Evidence of reward production and pollination by Centris in Encyclia (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae): the reproductive biology of Encyclia mapuerae

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Krahl ◽  
D. R. P. Krahl ◽  
J. J. Valsko ◽  
A. C. Webber ◽  
E. R. Pansarin

Encyclia is a neotropical orchid genus distributed from Florida to South Brazil and comprises ~120 taxa, including Encyclia mapuerae (Huber) Brade & Pabst. Besides its diversity and wide distribution, conclusive data on pollinators and reproductive biology of this orchid genus is scarce. Furthermore, nothing is known about the production of floral reward in Encyclia but the pollinators of their species are assumed to be attracted through food deception. Based on data on phenology, floral morpho-anatomy, histochemistry, pollinators, pollination mechanisms, and breeding system, the reproductive biology of E. mapuerae was studied in a nature reserve at Central Amazonia, Brazil. The flowers of E. mapuerae show longitudinal lines on the labellum that act as a nectar guide. The secretory epidermis has papillae whose cells are covered by an ornamented cuticle. The subtended tissue is composed of a tree-layered collenchyma. The flowers attract several species of Hymenoptera. However, a single species of Centris was recorded as pollinator. The bees collect the nectar produced inside the cuniculus. When the bees leave the flower the pollinarium is attached to their heads. Encyclia mapuerae is self-compatible and pollinator-dependent. The reproductive success in natural conditions is low because of deficient pollen transference due to the scarcity of pollinators. As far we know this is the first study that reports and production of floral reward in Encyclia. This discovery provides new insights on the function of the cuniculus in Laeliinae, and sheds light on the evolution of floral rewards and pollination mechanisms within this diverse group of Neotropical orchids.

2006 ◽  
pp. 43-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. N. Lysenko ◽  
I. A. Korotchenko

Changes in the set of syntaxa have been traced for the plant cover of the «Mikhaylovskaya Tselina» meadow-steppe (an isolated part of the Ukrainian Steppe Nature Reserve, Sumy Region, Ukraine) with the help of the Braun-Blanquet approach. The area vegetation syntaxa prodromus includes 2 classes, 2 rders, 3 alliances, 9 associations, and 6 subasso­ciations, 2 of the latter described anew. The plant cover is highly dynamic and undergoes expressed meso­phytization, especially within the area where strict protection has been maintained since 1961. Amplitudes of the principal ecological factors and also peculiarities of their shift under exogenic regulation are determined with the help of the method of synecological phyto­indication (i. e. not single species but total species sets of communities serve as indicators). The essential transformations of the reserve meadow steppes are probably caused by the «insular» character of the reserve, its small size, also by the poorness of the set of natural grazers and hence the inadequacy of regulation by means of mowing.


2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia Calil ◽  
Carlos A. Borzone

Mysidacea are common sublittoral crustaceans that inhabit all coasts in the world. In this study, the population characteristics and the reproductive biology of Metamysidopsis neritica Bond-Buckup & Tavares, 1992 were studied in the surf zone of a south Brazilian beach (Atami). Mysids were sampled at monthly intervals from August, 1999 to July, 2000 (total of 29,490 individuals). Individuals were classified into six population categories. The highest abundance occurred in May (8,665) and August (6,415), and lowest in September (336) and December (368). Three main generations were identified, namely the summer, fall and winter generations. The winter generation was the longest (four to five months). The fall generation lasted four months, and the summer one extended from three to four months. Ovigerous females occurred throughout the year, with a greater proportion in July. The number of eggs or larvae varied from one to 16. Weak associations were found between female length and egg number, egg volume, and the number of larvae with and without eyes. Egg volume increased during the coldest season, whereas the smallest values were recorded during summer. These results suggest a possible direct relationship between egg volume and generation longevity.


Check List ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Barbisan Fortes ◽  
Elaine Maria Lucas ◽  
Vinícius Matheus Caldart

The Brazilian burrowing snake, Gomesophis brasiliensis, occurs in aquatic habitats such as swamps, from Minas Gerais and Distrito Federal until Rio Grande do Sul. In spite of this wide distribution, the species’ geographic range still remains unclear. This note reports the occurrence of G. brasiliensis in the municipality of Vargem Bonita, state of Santa Catarina, south Brazil, extending the species’ range ca. 80 km to the west in this state.


1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
DC Franklin ◽  
IJ Smales ◽  
MA Miller ◽  
PW Menkhorst

The reproductive biology of the critically endangered helmeted honeyeater was documented in and near the Yellingbo State Nature Reserve, Victoria, from 1984 to 1993. The population bred in pairs, sometimes with helpers. Females did most of the nest construction, incubation and brooding; both parents fed the young and males more often defended the nest. Nests were cup-shaped and placed in shrub thickets, or less commonly in reedbeds, ferns or eucalypt foliage. In all, 91% of clutches were of two eggs. Young fledged from 33% of nests, estimated by the Mayfield method. Predation was the main cause of nest failure, with adverse weather also a significant contributor. Post-fledging survival was high. Juveniles were substantially independent by the sixth week after hatching. The helmeted honeyeater was markedly multi-brooded, with re-nesting usually occurring rapidly after both failure and success. The commitment by individual pairs of helmeted honeyeaters to reproduction can extend to a predictable 70% of the year. This level of commitment is probably facilitated by their sedentary, territorial nature and the moisture-stable environment occupied. Reproductive performance does not limit the helmeted honeyeater population.


2014 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 671-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. M. Lemos ◽  
A. S. Varela ◽  
P. R. Schwingel ◽  
J. H. Muelbert ◽  
J. P. Vieira

Author(s):  
E. S. Prelovskaya ◽  
S. G. Kazanovsky ◽  
N. V. Stepantsova

The Baikal-Lensky State Natural Reserve was established in 1986. It covers a part of the north-western coastof Lake Baikal from Cape Onholoy to Cape Elokhin and the adjacent section of the Baikal ridge. The article describes thecharacteristics of the natural conditions of the reserve. Large-scale studies of the bryophyte flora in the reserve have not beencarried out. Currently, 195 species of bryophytes are known here (37 species of liverworts and 158 species of mosses). The listof bryophytes of the Baikal-Lensky Nature Reserve contains 33 species of liverworts and 135 leafy mosses. Platydictya acuminata (Lindb. et Arnel) Ignatov and Hamatocaulis vernicosus (Mitt.) Hedenäs are included in the Red Book of Irkutsk Oblast.Bryological material on the Baikal-Lensky nature reserve, collected by N. V. Stepantsova, has been analyzed. New species ofliverworts (4 species) and leafy mosses (19 species) were revealed. The territory of the Baikal-Lensky Nature Reserve requiresspecial bryological studies. Taking into account the peculiarities of the natural conditions of the reserve, we assume a significant replenishment of the list of bryoflora. We believe that the bryoflora of the Baikal-Lensky Reserve has been studied by lessthan 50 %. The detection of liverworts is approximately 25–30 %, leaf-stem mosses – 40–45 %.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-80
Author(s):  
A. L.A. SHOTUYO ◽  
O. A. JAYEOLA ◽  
I. A. AYODELE

The habitat use strategy of vertebrates in Alabata Strict Nature Reserve was studied. Twenty (20) sample plots of 25m x 25m (0.062ha) were laid at random over the total area of the study site for data collection. King Census and Line Transect methods were modified for this study using direct and indirect modes of wildlife stock assessment for an accurate collection of data due to the dense nature of the vegetation in some areas. One hundred and twenty-one vertebrate species, belonging to fifty-six families were recorded. Twenty-seven families were represented by just a single species each, while thirteen families had two species each. The family Colubridae was represented by ten species, while Rattudae and  Sciuridae had a single species respectively. Birds were the most encountered (more than 60%) followed by mammals (more than 20%) while the Order Reptalia constitutes the remaining (less than 20%). Food and cover requirements abound in the study area, which explains the availability of a variety of fauna species. There is a strong association between the environmental variables and animal species thus; distribution, performance and survival of the species are directly influenced by these variables. The Principal component analysis and Ordination shows that the ecosystem of the study site is not stable yet. This can be observed from the clustering of the animal species together in an attempt to make the best use of the environment. The maintenance of a healthy ecosystem is largely dependent on its management and control of activities of man and animals.  


2020 ◽  
pp. 24-38
Author(s):  
I. G. Borisova

The Norsky State Nature Reserve is located in Selemdzhinsky district of the Amurskaya oblast. Its area is 211 168 ha. Currently the flora of the Norsky Nature Reserve is studied in details. A species list has been published and an analysis of the flora has been made (Starchenko, Chuvasheva, 1993; Veklich, 2009). The vegetation cover is poorly studied; so far no geobotanical map of the Reserve has been compiled. Only the overview map (scale 1 : 2 500 000) of the vegetation of the Amur basin (1969) gives an idea of the vegetation as a whole. The climatic characteristics of the territory and the complex relief determine the diversity of plant habitats and their communities. The climate of the Norsky Reserve is continental with monsoon features and even ultracontinental (after A. I. Kaigorodov (1955). The modern relief of the Reserve includes wide floodplains of Nora and Selemdzha rivers, accumulative delta-terraces plain, Norskaya accumulative denudation plain (Geomorphologiya..., 1973) and hills. According to the latest botanical and geographical zoning of the Amurskaya oblast, the Norsky Reserve belongs to the Mamynskiy and Ulmsko-Aldikonskiy districts of the Turan-Mamyn province of the Manchurian subdistrict of the East Asian area (Borisova,Starchenko, 2018). The province belongs to southern taiga with some elements of nemoral forests (Quercus mongolica, Tilia amurensis and etc.) along the valleys of Selemdzha River and its major tributaries. The southern taiga includes different larch forests (often disturbed), derived birch-larch forests with Pinus sylvestris, Picea ajanensis and Abies nephrolepis. The presence of nemoral species in forest cenoses increases in the direction from north to south. A province peculiarity is the wide distribution of larch peatmoss forests, swamps and wet meadows. The scientific-reference typological map of vegetation on a medium scale (1 : 300 000) was compiled for the Norsky Nature Reserve for the first time. It shows spatial patterns of vegetation distribution in connection with the natural features of the territory (Fig. 5). The vegetation map legend is based on an ecologic and phytocoenotic classification. A zonal distribution of plant communities is presented in the legend. Plant communities are divided into some categories: dark-coniferous, light-coniferous and derived forests, which are represented as formations. The main cartographic units are groups of associations and their various combinations. The legend shows the vegetation of floodplains, rocks, and disturbed areas. Vegetation divisions are represented on the vegetation map by seventeen colors and one extra scale sign. All symbols have their own serial number, which is marked in the map legend. The largest areas on the territory of the Reserve are occupied by larch forests — 42 % (Fig. 6). The forested territory as a whole occupies 36.5 %, of which the largest areas are rhododendron larch (9.7 %) and floodplain (9.5 %) forests. Ledum larch and moss-shrub forests occupy 5.7 %. Larch mixed-grass-shrub forests cover some small areas (2.0 %). Sub-taiga larch forests with nemoral grasses and often with oak and black birch trees occupy 0.6 %. Pine and larch-pine forests extend 1.3 % of the Reserve’s area. Fir-spruce forests on watersheds have limited distribution — about 1 %. They are a chain of ecologic-dynamic series on floodplain occupying 2.7 % of the Reserve’s area. To conclude, the vegetation cover of the Norsky Nature Reserve reflects the zonal and provincial features of the territory.


1970 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-78
Author(s):  
Shamim Ara Liza ◽  
Md. Oliur Rahman ◽  
Md. Zashim Uddin ◽  
Md. Abul Hassan ◽  
Momtaz Begum

This paper presents the flower morphology, pollination mechanisms and seed germination of three indigenous medicinal plants of Bangladesh namely, Asclepias curassavica L., Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. and Scoparia dulcis L. The minimum days taken for seed germination in Asclepias curassavica, Clerodendrum viscosum and Scoparia dulcis are 6, 14 and 9, respectively. Epigeal type of seed germination has been noted in Asclepias curassavica and Scoparia dulcis, whereas hypogeal type of seed germination has been found in Clerodendrum viscosum. Fruit production is highest in Scoparia dulcis among the species studied and a maximum of 304 seeds are produced per fruit in it. Maximum 108 seeds are produced per fruit in Asclepias curassavica. Among the species investigated Asclepias curassavica and Clerodendrum viscosum are cross-pollinated, and Scoparia dulcis is self-pollinated. Butterflies, bees and ants are noted to be the pollinators in Asclepias curassavica and in Clerodendrum viscosum black ants, butterflies and long tongue hawk moths are the pollinators.Keywords: Taxonomy; pollination; seed germination; Asclepias curassavica L.; Clerodendrum viscosum Vent.; Scoparia dulcis L.DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v17i1.5391Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 17(1): 69-78, 2010 (June)


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