Reproductive biology and pollination ecology of the rare Yellowstone Park endemicAbronia ammophila(Nyctaginaceae)

Abstract

We examined the breeding system, reproductive output and pollination ecology of Abronia ammophila Greene, a rare and highly restricted endemic of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. Floral morphology permits the automatic deposition of self-pollen on the stigma of individual flowers, and male and female reproductive functions temporally overlap. In controlled hand-pollination treatments, we found no significant difference among pollination treatments (unmanipulated, self-pollinated or cross-pollination). The species maintains a long reproductive season with high reproductive output (natural seed set ranged from 59 to 84%). Our results, along with pollinator observations, suggest that A. ammophila exhibits a mixed-mating system: the species can produce seed without pollinators (via either autogamy or agamospermy), but is also visited by an array of pollinating insects that included moths, butterflies and bumblebees. However, noctuid moths were the most abundant pollinators. In contrast, other Abronia species are obligate outcrossers. The mixed-mating system of A. ammophila may have evolved as a consequence of ecological pressures such as scarcity of mates or pollinators.

Reproduction and diversity of the endangered Salix lapponum L. populations in Eastern Poland

“…In a specific habitat, new specimens may develop from seeds or somatic tissue fragments, depending on the season and soil conditions. In the case of endangered species, it is very important to establish conditions suitable for their sexual propagation (Saunders and Sipes, 2006). The effectiveness of generative propagation of species belonging to the genus Salix depends on a few factors related to individual and population features.…”

Reproductive ecology of the threatened "star cactus" <em>Astrophytum ornatum</em> (Cactaceae): a strategy of continuous reproduction with low success

“…Both mating and breeding systems affect the genetic makeup and thus genetic structure of populations as well as the success of the subsequent processes of seed germination and seedling establishment, events which are particularly important in isolated, low density populations, as well as in populations of threatened species as there is an increase in the effects of genetic drift and potentially lower fitness (Esparza-Olguín et al 2005, Camargo-Smidt et al 2006, Saunders & Sipes 2006, Strong & Williamson 2007, Martínez-Peralta & Mandujano 2011). In the Cactaceae the effects of small population size is particularly important as many species have small isolated populations (Martorell & Peters 2005, Valverde & Zavala 2006, Hernández & Gómez-Hinostrosa 2011, Martorell et al 2015.…”

Sand verbenas (Abronia spp., Nyctaginaceae) germinate in response to ethylene

“…Additionally, habitat fragmentation and loss due to human activities such as off-road vehicle use and the development of coastal areas, as well as the spread of the invasive Ammophila arenaria in coastal dunes of the northwestern USA has resulted in the extirpation of a number of populations (McGlaughlin et al, 2002). This has focused attention on the reproductive biology of the genus to facilitate the conservation of existing populations and also the reintroduction of Abronia into areas from which it has disappeared (Kaye, 1999;Saunders and Sipes, 2006). Furthermore, the restoration of native species in coastal dune communities of urban regions previously planted with exotic species, e.g., Carpobrotus edulis, requires the ability to easily propagate sand verbenas.…”

“…Some Abronia species are rare or endangered, e.g., Abronia ammophila, a highly restricted endemic of Yellowstone National Park (Saunders and Sipes, 2006); Abronia macrocarpa, a federally endangered species of east-central Texas (Williamson and Werth, 1999); and Abronia umbellata subsp. breviflora, a state-listed endangered species of the Oregon coast (McGlaughlin et al, 2002), which is also considered a species of concern by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Kaye, 1999).…”