Pollination biology of Echinopsis leucantha (Cactaceae): passerine birds and exotic bees as effective pollinators

Botany ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Gorostiague ◽  
Pablo Ortega-Baes
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
First Record ◽  
Passerine Bird ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Floral Traits ◽  
Passerine Birds ◽  
Floral Visitors ◽  
Pollination Systems ◽  
Effective Pollinators

Cactus flowers have traditionally been considered to be specialized to certain pollination guilds, but pollination studies reveal that most species are actually generalists. This suggests that floral traits are not always predictive of the animal visitors that pollinate cactus flowers. Here, we studied the pollination of Echinopsis leucantha (Gillies ex Salm-Dyck) Walp., an endemic cactus of Argentina, whose floral traits would suggest that it is pollinated by moths. The floral lifespan and flower availability throughout the reproductive period were evaluated. Field experiments were carried out to study the reproductive system and the identity and effectiveness of floral visitors. Echinopsis leucantha flowers had a nocturnal anthesis time that extended into the following morning. The species was self-incompatible. Floral visitors included moths, bees, and passerine birds. However, diurnal visitors were more effective as pollinators than nocturnal ones. The flowers of E. leucantha were phenotypically specialized (sphingophily); however, the pollination system was functionally and ecologically generalized. The results confirm that generalized pollination systems are widespread among species of the Echinopsis genus with nocturnal flowers, for which diurnal pollinators seem to have a key role in fruit and seed production. Our study constitutes the first record of passerine bird pollination in the Cactaceae for mainland South America.

A Continuum of Conspicuousness, Floral Signals, and Pollination Systems in Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae): Evidence of Ambophily and Entomophily in a Mostly Anemophilous Family

2021 ◽  
Vol 106 ◽  
pp. 372-391
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina Galindo da Costa ◽  
William Wayt Thomas ◽  
Artur Campos D. Maia ◽  
Daniela Maria do Amaral Ferraz Navarro ◽  
Paulo Milet-Pinheiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Floral Scent ◽  
First Record ◽  
Flower Morphology ◽  
Evolutionary Strategies ◽  
Floral Traits ◽  
Complete Adaptation ◽  
Pollen Vectors ◽  
Floral Visitors ◽  
Pollination Systems

Floral colors and odors are evolutionary strategies used by plants to attract pollinating animals and may be absent in mostly anemophilous groups, such as Cyperaceae. However, considering that insects are floral visitors of some Rhynchospora Vahl species, the objective of this study was to characterize the floral traits and pollination systems within this genus. We analyzed 16 Rhynchospora species with regard to flower morphology, colors of floral structures, floral scents, pollen vectors, and pollination systems. We verified factors that can favor abiotic or biotic pollination in a continuum of floral traits in Rhynchospora. The flower morphology of R. dissitispicula T. Koyama, with inconspicuous brown spikelets in open panicles, is interpreted as a complete adaptation to anemophily. Conspicuous floral traits in Rhynchospora were distinguished from the background by bees. Some species also emit floral volatiles, and we made the first record of floral scent chemistry within the genus. Most of the compounds emitted by these species are known as attractants to many floral-visiting insects. Bees, beetles, and flies visited species with conspicuous floral traits and contributed to fruit set. The investigated floral traits form a continuum across the different pollination systems in Rhynchospora, from anemophilous to ambophilous and then to entomophilous representatives.

scholarly journals Foraging ants on the extrafloral nectaries repel nectar thieves but not the effective pollinator of Vigna luteola (Fabaceae) in a Mexican coastal sand dune

Sociobiology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Aguirre ◽  
Wesley Dáttilo ◽  
Dulce Rodríguez-Morales ◽  
Sara Canchola-Orozco ◽  
Eliezer Cocoletzi-Vasquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sand Dune ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Extrafloral Nectaries ◽  
Dual Function ◽  
Coastal Sand Dune ◽  
Flower Visitation ◽  
Floral Visitors ◽  
Coastal Sand ◽  
Effective Pollinators ◽  
Vigna Luteola

While some studies have shown that ants that visit extrafloral nectaries may defend their host plants against potential herbivores, recent researches have shown that such ant-plant mutualism may be broken in some cases. For example, the presence of ants on plants could also drive away pollinators and seed dispersers. However, it is not yet known what mechanisms could favor that ant presence on plants does not affect other mutualistic interactions involving plants. In this work, we performed a series of field experiments to test the hypothesis that the presence of ants on EFNs located at the base of the inflorescences of Vigna luteola (Fabaceae) may have a negative effect on floral visitors but not on potential pollinators in a Mexican coastal sand dune. In general, we found that the presence of ants on the plants decreased the rate of flower visitation. However, we observed that the time of visitation of the effective pollinators the bee (Pseudocentron) sp. on the flowers was less compared to that of other floral visitors. This strategy may allow that ants cannot aggressively scare away the effective pollinators. In summary, we show that the effective pollinators of V. luteola present strategies that allow them to visit the flowers without being aggressively attacked by the ants that visit the extrafloral nectaries (EFNs). Therefore, the presence of ants on plants could have a dual function: protecting plants against potential herbivores as well as, filtering flowers against nectar thieves.

New details of the male terminalia of Diathoneura longipennis (Malloch, 1926) (Diptera, Drosophilidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
Carlos R. Vilela ◽  
Gerhard Bächli
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
South America ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
First Record ◽  
Type Locality

The male terminalia of a non-type Diathoneura longipennis (Malloch 1926) specimen,collected in Peru, were dissected and analyzed. The aedeagus and associated sclerites were found tohave been fixed at a late stage of protrusion, resulting in a different morphology, when compared to thetwo previous publications, which were fixed at earlier stages. Consequently, additional details of certainanatomical parts were observed and a better understanding of the aedeagus protruding process was attained.Diathoneura longipennis has been previously identified in San Mateo, Alajuela, Costa Rica (type locality)and Panama, and this specimen represents the first record of this species in South America.

scholarly journals First Record ofChalcodemus bicolor(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Enemies in South America

2017 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-212
Author(s):  
P. Emilio Cedeño ◽  
N. Anjos ◽  
V. A. Costa
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
First Record

Alerting and Message Components in Songs of Rufous-Sided Towhees

Behaviour ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 76 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 223-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas G. Richards
Keyword(s):  
Signal Detection Theory ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Species Recognition ◽  
Defense Responses ◽  
Time Of Arrival ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Passerine Birds ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Narrow Frequency Range ◽  
Species Specific

AbstractIn numerous species of passerine birds the initial few notes of the song have a narrow frequency range and wide temporal spacing when compared with the rest of the song. This structure is well adapted for high detectability when the song is acoustically degraded during passage through the environment. The song of the rufous-sided towhee (Pipilo eythrophtalmus) consists of relatively tonal introductory syllables followed by a complex rapid trill. The trill is capable of carrying more information than the introduction, but is inherently less detectable at a distance owing to degradation by reverberation, amplitude fluctuation, and frequency-dependent attenuation. Signal detection theory predicts that the detectability of the trill will be increased when it is preceded by the introductory syllables, owing to the removal of uncertainty concerning the time of arrival of the signal. This is alerted detection. I performed field experiments using playback of recorded song to towhees to test the hypothesis that these introductory syllables facilitate detection of conspecific song at a distance. Tape recordings of normal and artificially degraded full songs, introduction, and trills were played to territorial male towhees. Normal songs, degraded songs, and normal trills elicited strong territorial defense responses, indicating recognition as adequate species-specific song, and confirming that sufficient information is contained in the trill for species recognition. Degraded trills alone elicited little response. Both normal and degraded introductions also elicited little response, demonstrating that the increased response to a degraded full song over that to a degraded trill is not due to any species-specific characteristics of the introduction, but rather to its function as an alerting stimulus.

scholarly journals First record of the invasive bee Anthidium manicatum (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Chile

2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Miguel Montalva ◽  
Mauro Ríos ◽  
Felipe Vivallo
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
New Record ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
First Record ◽  
Ecological Niche Model ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Niche Model ◽  
Invasive Range ◽  
First Time ◽  
Anthidium Manicatum

The Palearctic wool carder bee Anthidium manicatum (Linnaeus) is recorded for the first time in Chile based on eight specimens collected on Lavandula sp. (Lamiaceae) in San Bernardo, Metropolitan Region.  This new record expands the invasive range of this species in South America, confirming previous predictions based on an ecological niche model.

scholarly journals Caryospora bigenetica (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in South America: new hosts and distribution records

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lúcio André Viana ◽  
Kamilla Costa Mecchi ◽  
Leonardo França do Nascimento ◽  
Heitor Miraglia Herrera ◽  
Paula Helena Santa-Rita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Polar Granule ◽  
First Record ◽  
Stieda Body ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Sporocyst Residuum ◽  
The Family ◽  
New Hosts ◽  
Crotalus Durissus ◽  
Bothrops Moojeni

The coccidian Caryospora bigenetica was first described in the snake Crotalus horridus (Viperidae) from United States of America. This study represents the first record of the occurrence of C. bigenetica in snakes in South America. Feces were sampled between November 2013 and May 2014 from 256 wild snakes maintained in scientific breeding facilities in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS; n = 214) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ; n = 42), Brazil. Caryospora bigenetica was found in 14 (5.6%) snakes, all belonging to the family Viperidae. Ten Bothrops moojeni and two Crotalus durissus from MS were infected. The coccidian was also found in one C. durissus and in one Bothrops jararacussu from the state of RJ. The oocysts were spherical with a double wall, the exterior lightly mammillated, striations apparent in transverse view, 13.0 µm (12 – 14); polar granule fixed in the internal wall. Sporocysts oval or pyriform, 10.0 × 8.0 µm (9 – 11 × 8 – 9); Stieda body discoid; sub-Stieda body present; sporocyst residuum present, formed by a group of spheroid bodies between sporozoites. This study increases the number of viperid hosts of C. bigenetica and expands the geographical distribution to South America.

scholarly journals Predicting the distribution of Omalonyx (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Succineidae) species from literature review, museum databases and new sampling efforts in Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Coscarelli ◽  
Lângia C. Montresor ◽  
Philip Russo ◽  
Alan Lane de Melo ◽  
Teofânia H.D.A. Vidigal
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
South America ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
First Record ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables ◽  
Distributional Information ◽  
Consistent Performance ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Hydrographic Regions

Abstract Accurate distributional information is crucial for studies on systematics, biodiversity and conservation. To improve the knowledge regarding the geographical distribution of Omalonyx in South America, we present updated information based on data from a literature review, institutional collections and malacological surveys. All this information composed the dataset used to predict species distribution employing the Maximum Entropy Algorithm (MaxEnt). The model was run using data on species distribution, altitude and bioclimatic variables (WorldClim database). The model had consistent performance, and areas presenting similar conditions to areas where the species were recorded were considered areas of occurrence. The predicted occurrence areas included those that were already surveyed and those that are considered potential occurrence areas. The results demonstrate that the genus has widespread distribution in the Neotropical region and occurs in the tropical, temperate and arid regions of South America and Lesser Antilles. Omalonyx spp. were recorded in all South American countries and hydrographic regions. However, in some countries, there were only isolated records (ex: Colombia and Ecuador). Here, we also present the first record of Omalonyx spp. in four Brazilian States (Acre, Rondônia, Piaui, and Amapá). The genus was found in all hydrographic regions within Brazil and among 27 federative unities; it was absent from only two unities (Roraima State and Distrito Federal). This work contributes to the knowledge on Omalonyx spp. distribution and provides an important basis for the work of ecologists and taxonomists.

scholarly journals First record of tuberculosis lesions in zooarchaeological samples of otariid pinnipeds. New aspects of the pre-european origin of human tuberculosis in South America and dissemination mechanisms of Mycobacterium pinnipedii in the Southern Hemisphere

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-253
Author(s):  
Ricardo Bastida ◽  
Viviana Quse ◽  
María Paz Martinoli ◽  
Atilio Francisco Zangrando
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
First Record ◽  
Tierra Del Fuego ◽  
Bone Lesions ◽  
Tuberculosis Complex ◽  
European Origin ◽  
Wild Mammals ◽  
Pinniped Species ◽  
New Hypothesis

In 2003 Mycobacterium pinnipedii was described as responsible for producing tuberculosis (TB) in living otariid pinnipeds from Argentina and Australia. It is the only member of marine origin within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC), which also affects other domestic and wild mammals, and humans. Based on several pre-Columbian records of human tuberculosis in South America, in 2010-2011 a new hypothesis about the origin of this zoonosis through otariid pinnipeds arose. In 2014, this hypothesis was confirmed based on the study of ancient DNA from three mummies (700-1,000 years BP) of the Chiribaya culture (Peru). Since there were no records of TB bone lesions in zooarchaeological samples of otariid pinnipeds from South America and the rest of the world, our study aimed at examining zooarchaeological samples of pinnipeds from coastal sites of the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina), being the oldest Túnel I (6,400-4,300 years BP). A total of 4,138 vertebrae were analyzed, of which 0.46 % showed lesions compatible with TB. In addition, we propose a new hypothesis on possible mechanisms of Mycobacterium pinnipedii dissemination that would explain the transmission routes to the different otariid pinniped species of the Southern Hemisphere. Mycobacterium pinnipedii is one of the most aggressive mycobacteria of the MTBC and of high risk for humans.

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