How pollinator visits are affected by flower damage and ants presence in Ipomoea carnea subs. fistulosa (Martius and Choise) (Convolvulaceae)?

Abstract

<jats:p>Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effects of florivory and of the patrolling ants associated to EFNs-extrafloral nectaries, on the frequency of floral visitors, using the specie Ipomoea carnea subs. fistulosa (Martius and Choise) in Caatinga area. The floral attributes of the species were characterized. The effect of florivoria on the frequency of visitors and the influence of the presence of ants associated with the NEFs on the pollinator visit rate were evaluated. The rate of natural florivoria was recorded and collected floral visitors and ants over eight months. The damage on floral structure and the presence of ants foraging in the flowers causes a decrease in the number of total visits. The results may be justified by the fact that the floral damage consisted in the loss of important floral attributes. These effects for Ipomoea carnea subs. fistulosa can affect reproductive success, since it is a self-incompatible species and depends on the activity of the pollinators for their fertilization to occur.</jats:p>

Trade-off in plant-ant interactions: seasonal variations

“…In the present study, ants caused a significant reduction in the number of pollinator visits, as observed by Cruz et al (2019) and by Martins et al (2019). According to D'Áttilo et al (2009) only visual clues, that is, mimetic models that indicate the presence of ants are sufficient to produce such a reduction in visitors, especially bees.…”

“…The plant has ephemeral flowers, diurnal and reproductive system with self-incompatibility strategy (Paz et al, 2013). This species attracts several ant species due to the presence of extrafloral nectaries (EFN), two located on the abaxial leaf surface, five in the floral receptacle, and are also present and active in the floral buds (Martins et al, 2019).…”

“…These observations occurred from 6 am to 1 pm with 10-minute intervals every hour. Subsequently, we isolated the flowers again for fruiting observation and distinguished the treatments by the use of ribbons of different colors (Martins et al, 2019).…”

“…Among the alternatives for understanding the patterns observed in ant-plant interactions, the hypothesis of "herbivorous protection" (sensu Bentley, 1977) has been intensively studied over the last three decades (Santos and Del-Claro, 2001;Vilhena-Potiguara et al, 2012;Martins et al, 2019). In Brazil, the ant-excluding has been conducted in the tropics showing that ants can indeed benefit plants reducing the impacts of herbivory (Marazzi et al, 2013).…”

“…This way the ants associated with extrafloral nectaries (EFN) can have bigger impact on abundance and visit rate of pollinator, causing behavioral changes in floral visitors (Martins et al, 2019), which may affect indirectly the reproductive fitness of some plant species.…”