Light intensity regulates flower visitation in Neotropical nocturnal bees

Liporoni, Rodolfo; Cordeiro, Guaraci Duran; Prado, Paulo Inácio; Schlindwein, Clemens; Warrant, Eric J.; Alves‐dos‐Santos, Isabel

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72047-x

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Moreover, flights of the nocturnal bee were shorter than those of the two diurnal species. A recent study on neotropical nocturnal bees reported that light intensity influenced flower visits more than other factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and flower availability (Liporoni et al, 2020). Hence we conclude that despite its remarkable extent of nocturnality, flights in X. tranquebarica are constrained on darker nights.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 43%

Nocturnal Bees Feed on Diurnal Leftovers and Pay the Price of Day – Night Lifestyle Transition

et al. 2020

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Bees exemplify flights under bright sunlight. A few species across bee families have evolved nocturnality, displaying remarkable adaptations to overcome limitations of their daylight-suited apposition eyes. Phase inversion to nocturnality in a minority of bees that co-exist with diurnal bees provides a unique opportunity to study ecological benefits that mediate total temporal niche shifts. While floral traits and sensory modalities associated with the evolution of classical nocturnal pollination syndromes, e.g. by bats and moths, are well-studied, nocturnality in bees represents a poorly understood, recently invaded, extreme niche. To test the competitive release hypothesis, we examine how nocturnality shapes foraging by comparing pollen loads, nest pollen, and flower visitation of sympatric nocturnal and diurnal carpenter bees. We predicted that nocturnal bees primarily use night-blooming flowers, show little/no resource overlap with diurnal species and competitive release favors night-time pollen collection for provisioning. Contrarily, we found substantial resource overlap between nocturnal and diurnal bees. Flower opening times, floral longevity and plant abundance did not define nocturnal flower use. Smaller pollen loads on nocturnal foragers suggest subsistence on resource leftovers largely from diurnal flowers. Greater pollen types/diversity on nocturnal foragers indicate lower floral constancy compared to diurnal congenerics. Reduced activity during new moon compared to full moon suggests constraints to nocturnal foraging. Invasion and sustenance within the nocturnal niche is characterized by: (i) opportunistic foraging on residual resources as indicated by smaller pollen loads, extensive utilization of day-blooming flowers and substantial overlap with diurnal bees, (ii) generalization at two levels-between and within foraging trips as indicated by lower floral constancy, (iii) reduced foraging on darker nights, indicating visual constraints despite sensitive optics. This together with smaller populations and univoltine breeding in nocturnal compared to multivoltine diurnal counterparts suggest that nocturnality imposes substantial fitness costs. In conclusion, the evolution of nocturnality in bees is accompanied by resource generalization instead of specialization. Reduced floral constancy suggests differences in foraging strategies of nocturnal and diurnal bees which merits further investigation. The relative roles of competition, floral rewards and predators should be examined to fully understand the evolution and maintenance of nocturnality in bees.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 43%

Nocturnal Bees Feed on Diurnal Leftovers and Pay the Price of Day – Night Lifestyle Transition

et al. 2020

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“…In the south, the high cloud cover during the wet season might have limited transmitted radiation. Under denser canopies, the radiation could have been below the threshold necessary for insects to visit flowers (Liporoni et al., 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cacao flower visitation: Low pollen deposition, low fruit set and dominance of herbivores

Vansynghel

Ocampo‐Ariza

Maas

et al. 2022

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Pollination services of cacao are crucial for global chocolate production, yet remain critically understudied, particularly in regions of origin of the species. Notably, uncertainties remain concerning the identity of cacao pollinators, the influence of landscape (forest distance) and management (shade cover) on flower visitation and the role of pollen deposition in limiting fruit set. Here, we aimed to improve understanding of cacao pollination by studying limiting factors of fruit set in Peru, part of the centre of origin of cacao. Flower visitors were sampled with sticky insect glue in 20 cacao agroforests in two biogeographically distinct regions of Peru, across gradients of shade cover and forest distance. Further, we assessed pollen quantities and compared fruit set between naturally and manually pollinated flowers. The most abundant flower visitors were aphids, ants and thrips in the north and thrips, midges and parasitoid wasps in the south of Peru. We present some evidence of increasing visitation rates from medium to high shade (40%–95% canopy closure) in the dry north, and opposite patterns in the semi‐humid south, during the wet season. Natural pollination resulted in remarkably low fruit set rates (2%), and very low pollen deposition. After hand pollination, fruit set more than tripled (7%), but was still low. The diversity and high relative abundances of herbivore flower visitors limit our ability to draw conclusions on the functional role of different flower visitors. The remarkably low fruit set of naturally and even hand pollinated flowers indicates that other unaddressed factors limit cacao fruit production. Such factors could be, amongst others, a lack of effective pollinators, genetic incompatibility or resource limitation. Revealing efficient pollinator species and other causes of low fruit set rates is therefore key to establish location‐specific management strategies and develop high yielding native cacao agroforestry systems in regions of origin of cacao.

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“…Most bees visit flowers during the daylight, but some bee families search for flowers in dim light [159]. Nocturnal bees settle their flower trips by light intensity and temperature [180].…”

Section: Challenges Faced In Bee Pollinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of Bee Pollination and Its Economic Value for Crop Production

Khalifa

Elshafiey

Shetaia

et al. 2021

Insects

149

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Pollination plays a significant role in the agriculture sector and serves as a basic pillar for crop production. Plants depend on vectors to move pollen, which can include water, wind, and animal pollinators like bats, moths, hoverflies, birds, bees, butterflies, wasps, thrips, and beetles. Cultivated plants are typically pollinated by animals. Animal-based pollination contributes to 30% of global food production, and bee-pollinated crops contribute to approximately one-third of the total human dietary supply. Bees are considered significant pollinators due to their effectiveness and wide availability. Bee pollination provides excellent value to crop quality and quantity, improving global economic and dietary outcomes. This review highlights the role played by bee pollination, which influences the economy, and enlists the different types of bees and other insects associated with pollination.

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Light intensity regulates flower visitation in Neotropical nocturnal bees

Cited by 14 publications

References 53 publications

Nocturnal Bees Feed on Diurnal Leftovers and Pay the Price of Day – Night Lifestyle Transition

Nocturnal Bees Feed on Diurnal Leftovers and Pay the Price of Day – Night Lifestyle Transition

Cacao flower visitation: Low pollen deposition, low fruit set and dominance of herbivores

Overview of Bee Pollination and Its Economic Value for Crop Production

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