Beyond Simple Reproductive Assurance: Cleistogamy Allows Adaptive Plastic Responses to Pollen Limitation

2011 ◽  
Vol 172 (7) ◽  
pp. 862-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loren P. Albert ◽  
Lesley G. Campbell ◽  
Kenneth D. Whitney
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Reproductive Assurance ◽  
Plastic Responses

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

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7865
Author(s):  
Pablo C. Guerrero ◽  
Claudia A. Antinao ◽  
Beatriz Vergara-Meriño ◽  
Cristian A. Villagra ◽  
Gastón O. Carvallo
Keyword(s):  
Interannual Variation ◽  
Mating Systems ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Reproductive Assurance ◽  
Hand Pollination ◽  
Mediterranean Type Ecosystem ◽  
Pollinator Assemblage ◽  
And Control

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.

scholarly journals The role of lateral and vertical herkogamy in the divergence of the blue- and red-flowered lineages of Lysimachia arvensis

2020 ◽  
Vol 125 (7) ◽  
pp. 1127-1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
F J Jiménez-López ◽  
P L Ortiz ◽  
M Talavera ◽  
J R Pannell ◽  
M Arista
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Flower Colour ◽  
Reproductive Interference ◽  
Pollen Deposition ◽  
Potential Mechanism ◽  
Reproductive Assurance ◽  
Self Fertilization ◽  
Annual Herb ◽  
Mixed Populations

Abstract Background and Aims Herkogamy, or anther–stigma separation, is known to reduce self-pollen deposition, but little is known about the relative efficacy of different modes or conformations of herkogamy. We assessed the effectiveness of vertical versus lateral herkogamy in preventing or promoting self-pollen deposition in the annual herb Lysimachia arvensis, a plant with lineages that differ in flower colour, and in which flowers first display lateral and then vertical herkogamy. Because mating between the two lineages compromises fitness through the production of low-quality hybrid offspring, we tested the prediction that individuals sampled from sites occupied by both lineages should have flowers that promote autonomous self-pollen deposition and self-fertilization as a result of selection to reduce deleterious reproductive interference. Methods We characterized variation in herkogamy within and among 25 pure and mixed populations of L. arvensis in its European range and assessed the effectiveness of lateral versus vertical herkogamy in avoiding self-pollen deposition. Results Lateral herkogamy was more effective than vertical herkogamy in limiting self-pollen deposition. In the case of vertical herkogamy, only approach herkogamy was effective. Lineages showed consistent differences in herkogamy traits. In general, angles were smaller for blue than red flowers in most populations, and blue flowers showed approach herkogamy, while red flowers showed predominantly reverse herkogamy. In sympatry, the red lineage showed a reduction of both herkogamy traits while for the blue lineage only lateral herkogamy was reduced. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that pollen deposition is affected not only by the degree but also the spatial conformation of herkogamy. They also highlight reduced herkogamy as a potential mechanism for promoting reproductive assurance under pollen limitation, as well as for avoiding reproductive interference between genetically divergent lineages.

scholarly journals Effect of Resource Reallocation on Pollen Limitation and Reproductive Assurance of Apocynum venetum L. in an Arid Region

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Chen ◽  
Xue-yong Zhao ◽  
Xiao-an Zuo ◽  
Hao Qu ◽  
Wei Mao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Reproductive Assurance ◽  
Resource Reallocation ◽  
Strong Force ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Apocynum Venetum ◽  
Single Flower ◽  
Plant Pollen

<p>Pollen limitation is considered to be a strong force driving the evolution of reproductive strategies in flowering plants. However, resource reallocation may occur among seeds because of variation in the quantity or quality of pollen received. We performed single-flower and whole-plant pollen supplementation and emasculation of flowers of <em>Apocynum venetum</em> L. to estimate pollen limitation and reproductive assurance. In addition, we calculated the visiting patterns of the pollinators, frequency of pollinators to estimate the effect of pollinator activity and further on the reproductive success of <em>A. venetum</em>. Our results indicated estimates from single-flower manipulations were not biased, closely resembling those from whole-plant manipulations. We found<em> Apis mellifera</em> was the dominant pollinator during the pollination process. In addition, insect pollination played a more important role in the outcrossing system, which could explain the differences in reproductive success. Our results also showed that autonomous self-pollination eliminates pollen limitation and provides reproductive assurance.</p>

Insects facilitate wind pollination in pollen-limited Crateva adansonii (Capparaceae)

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yash Mangla ◽  
Rajesh Tandon
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Airborne Pollen ◽  
Pollen Dispersal ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Floral Biology ◽  
Wind Pollination ◽  
Reproductive Assurance

Low fruit-set in obligately outbreeding plant species is attributed to a variety of reasons that can be ascertained from reproductive studies. In the present work, the causes of poor natural fruit-set in Crateva adansonii DC. were investigated. Floral biology, the role of wind and insects in pollination and the breeding system of the species were studied in two natural populations for three consecutive seasons (2006–08). The flowers exhibited traits conducive to a mixture of wind and insect pollination (ambophily). Although a variety of insects visited the flowers, they were ineffective in pollinating. Nevertheless, active foraging by the honeybees (Apis dorsata, A. mellifera and A. cerana indica) facilitated enhanced pollen dispersal in the air and resulted in indirect pollination by wind. Airborne pollen grains pollinated the plants only up to 10 m. Fruit-set from open pollination was comparable to wind-pollinated flowers. Supplemental pollination treatments established the occurrence of strong self-incompatibility (SI) (index of SI = 0.14). Spontaneous autogamy was prevented by pronounced herkogamy. Low natural fecundity in C. adansonii is due to pollination failure, pollen limitation (pollen limitation index = 0.98) and the sparse distribution of the conspecifics; partial SI may partly ensure reproductive assurance through geitonogamy. In the absence of a pollinator wind appears to act as a secondary mode of pollination.

Pollen limitation and reproductive assurance in Antillean Gesnerieae: a specialists vs. generalist comparison

Ecology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Martén-Rodríguez ◽  
Charles B. Fenster
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Reproductive Assurance
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