蒙古扁桃的花部综合特征与虫媒传粉

连续2年对蒙古扁桃自然居群的传粉昆虫进行了观察,用重力玻片法检测。结果表明风媒导致的异株传粉作用可以忽略;蒙古扁桃花散布的气味、花蜜在诱导昆虫传粉中起主要作用;共发现访花昆虫17种,主要包括蜂类、蝇类、蝶类,以蜂类为主;昆虫访花频率与开花习性有关,访问者偏爱访问处于盛花期的花;蒙古扁桃趋向于虫媒的异花授粉,但缺乏忠实的传粉者。     

入侵植物黄花刺茄在新疆不同生境中的繁殖特性

外来植物的入侵与其繁殖特性密切相关,比较外来植物在不同生境中的繁殖特性将为揭示其入侵的最适生境及其入侵机制并制定合理的管理策略提供理论依据。黄花刺茄(Solanum rostratum)是一种原产新热带区和美国西南部、仅进行有性繁殖的一年生杂草,已在中国新疆等7个省/市成功入侵。本文对黄花刺茄在新疆绿洲、荒漠草原和砾质荒漠中的有性繁殖特性进行了研究,旨在比较该物种在不同生境中的繁殖能力,明确其在新疆入侵的最适生境。结果表明:(1)黄花刺茄单花开放持续时间为27–47 h。3种生境中植株每天开花时间和单花开放持续时间基本相同,但开花数/株表现为绿洲>荒漠草原>砾石荒漠,生境间存在极显著差异(P<0.01)。(2)3种生境中黄花刺茄的传粉昆虫均为四条隧蜂(Halictus quadricinctus)、隧蜂(Halictus sp.)和扁柄木蜂(Xylocopa latipes),且均为蜂振传粉。其中,扁柄木蜂的访花次数极少。(3)3种生境中传粉昆虫的总访花频率表现为绿洲>荒漠草原>砾石荒漠,彼此间均存在显著差异(P<0.05)。四条隧蜂喜好低温高湿环境,而隧蜂偏好高温低湿环境,四条隧蜂的日访花高峰期早于隧蜂。(4)3种生境中黄花刺茄的结实数/株、结籽数/果实、结籽数/株及种子千粒重表现为绿洲>荒漠草原>砾石荒漠,且结实数/株与开花数/株及传粉昆虫的总访花频率均呈极显著正相关,结籽数/果实和结籽数/株与总访花频率均呈显著正相关。这些结果说明:在新疆干旱区,绿洲是黄花刺茄入侵的最适生境。黄花刺茄在绿洲中可获得较多的资源,形成较多的花以吸引更多的传粉昆虫,并产生较多且千粒重较大的种子。     

菊科12种外来植物的有性繁殖特征和入侵风险研究

菊科植物具有极强的有性繁殖能力,对外来菊科观赏植物的引进存在极高的入侵风险。本研究以武汉常见的菊科12种外来观赏植物为对象,通过有性繁殖特征调查,研究植株的花部特征、花粉活力、传粉系统、种子产量,分析各物种有性繁殖能力的差异,评估其入侵能力。结果显示,多数物种可在隔绝传粉者情况下结实;访花昆虫类型多样,共观察到26种访花昆虫,其中膜翅目蜂类是主要的传粉者;结实情况具有一定差异。综合考虑花粉活力、传粉情况和结实情况,认为黑心金光菊(Rudbeckia hirta L.)、松果菊(Echinacea purpurea(L.)Moench)、大花金鸡菊(Coreopsis grandiflora Hogg.)、蛇目菊(Sanvitalia procumbens Lam.)的有性繁殖竞争力较高,对本地传粉环境可能有较大影响。本研究对近缘物种有性繁殖特征的综合分析结果可为评估外来物种的入侵风险提供一定的参考。     

紫花苜蓿的传粉昆虫种类及其访花行为

紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)属典型的异花授粉植物,其种子生产主要依靠蜜蜂等传粉昆虫.本文对河西地区张掖实验站紫花苜蓿传粉昆虫种类及其访花行为进行了调查.结果表明:苜蓿访花昆虫共计22种,分别属于4个目,11个科,根据弹花效率初步确定鳞地蜂、黑颚条蜂、净切叶蜂、细切叶蜂和紫木蜂为河西地区主要传粉昆虫;主要传粉昆虫的日活动规律出现单峰型和双峰型2种,净切叶蜂、细切叶蜂和紫木蜂属于前者,只在11:30-15:30出现一个活动高峰,而鳞地蜂与黑颚条蜂则为双峰型,在9:30-11:30和16:30-18:30分别出现访花高峰,不同的传粉昆虫之间存在互补关系;主要传粉昆虫的弹花频率和小花停留时间存在显著差异,且访花行为与野生蜂体型紧密相关.     

毛茛状金莲花不同花期的花特征和访花昆虫的变化及表型选择

为了研究植物生长季内开花时间对花特征表型选择的影响,我们以青藏高原东缘高寒草地的毛茛状金莲花Trollius ranunculoides)为实验材料,在生长季内不同开花时间(花前期、花末期)测定花特征,观察访花昆虫的类群和访花频率,生长季结束后收集种子.根据昆虫访花的喜好和季节内类群与访花频率的变化,分析了不同开花时间毛茛状金莲花的花特征与昆虫的选择;并用种子产量表示雌性适合度,估计了毛茛状金莲花的花特征在不同开花时间所受的表型选择.结果表明:不同花期植物的花特征有显著差异,相应的访花昆虫的类群和频率也存在差异,不同类群昆虫访花喜好也不一样.蜂喜好花瓣和花萼较宽、花茎短和花茎数少的个体,这正符合花前期的特征,因而蜂的访花频率在花前期较高;蝇对花特征没有明显的偏好.而通过雌性适合度估计毛茛状金莲花花特征所受的表型选择则是:花前期,花茎较长和花茎数多的植株适合度大;花末期,花茎数多的植株适合度大.我们的研究表明:在植物生长季,花期的分化伴随着传粉昆虫活动的变化.不同花期,访花昆虫的变化可能对植物花特征的分化起了至关重要的作用.但是访花昆虫对花特征的选择与通过雌性适合度估计植物受到的选择不尽相同,这可能是由于其他因素造成的.     

毛乌素沙地固沙植物披针叶黄华主要传粉昆虫及其访花行为

披针叶黄华(Thermopsis lanceolata)是我国西部地区早春重要野生蜜源植物,也是一种重要的固沙植物,然而对其繁殖特性的研究甚少.本文在系统调查披针叶黄华的访花昆虫基础上,确定其主要传粉昆虫种类、访花行为、传粉过程以及日活动规律,以期揭示主要访花者行为对其有性繁殖的影响.作者在内蒙古毛乌素沙地设置1个10m×10 m的样方,于2010和2011年在披针叶黄华盛花期,采用目测、拍照和摄像等方式对传粉昆虫进行观测,记录样方内主要访花昆虫种类、数量、访花行为及日活动规律.研究表明,大和切叶蜂(Megachile japonica)和戎拟孔蜂(Hoplitis princeps)是披针叶黄华的主要传粉者,但两种昆虫的访花频率存在显著差异;晴天时,大和切叶蜂在19:00-13:00和16:00-18:00出现两个活动高峰,而戎拟孔蜂只在11:30-16:30出现1个活动高峰,两种蜂的访花活动高峰期存在互补关系.大和切叶蜂访花同时具有盗蜜行为,但其盗蜜行为对披针叶黄华的结籽率没有显著影响.根据种群数量、访花频率综合判断,大和切叶蜂是披针叶黄华优势传粉蜂.     

安徽羽叶报春的有效传粉昆虫及花朵密度和种群大小对传粉效果的影响

对濒危植物有效传粉昆虫种类及其传粉行为的主要影响因素进行研究是科学合理地制订保护措施,从而对该物种实施有效保护的一个前提条件.安徽羽叶报春Primula merrilliana为二年生草本,具二型花,是我国特有的珍稀濒危物种.本文对其有效传粉昆虫种类、传粉行为及花朵密度和种群大小对传粉效果的影响进行了研究.结果表明安徽羽叶报春的有效传粉昆虫为截形蜂虻Bombylius major和中华雏蜂虻Anastoechus chinensis,而不是先前认为的蓟马Thrips sp,.花朵密度和种群大小对传粉效果均有显著的影响.高密度的花朵可以提高对有效传粉昆虫的吸引力,传粉昆虫数/天、被访花朵数/天和平均每花的被访次数/天与样方花朵的密度呈正相关关系.柱头所接受的正配花粉数和总花粉数及正配花粉数所占的比例均随种群中植株数目的增加而增加.型比的偏离和传粉昆虫的缺乏可能是导致小种群中传粉不利的主要因素.     

叶下珠科花粉组织化学、花粉数和胚珠数及其与传粉者关系的研究

植物花粉中营养物质的储存形式以及单花的花粉数与胚珠数被认为与其传粉系统有一定的联系。本文研究了叶下珠科部分种类的花粉组织化学、花粉数和胚珠数, 以及它们与传粉者之间的关系。结果显示: 在叶下珠科内, 植物花粉所含营养成分和传粉者之间存在相关性: 蛾类传粉的类群主要属“淀粉型”花粉, 蝇类和蜂类传粉的类群主要属“非淀粉型”花粉。蝇类传粉和蛾类传粉的植物花粉数没有一定规律。蝇类传粉的类群比蛾类传粉的类群胚珠数少, 这可能是由于蝇类携带花粉能力及传粉精确性均较小, 导致植物以减少胚珠数来适应的结果。对同一属内不同生活型植物的花粉数比较, 发现乔木的单花花粉数高于灌木, 灌木的单花花粉数明显高于草本。这可能是由于不同生活型的植株, 其花朵大小不同, 导致花粉数出现明显差别。另外, 通过扫描电子显微镜对花粉形态的观察, 发现蝇类传粉的类群和蛾类传粉的类群间的花粉表面纹饰存在显著差异。     

利用昆虫携带的花粉初探西藏入侵植物印加孔雀草在当地传粉网络中的地位

入侵植物在新生境中成功定殖后, 通过利用当地传粉昆虫促进繁殖可以更好地保证种群的扩张, 但是入侵植物在当地传粉网络中的角色和地位仍不是很清楚。本文利用西藏近年发现的入侵植物印加孔雀草(Tagetes minuta), 分析其访花昆虫所携带的植物花粉种类, 构建了植物花粉-传粉者网络, 探讨印加孔雀草快速入侵和扩张的可能机制。结果表明印加孔雀草为泛化传粉系统, 共有13种昆虫访花, 其中12种携带有印加孔雀草花粉, 所有花粉中印加孔雀草花粉数量占比为89.89%。12种印加孔雀草传粉昆虫中, 4种泛化传粉昆虫(1种蜂、2种食蚜蝇和1种蝇)是其主要传粉昆虫。本研究揭示印加孔雀草在较短时间内已经成功利用多种当地泛化传粉昆虫为其授粉, 已顺利融入当地的传粉网络, 今后需要更加重视对印加孔雀草的防控。     

云南草蔻花蜜分泌格局与访花动物行为及其对果实和种子产量的影响

依靠动物传粉的植物, 其繁殖成功 (胚珠受精与花粉散布 ) 很大程度上取决于访花动物的种类和拜访行为, 而访花动物的种类和行为又受植物提供给传粉者的回报, 主要是花蜜分泌格局的影响。通过对姜科山姜属植物云南草蔻 (Alpiniablepharocalyx) 花蜜分泌量及糖分含量的测定, 拜访动物种类、传粉昆虫拜访频率及停留时间的调查, 主要盗蜜者花松鼠 (Tamiopsswinhoei) 的盗蜜行为观察, 植物的结实率以及结籽量的分析等, 探讨花蜜分泌与传粉昆虫的关系以及盗蜜对果实及种子生产的影响。研究表明 :云南草蔻的两种花型花蜜的分泌量在一天的单花开花过程中呈现相反的格局, 花柱上举型花下午的花蜜分泌量高于上午, 而花柱下垂型花则上午略高于下午 ;两种花型花蜜的糖分浓度都随着开花时间而下降 ;共有 17种访花动物拜访云南草蔻的花, 其中 8种具有传粉作用 ;传粉昆虫的停留时间随拜访频率的不断增加而缩短 ;被盗蜜植株与未被盗蜜植株的结实率差异不显著而结籽量差异显著。     

Floral and pollination biology of the critically endangered insular orchid Calanthe amamiana: Implications for in situ conservation

Calanthe amamiana is a terrestrial orchid that thrives on the shady forest floors of broad-leaved forests on Amami Island, central Ryukyus, Japan. Here, I report on the floral and pollination biology of this critically endangered orchid based on a 7-year study conducted in the species' natural habitats. As the nectarless flowers are probably self-compatible but are unable to autonomously self-pollinate, they need to attract pollen vectors by deceit for pollination. To advertise themselves, the flowering inflorescences, which comprise a few to dozens of flowers, use whitish floral colors that are comparatively conspicuous against the shaded background. The exclusive pollinator was the long-horned bee Eucera okinawae, which nests in soils of the forest floor, although bee abundance varied considerably among study years. Natural fruit-set ratios were generally low but showed interannual variation. The annual fruit-set ratios were positively correlated with annual bee abundance, thereby suggesting that under natural conditions, the orchid is pollinator-limited. Given that C. amamiana is dependent exclusively on E. okinawae for pollination and is also probably pollinator-limited, conservation plans for this orchid should take into consideration the welfare of long-horned bees. In particular, as nectariferous flowers were unavailable within broad-leaved forests, to satisfy the foraging requirements of long-horned bees, conservation managers should be cognizant of conservation values of flowering plants distributed in sun-lit sites near orchid habitats, and manage those in an appropriate manner.     

Plant interactions for pollinator visits: a test of the magnet species effect

Summary From 1985–1987, patterns of fruit and seed set were studied in a population of mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), a clonal, self-incompatible herb found in deciduous woods in eastern North America. Mayapple flowers do not produce nectar, but depend on infrequent visits by nectar-seeking queen bumble bees for pollination. In all years female reproductive success in mayapple colonies was influenced by colony size (number of flowers), by the distance to neighbouring colonies and by proximity to lousewort plants (Pedicularis canadensis), a prolific nectar producer heavily visited by bumble bees. In all years fruit and seed set were greater in mayapple colonies <25 m from lousewort flowers than in matched colonies which were >50 m from lousewort. In 1985 and 1987 the frequency of queen bumble bee visits to flowers in colonies close to lousewort was about four times greater than to distant colonies. In 1986 I removed about 80% of lousewort flowers to test whether the enhanced fruit and seed set in mayapples close to lousewort was pollinator mediated. Mayapple colonies close to flowerless lousewort patches did not differ in fruit or seed set from matched colonies >50 m from lousewort. In contrast, mayapples close to flowering lousewort patches had greater fruit and seed set compared with distant colonies. Over all years, a larger proportion of mayapples close to flowering lousewort patches had enhanced fruit and seed set compared with colonies close to louseworts without flowers. Though rarely documented, this type of facilitative interaction between plants that are highly attractive to pollinators (magnet species), and co-flowering species that are rarely visited by pollinators, may be widespread in plant communities.     

Breeding system of the critically endangered Lakela’s Mint and influence of plant height on pollinators and seed output

Understanding reproductive systems of rare plants is critical for conservation efforts. Lakela's Mint, Dicerandra immaculata Lakela var. immaculata, is an endangered plant endemic to an approximately 4.8-km long area in Florida, USA. We used an experimental garden and three populations of Lakela's Mint to determine: (1) what is the breeding system (autonomous, asexual, self-fertile, cross-fertile) and are insects necessary for reproduction; (2) which native and nonnative insect species visit flowers and is the frequency of visits to a plant influenced by its height; (3) does the number of flowers visited within a plant by individual insects differ among native and nonnative insect species and due to plant height; and (4) is seed output influenced by plant height? Our results indicate that the breeding system of Lakela's Mint was facultative outcrossing. Insect-pollinated flowers produced more seeds than flowers that reproduced autonomously or asexually. The honey bee Apis mellifera L., a nonnative species, was the most frequent visitor to plants and visited more flowers within plants than native pollinators, but its behavior was not influenced by plant height. Native pollinators such as Bombus impatiens Cresson were attracted more frequently to shorter plants, but visited fewer flowers than on taller plants. Despite having fewer total and pollinated flowers, shorter plants had a higher output of intact seeds than taller plants, which could be due to differences in efficiency between native and nonnative pollinators or other factors. Our results add insight into factors influencing seed output and interactions between pollinators and rare plants.     

The floral biology ofThelymitra epipactoides (Orchidaceae), and the implications of pollination by deceit on the survival of this rare orchid

Thelymitra epipactoides has a highly variable visual display achieved through polychromatic flowers and variable inflorescence size, bearing between 7 and 31 flowers, which attract foraging polylectic bees. Only bees of the genusNomia were observed carrying pollinia and successfully pollinating the orchid. The genusNomia contains polylectic, pollen gathering species that store pollen in both the crop and scopa on the hind legs. The absence of a reward for the bees indicates the orchid is relying on deception to attract visitors. The relationship of deception to mimicry is discussed. Once on the flower, tactile, visual and possibly olfactory stimuli direct bees to the false anther formed by the voluminous column wings, where morphological adaptations of the flower ensure that the pollinarium is deposited on the gaster of the bee to effect pollination. — The lack of seed set observed on the Victorian coast appears to be due to the absence of pollinators from the heath and grassland communities in which the orchid grows. This may well be a consequence of the reduced number of plants flowering in the community (a result of the elimination of fire at these sites), thus not maintaining a floral community attractive to potential pollinators.     

Pollination Ecology and Seed Production of Rhododendron Ponticum in Native and Exotic Habitats

Alien plants may be reproductively limited in exotic habitats because of a lack of mutualistic pollinators. However, if plants are adequately served by generalist pollinators, successful reproduction, naturalisation and expansion into exotic habitats may occur. Rhododendron ponticum is very successful, ecologically damaging invasive plant in Britain and Ireland, but is in decline in its native Iberian habitat. It spreads locally by sending out lateral branches, but for longer distance dispersal it relies on sexually produced seeds. Little is known about R. ponticum's pollination ecology and breeding biology in invaded habitats. We examined the flower-visiting communities and maternal reproductive success of R. ponticum in native populations in southern Spain and in exotic ones in Ireland. R. ponticum in flowers are visited by various generalist (polylectic) pollinator species in both native and exotic habitats. Although different species visited flowers in Ireland and Spain, the flower visitation rate was not significantly different. Insects foraging on R. ponticum in Spain carried less R. ponticum pollen than their Irish counterparts, and carried fewer pollen types. Fruit production per inflorescence varied greatly within all populations but was significantly correlated with visitation at the population level. Nectar was significantly depleted by insects in some exotic populations, suggesting that this invasive species is providing a floral resource for native insects in some parts of Ireland. The generality of the pollination system may be factor contributing to R.ponticum's success in exotic habitats.     

Size-dependent pollination efficiency in Anchusa officinalis (Boraginaceae): causes and consequences

Summary Bumblebees foraging on the self-incompatible Anchusa officinalis fly between near neighbour plants and between near neighbour inflorescences within plants. Although many-flowered plants attracted most bumblebees these plants received fewer visits on a per flower basis than smaller plants, and each bumblebee visited a smaller proportion of the flowers. The calculated effective visitation rate per flower was highest on plants of an intermediate size. If pollen-carryover was assumed to be limited the most efficient plant was predicted to be smaller since the proportion of fertilized flowers per bumblebee visit is expected to decrease further on the largest plants in relation to the total flower number. These predictions were tested by measuring fruit-set in the field. The percentage fruit-set decreased with plant size at all sizes that were investigated. That the most efficient plant was small indicates that pollen-carryover was indeed limited. However, the low percentage fruit-set associated with large size did not present a serious problem since the total estimated seed production per plant still increased with size. Selection favoring smaller plants may be low or absent in Anchusa.     

SEX RATIO,COMPONENTS OF REPRODUCTION,AND POLLEN DEPOSITION IN LINDERA BENZOIN (LAURACEAE)

Sex ratio; flower, pollen, ovule, and fruit production; pollen deposition; and pollinator abundance were measured in populations of the dioecious shrub Lindera benzoin occurring in sun and shade habitats. Sex ratio was 1:1 in both the sun and shade. Flower production was greater in the sun than in the shade, and greater for male plants than for females in both habitat types. The population level ratio of pollen to ovules (P/O) was greater in the shade than in the sun, but pollinator abundance was a more important determinant of pollen deposition than P/O. Although 30%–70% of stigmas received no pollen, an even larger proportion of flowers did not set fruit, and fruit set was greater in the sun than in the shade. Increased illumination due to periodic gap formation may play an important role in the reproductive ecology of this understory shrub by affecting patterns of allocation toward reproduction in male and female plants.     

Morning floral heat as a reward to the pollinators of the Oncocyclus irises

Relationships between flowering plants and their pollinators are usually affected by the amount of reward, mainly pollen or nectar, offered to pollinators by flowers, with these amounts usually positively correlated with floral display. The large Oncocyclus iris flowers, despite being the largest flowers in the East Mediterranean flora, are nectarless and have hidden pollen. No pollinators visit the flowers during daytime, and these flowers are pollinated only by night-sheltering solitary male bees. These iris flowers are partially or fully dark-colored, suggesting that they gather heat by absorbing solar radiation. Here we test the hypothesis that the dark-colored flowers of the Oncocyclus irises offer heat reward to their male solitary bee pollinators. Floral temperature was higher by 2.5°C than ambient air after sunrise. Solitary male bees emerged earlier after sheltering in Oncocyclus flowers than from other experimental shelter types. Pollination tunnels facing east towards the rising sun hosted more male bees than other aspects. We suggest that floral heat reward can explain the evolution of dark floral colors in Oncocyclus irises, mediated by the pollinators’ behavior.     

The reproductive assurance benefit of selfing: importance of flower size and population size

Autonomous selfing can provide reproductive assurance (RA) for flowering plants that are unattractive to pollinators or in environments that are pollen limited. Pollen limitation may result from the breakdown of once-continuous habitat into smaller, more isolated patches (habitat fragmentation) if fragmentation negatively impacts pollinator populations. Here we quantify the levels of pollen limitation and RA among large and small populations of Collinsia parviflora, a wildflower with inter-population variation in flower size. We found that none of the populations were pollen limited, as pollen-supplemented and intact flowers did not differ in seed production. There was a significant effect of flower size on RA; intact flowers (can self) produced significantly more seeds than emasculated flowers (require pollen delivery) in small-flowered plants but not large-flowered plants. Population size nested within flower size did not significantly affect RA, but there was a large difference between our two replicate populations for large-flowered, small populations and small-flowered, large populations that appears related to a more variable pollination environment under these conditions. In fact, levels of RA were strongly negatively correlated with rates of pollinator visitation, whereby infrequent visitation by pollinators yielded high levels of RA via autonomous selfing, but there was no benefit of autonomous selfing when visitation rates were high. These results suggest that autonomous selfing may be adaptive in fragmented habitats or other ecological circumstances that affect pollinator visitation rates.     

Can ants equal honeybees as effective pollinators of the energy crop Jatropha curcas L. under Mediterranean conditions?

Jatropha curcas L. is the subject of many research and breeding programs concerned with its potential as an oil crop for biodiesel production. Despite an increasing amount of information regarding this relatively new crop, pollination requirements of this plant are largely neglected. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relative significance of ants and honeybees as potential pollinators of J. curcas grown under Mediterranean conditions. Jatropha curcas plants bloomed throughout the summer and fall, peaking twice, in early summer and late fall. During this period, the plants were visited by 70 species of insects representing 45 families from seven orders, with most species rarely being observed. Ants and Honeybees were the most common species, accounting for >95% of all flower visits. The foraging behavior of the honeybees followed the pattern of bloom phenology, especially during the summer, and mostly promoted cross‐pollination. Ants on the other hand, mostly promoted self pollination showing no such correlative behavior, reacting often too late to nectar availability, and were highly susceptible to climatic changes. Pollinator exclusion treatments revealed that during summer, fruit and seed sets, as well as seed size and oil and protein contents, were relatively similar for ant and bee‐pollinated flowers. During fall, however, reproductive success of bee‐pollinated flowers was relatively high (66%), while fruit set of ant‐pollinated flowers was significantly reduced from 71 to 11%. In conclusion, while both groups are equal in their pollination effectiveness in the summer, during the fall the honeybees are almost the sole pollinators of the plant. Based on bloom phenology and pollination activity data, the honeybees are responsible for the pollination of more than 80% of the annual reproductive potential of J. curcas, under Mediterranean conditions.