The predictive power of pollination syndromes: Passerine pollination in heterantherous <i>Meriania macrophylla</i> (Benth.) Triana (Melastomataceae)

Valverde-Espinoza, José Miguel; Chacón‐Madrigal, Eduardo; Alvarado-Rodríguez, Olman; Dellinger, Agnes S.

doi:10.1002/ece3.8140

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Pollination syndromes have been broadly applied throughout the field of plant biology, from analysis of species diversification to issues of conservation (Dellinger, 2020). Despite their wide utility, pollination syndromes are imperfect predictors of pollinator identity, and it is important to validate syndrome assumptions with detailed observations of plants and their pollinators (Ollerton et al, 2009; Dellinger, 2020; Valverde‐Espinoza et al, 2021; Berardi et al, 2022; Sinnott‐Armstrong et al, 2022). An intuitive set of experimental aims to test for pollination using empirical data was formalized in the 1980s (Cox and Knox, 1988).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Historically, investigations have focused largely on understanding variation in floral form, but more recent pursuits are invigorated by the role of pollinators in plant reproduction and fitness variation, dispersal across space and time, trait evolution, and macroevolutionary patterns of species diversification (Delpino, 1873–1874; Proctor et al, 1996; O'Meara et al, 2016; Lagomarsino et al, 2017; Rhodes et al, 2017; Smith and Kriebel, 2018; Wessinger, 2021; Burgin and Hopkins, 2022). One theme that has not wavered across historical and modern perspectives is the importance of empirical pollination data (Mitchell et al, 2009; Ollerton et al, 2009; Dellinger, 2020; Valverde‐Espinoza et al, 2021). Observing and demonstrating effective pollination can be time consuming and logistically challenging.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Characterizing each step of pollination in Phlox drummondii reveals that a single butterfly species predominates in the pollinator assemblage

Burgin

Bronzo-Munich

Garner

et al. 2023

American J of Botany

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Premise A central goal of pollination biology is to connect plants with the identity of their pollinator(s). While predictions based on floral syndrome traits are extremely useful, direct observation can reveal further details of a species' pollination biology. The wildflower Phlox drummondii has a floral syndrome consistent with pollination by Lepidoptera. We tested this prediction using empirical data. Methods We observed each step of pollination in P. drummondii. First, we observed 55.5 h of floral visitation across the species range. We used temporal pollinator exclusion to determine the contribution of diurnal and nocturnal pollination to reproductive output. We then quantified P. drummondii pollen transfer by the dominant floral visitor, Battus philenor. Finally, we tested the effect of B. philenor visitation on P. drummondii reproduction by quantifying fruit set following single pollinator visits. Results Battus philenor is the primary pollinator of P. drummondii. Pollination is largely diurnal, and we observed a variety of lepidopteran visitors during the diurnal period. However, B. philenor was the most frequent visitor, representing 88.5% of all observed visits. Our results show that B. philenor is an extremely common visitor and also an effective pollinator by demonstrating that individuals transfer pollen between flowers and that a single visit can elicit fruit set. Conclusions Our data are consistent with the prediction of lepidopteran pollination and further reveal a single butterfly species, B. philenor, as the primary pollinator. Our study demonstrates the importance of empirical pollinator observations, adds to our understanding of pollination mechanics, and offers a specific case study of butterfly pollination.

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing each step of pollination in Phlox drummondii reveals that a single butterfly species predominates in the pollinator assemblage

Burgin

Bronzo-Munich

Garner

et al. 2023

American J of Botany

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“…Heteranthery is generally explained by ‘division of labour’ where some anthers specialise in reproduction and others in feeding pollinators, but staggered pollen release for birds has also been described as a function of heteranthery (Dellinger, Artuso, et al., 2021), and stamen dimorphism affected some Melastomataceae pollen and stamen traits that may also have an impact on their functional role (Trevizan et al., 2023). Heteranthery can be used as a predictor in a passerine bird pollination syndrome (e.g., Meriania macrophylla , Valverde‐Espinoza et al., 2021). The relative rarity of heteranthery, except in the Leguminosae and Melastomataceae, was explained by the fact that pollen consumption may not be excessive or pollen placement in the ‘division of labour’ would require pollinators large enough for the pollen to be positioned differently (Vallejo‐Marín et al., 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dillenia (Dilleniaceae) pollen heteromorphy and presentation, and implications for pollination by bats

Petit,

Scanlon,

Naikatini

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Bat pollination of Dillenia in Fiji, a genus that was presumed to be pollinated by bees, posits that other Dillenia species may be bat‐pollinated, with implications for conservation and the understanding of angiosperm evolution. Botanical descriptions of some corolla behaviours (‘falling as a whole’) suggest bat removal of permanently closed corollas, as in D. biflora. Considering the remoteness of species of interest, we reviewed some Dillenia floral traits to hypothesise what they may mean for bat pollination of the genus. We investigated D. biflora pollen grains apertures and reviewed Dillenia literature concerning corolla behaviour and colour, and pollen apertures and presentation, including pores and staminodes. Our samples had dramatically different ratios of tricolpate to tetracolpate pollen grains, a trait that does not exclude pollination by bees. Petal colour polymorphism occurs, with mixed colours proportionately less common in flowers with corollas that open. The proportion of species with staminodes did not differ between those presumed to be pollinated by bats and others, but anthers of the former were significantly more likely to have apical pores, and stamens all had similar length or were slightly longer in the middle, whereas stamens in two distinct groups occurred in 55% of bee‐pollinated species. Pollen heteromorphy may facilitate pollination by different taxa in tropical environments. However, anther apical pores and stamen uniformity are more likely to be associated with bat‐pollinated species than are other morphologies. Dillenia could be a useful model to examine evolutionary aspects of colour, heteranthery, staminodes and pollen heteromorphy. Only field work will verify bat pollination and the implications of bat dependence for Dillenia species.

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Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of the Tribe Merianieae

Michelangeli

Dellinger

Goldenberg

et al. 2022

Systematics, Evolution, and Ecology of Melastomataceae

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The predictive power of pollination syndromes: Passerine pollination in heterantherous Meriania macrophylla (Benth.) Triana (Melastomataceae)

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri bution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 4 publications

References 34 publications

Characterizing each step of pollination in Phlox drummondii reveals that a single butterfly species predominates in the pollinator assemblage

Characterizing each step of pollination in Phlox drummondii reveals that a single butterfly species predominates in the pollinator assemblage

Dillenia (Dilleniaceae) pollen heteromorphy and presentation, and implications for pollination by bats

Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of the Tribe Merianieae

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