compacta? 2) ¿Cuál es el grado de sincronía entre individuos masculinos y femeninos? 3) ¿Cuál es el índice de sincronía a nivel poblacional? Metodos: En febrero de 2006, se marcaron 151 individuos ≥ 10 cm de altura en un cuadrante (20 × 20 m), y se midió su longitud total. Se realizaron censos mensuales, por un año para registrar su estado fenológico. En la etapa de floración, se contó el número de flores y frutos presentes en cada individuo. Resultados: La floración de ambos sexos tuvo una duración total de tres meses (mayo-julio). Del total de individuos marcados sólo 23 (15.23 %) florecieron; de 12 (52.17 %) pistilados y 11 (47.83 %) estaminados. El índice de sincronía entre hembras y machos fue de 0.958 ± 0.013. El índice de sincronía a nivel población fue de 0.833 ± 0.189. Conclusiones: La alta sincronía de floración entre ambos sexos, junto con el hecho que la época de floración coincida con el periodo de mayor precipitación, momento en que se presenta el mayor número de artrópodos (posibles polinizadores), podrían favorecer la polinización y en consecuencia el éxito reproductivo de la especie. Palabras clave: Bromeliaceae, Catopsis, epífitas, fenología, dioecia. Botanical Sciences

Phenology of Zamia boliviana (Zamiaceae), a threatened species from a seasonally dry biodiversity hotspot in South America

“…is characterized by cross‐pollination and predominantly obligatory and specialized mutualistic interactions between pollinators and their host plants, in some cases described as a cycad brood‐site pollination mutualism (Segalla et al, 2019; Segalla, Pinheiro, & Morellato, 2021). If pollinators are present, even with low synchrony, successful pollination can be achieved, as highlighted by Escobedo‐Sarti and Mondragón (2016). The shorter flowering period of ovuliferous plants can also reduce competition between them; if fewer ovuliferous flowers emerged simultaneously, each is more likely to be visited by pollinators (Escobedo‐Sarti & Mondragón, 2016).…”

“…In dioecious populations, polliniferous individuals tend to slightly anticipate or postpone their reproductive events (Forero‐Montaña & Zimmerman, 2010; Morellato, 2004). This strategy helps ensure greater success in the pollination of ovuliferous plants, according to Escobedo‐Sarti and Mondragón (2016) and Morellato (2004). The reproductive biology of the Zamia spp.…”

“…If pollinators are present, even with low synchrony, successful pollination can be achieved, as highlighted by Escobedo-Sarti and Mondrag on (2016). The shorter flowering period of ovuliferous plants can also reduce competition between them; if fewer ovuliferous flowers emerged simultaneously, each is more likely to be visited by pollinators (Escobedo-Sarti & Mondrag on, 2016).…”

“…Phenology is an integrative environmental science studying the timing of recurrent biological events related to climate and its effects on different species of plants and animals (Morellato et al, 2016). Studies examining the phenology of dioecious species, with different pollination modes and from diverse phylogenetic lineages, are relevant for understanding the influence of sexual selection on the evolution and maintenance of sexual dimorphism and sex allocation in plants (Escobedo‐Sarti & Mondragón, 2016; Morellato, 2004; Munguia‐Rosas et al, 2011) because overlapping between sexes is essential for reproductive success (Funamoto & Sugiura, 2021; Lazcano‐Lara & Ackerman, 2018; Morellato, 2004; Obeso, 2002; Octavio‐Aguilar, Iglesias‐Andreu, et al, 2017; Segalla, Pinheiro, & Morellato, 2021).…”

Vascular Epiphytes: The Ugly Duckling of Phenological Studies

“…While none of the articles explicitly discusses the factors that might influence these phenophases, it is known that anemochorous plants in seasonal tropical forests tend to disperse their seeds during the dry season (de Lampe et al, 1992;Morellato and Leitão-Filho, 1996;Cortés-Flores et al, 2019) since this dispersal syndrome is closely linked to wind speed and the surrounding vegetation (Augspurger, 1986). Dispersal during the dry season results more effective given the lack of foliage, facilitating the flow of wind currents and allowing the seeds to be carried over longer distances (García-Franco and Rico-Gray, 1991;Mondragón and Calvo-Irabien, 2006;Valverde and Bernal, 2010;Escobedo-Sarti and Mondragón, 2016). As occurs with flowering, fructification, and seed dispersal are influenced by other phenological phases (Primack, 1987) because, for instance, successful regeneration of a species does not only depend on seed dispersal, but also on seeds being dispersed over favorable areas during periods that allow them to germinate and establish as seedlings (Clark et al, 1999).…”