Morphology, nectar characteristics and avian pollinators in five Andean Puya species (Bromeliaceae)

Hornung‐Leoni, Claudia T.; González-Gómez, Paulina L.; Troncoso, Alejandra J.

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2013.05.010

Cited by 34 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…A substantial interannual variation in pollinator assemblage was observed, with more than three times fewer total visits (hummingbirds and hymenopterans) to E. subgibbosa during the 2nd year of our study. The presence of other plants with massive nectar production may reduce visits to E. subgibbosa , which produces less nectar compared to species of the genus Puya that are abundant in the study site (Walter, 2008; Hornung-Leoni, González-Gómez & Troncoso, 2013). Plants that produce massive amounts of nectar interfere in the pollination process of plants with less nectar production (Fleming et al, 2001; Chittka & Schürkens, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bees may drive the reproduction of four sympatric cacti in a vanishing coastal mediterranean-type ecosystem

Guerrero

Antinao

Vergara-Meriño

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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Background Sympatric congeneric plants might share pollinators, or each species might avoid competition by evolving specialized traits that generate partitions in pollinator assemblages. In both cases, pollen limitation (a decrease in the quality and quantity of compatible reproductive pollen) can occur, driving the plant mating system to autogamy as a mechanism of reproductive assurance. We assessed the relationships between pollinator assemblages and mating systems in a group of sympatric congeneric plants. We attempted to answer the following questions: (i) How similar are pollinator assemblages among sympatric cactus species? (ii) Which mating systems do sympatric cactus species use? Methods We studied sympatric Eriosyce taxa that inhabit a threatened coastal strip in a mediterranean-type ecosystem in central Chile. We performed field observations on four taxa and characterized pollinators during the years 2016 and 2017. We estimated differences in the pollinator assemblages using the Bray–Curtis index. To elucidate the mating systems, we conducted hand-pollination experiments using three treatments: manual cross-pollination, automatic self-pollination, and control (unmanipulated individuals). We tested differences in seed production for statistical significance using Kruskal–Wallis analysis. Results Eriosyce subgibbosa showed a distinctive pollinator assemblage among the sympatric species that we studied (similarity ranged from 0% to 8%); it was visited by small bees and was the only species that was visited by the giant hummingbird Patagona gigas. Pollinator assemblages were similar between E. chilensis (year 2016 = 4 species; 2017 = 8) and E. chilensis var. albidiflora (2016 = 7; 2017 = 4); however, those of E. curvispina var. mutabilis (2016 = 7; 2017 = 6) were less similar to those of the aforementioned species. E. curvispina var. mutabilis showed the highest interannual variation in its pollinator assemblage (18% similarity). Reproduction in E. subgibbosa largely depends on pollinators, although it showed some degree of autogamy. Autonomous pollination was unfeasible in E. chilensis, which depended on flower visitors for its reproductive success. Both E. chilensis var. albidiflora and E. curvispina var. mutabilis showed some degree of autogamy. Discussion We observed differences in pollinator assemblages between E. subgibbosa and the remaining Eriosyce taxa, which depend on hymenopterans for pollen transfer. Pollinator assemblages showed considerable interannual variation, especially those of E. subgibbosa (ornithophilous syndrome) and E. curvispina var. mutabilis (melitophilous syndrome). Autogamous reproduction in these taxa may act as a reproductive assurance mechanism when pollinator availability is unpredictable. Our study contributes to improving our understanding of the reproductive systems of ecological interactions between threatened species in a Chilean mediterranean-type ecosystem.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bees may drive the reproduction of four sympatric cacti in a vanishing coastal mediterranean-type ecosystem

Guerrero

Antinao

Vergara-Meriño

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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“…Only eight species were studied from other three subfamilies, Brocchinioideae (Ramirez 1989), Hechtioideae (Ramírez Morillo et al 2008), and Puyoideae (Bernardello et al 1991;González-Gómez & Valdivia 2005;Hornung-Leoni et al 2013), and we are still lacking information about two subfamilies, Lindmanioideae and Navioideae, which is a gap, considering that these five subfamilies represent 13% of Bromeliaceae richness.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An overview on pollination of the Neotropical Poales

Wolowski

Freitas

2015

Rodriguésia

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Current phylogenetic hypotheses support that ancestral Poales were animal-pollinated and that subsequent shifts to wind pollination have occurred. Ten of the 16 Poales families are widely distributed in the Neotropics, however a comprehensive understanding of their pollination systems' diversity is still lacking. Here we surveyed studies on pollination biology of Neotropical species of Poales. Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Juncaceae are predominantly wind-pollinated but insect pollination also occurs. Thurniaceae and Thyphaceae fit on anemophily but empirical data are missing. Pollen flowers with poricidal anthers have evolved independently in Mayacaeae and Rapateaceae. Pollen-and nectar-flowers occur in Xyridaceae, which are mainly pollinated by bees. Eriocaulaceae flowers secrete minute quantity of nectar and are pollinated by "diverse small insects". Pollination of Bromeliaceae is carried out by a great variety of animal groups, mainly hummingbirds, and includes anemophily. The diversity in floral forms is very high within the order but more constant within the families. This trend indicates that many events of species diversification may have occurred without divergence in the pollination mode. Still, parallel shifts in pollination modes are found, including possible reversals to wind-or animal-pollination, changes in the type of pollinators (e.g. from hummingbirds to bee or bats) and the arising of ambophily.

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“…It is known that Puya is a very important source for hummingbirds in the high Andes (Woods & Ramsay, 2001;Salinas et al, 2007;Hornung-Leoni et al, 2013). Schuchmann (1999) states that Patagona gigas is highly dependent on Puya.…”

Section: Flowering Plants Visited By Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assemblage of Nectarivorous Birds and Their Floral Resources in an Elfin Forest of the Central Andes of Peru

2019

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Nectarivorous birds (hummingbirds, flowerpiercers, and conebills) and their floral resources in an elfin forest of the central Andes of Peru (Unchog, Carpish Mountains) are described. This forest is well-known for its concentration of endemic species, mainly birds. We recorded the nectarivorous birds, vascular plants and the interactions among them between 2011-2014. The birds were recorded by direct observations and mist nets. Plants were evaluated with Gentry plots and occasional collection. A total of 26 nectarivorous bird species have been reported in this forest, however from our observations we detected from this assemblage 17 bird species that feed in plants' nectar. A total of 27 plant species were visited by the birds. The nectarivorous birds were hummingbirds (Trochilidae, 12 species), flowerpiercers (Thraupidae, 4 species) and a conebill (Thraupidae: 1 specie). The plants were from 16 families and 14 orders. One species of hummingbird, Metallura theresiae, is endemic to Peru. On plants, Greigia macbrideana, Puya pseudoeryngioides, Centropogon isabellinus, Miconia alpina and Brachyotum lutescens are endemic to Peru. We comment on the species reported in previous expeditions and in the current checklists. Since this forest is important for its large number of endemic species, we comment on its current threats and the importance of accounting for ecological interactions to conserve montane forests.

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Morphology, nectar characteristics and avian pollinators in five Andean Puya species (Bromeliaceae)

Cited by 34 publications

References 40 publications

Bees may drive the reproduction of four sympatric cacti in a vanishing coastal mediterranean-type ecosystem

Bees may drive the reproduction of four sympatric cacti in a vanishing coastal mediterranean-type ecosystem

An overview on pollination of the Neotropical Poales

Assemblage of Nectarivorous Birds and Their Floral Resources in an Elfin Forest of the Central Andes of Peru

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