Flower Morphology and Pollination Mechanism in Three Sympatric Goodyerinae Orchids from Southeastern Brazil

The pollination biology of Aspidogyne argentea, Aspidogyne longicornuandErythrodes arietina was studied in south-eastern Brazil.The three species are self-compatible but are pollinator-dependent.These three orchid species offer nectar as a reward to pollinatorsand flower visitors. The twoAspidogyne spp. have a dorsally-adhesiveviscidium, a feature which precludes pollinators other thanbees. Erythrodes arietina flowers are protandrous and show aventrally-adhesive viscidium. Aspidogyne argentea is visitedby halictid bees (here ranked as probable pollinators) and Hesperiidaebutterflies. Aspidogyne longicornu is pollinated by femalesof Euglossa(Euglossini) and visited by the hummingbird Phaethornisruber and by the euglossine bees Eulaema seabrai(females) andEulaema cingulata(males). The pollinarium adheres to the ventralsurface of the bee labrum, a very difficult place for bees toclean. The dorsally adhesive viscidium in Aspidogyne parallelsthat of the Spiranthinae genera of the so-called ‘Pelexiaalliance’. This condition seems to be particularly adaptativeunder conditions of low-frequency pollinator visits. Erythrodesarietina is pollinated by bees of the genera Paratetrapediaand Osiris which carry the pollinarium on the dorsal surfaceof their proboscis. Occasionally, these bees remove pollinariafrom their mouthparts using their forelegs. In general, in thespecies studied, a combination of both pollinator behaviourand morphological peculiarities promotes cross-pollination.Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Orchids, Goodyerinae, Aspidogyne, Erythrodes, pollination, bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, morphology, viscidium, protandry     

Pollination Biology of Piperaceae Species in Southeastern Brazil

Phenology, floral biology and breeding system are describedfor 14 Piperaceae species at two sites covered by semi-deciduousforest in southeastern Brazil. Flowering occurred continuouslythroughout the year, with a peak during the windy months. Allspecies had minute odorous and nectarless flowers visited byinsects; five of them showed a substantial degree of self-compatibility,and one was andromonoecious. Seven species were wind pollinated,and three were exclusively pollinated by insects. Flower visitorswere mainly hoverflies and bees. Copyright 2000 Annals of BotanyCompany Piper spp., Ottonia spp., Pothomorphe umbellata, pepper family, phenology, floral biology, breeding system, ambophily, semi-deciduous forest     

Hummingbird Pollination in Two Species of Vellozia (Liliiflorae: Velloziaceae) in Southeastern Brazil*

Pollination by hummingbirds was observed in two species of Vellozia (Velloziaceae) in southeastern Brazil. Both species have purplish-pink to dark purple tepals, tube-like arrangement of stamens, large and protected nectar chamber, and no odour. Tepals are reflexed in V. leptopetala and narrow in V. declinans, further enhancing the tube-like effect given by the long yellow anthers. Nectar is very dilute (ca. 10%). Three species of hummingbirds were observed pollinating these Vellozia species: Colibri serrirostris, Augastes scutatus, and Chlorostilbon aureoventris. The first species established feeding territories in the vicinity of V. leptopetala flowers. A bee-pollinated Vellozia flower-type may give rise to a hummingbird-flower by relatively simple adjustments, consisting mainly of the reflexion of tepals, increase in stamen length, enhancement of reddish pigments, enlargement of nectar chamber and dilution of nectar. Vellozia declinans may be likened to one of the hypothetical stages of this trend towards ornithophily, whereas V. leptopetala is possibly one of the extremes within the genus.     

Pollination ofOphrys (Orchidaceae) in Cyprus

In the southern part of Cyprus the pollinator —Ophrys (Orchidaceae) relationships and its specifity have been investigated from the end of February until the middle of March 1986. 12Ophrys spp. were found. To date, only a single pollinator reference has been reported from this island. We found the following pollinators:Melecta tuberculata (Ophrys kotschyi),Eucera dimidiata (Ophrys flavomarginata),Eucera gaullei (Ophrys umbilicata),Eucera paulusi (Ophrys bornmuelleri),Anthophora erschowi (Ophrys elegans),Andrena torda (Ophrys sicula =O. lutea subsp.minor),Andrena cinereophila (Ophrys fusca, small-flowered),Andrena flavipes (Ophrys israelitica),Andrena morio (Ophrys iricolor andOphrys transhyrcana),Andrena bimaculata (Ophrys sphegodes aggr., probably formerly confused withO. transhyrcana). Most interestingly, it could be verified thatO. flavomarginata/O. umbilicata, O. bornmuelleri/O. levantina andO. transhyrcana/O. sphegodes aggr. (possiblyO. sintenisii) are different biospecies. This is a result of genetic isolation due to varying pollinators, and of differences in flower morphology.     

Pollination biology of four sympatric species of Habenaria (Orchidaceae: Orchidinae) from southern Brazil

The pollination process and breeding system of the sympatric Habenaria johannensis, H. macronectar, H. megapotamensis and H. montevidensis was documented for native populations from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. All species investigated offer a nectar reward (mean values of total sugars ranging from 18 to 26%) concealed in a spur. Habenaria montevidensis is pollinated by butterflies (Hesperiidae, especially of the genus Urbanus) that carry pollinaria on their eyes; the other three species are pollinated by Sphingidae. Habenaria johannensis is pollinated by the moths Manduca rustica and M. sexta that carry the pollinaria at the base of the proboscis. Habenaria macronectar is pollinated by the moths Eumorpha labrusca and M. cf. lucetius, and these bear pollinaria between the palpi. Habenaria megapotamensis is pollinated by moths of M. cf. lucetius that bear the pollinaria on the proboscis. All species studied are self‐compatible, but pollinator dependent. They also displayed high reproductive success (ranging from 69.48 to 97.40%) and male efficiency factors slightly higher than 1, suggesting that at least one flower was pollinated for each flower acting as pollen donor. At the study sites, the investigated Habenaria spp. are isolated (in terms of pollination) by a set of factors that includes differing floral morphologies, different pollinators and/or different pollinarium placement on the pollinator. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ??, ??–??.     

Habitat Utilization of Three Sympatric Cheirogaleid Lemur Species in a Littoral Rain Forest of Southeastern Madagascar

I compared the habitat utilization in 3 sympatric species of Cheirogaleidae (Microcebus murinus [81 g], Cheirogaleus medius [183 g] and Cheirogaleus major [362 g]) in a littoral rain forest in southeastern Madagascar during 3 rainy seasons. Females of promiscuous Microcebus murinus had small home ranges and the males had large overlapping home ranges. Home ranges of family groups of monogamous Cheirogaleus medius and C. major overlapped extensively. Home ranges of all 3 species overlapped completely in the study area but home range sizes differed among species and correlate positively with body masses. Male Microcebus murinus slept in open vegetation (79%) and alone (71%), whereas female M. murinus and family group members of Cheirogaleus spp. preferred communal sleeping in tree holes. There are significant interspecific differences in the choice of sleeping sites: smaller lemurs chose smaller trees and used more sleeping sites than larger lemurs did. Species also differed significantly in the vertical dimension of forest utilization: Cheirogaleus major used the upper part of the trees, C. medius used the middle parts, and Microcebus murinus used the understory during nocturnal activities. The 3 species differed mainly in vertical habitat utilization and showed vertical stratification.     

Pollination biology of Cymbidium goeringii (Orchidaceae) in China

The genus Cymbidium comprises three subgenera with ca. 50 species. Interactions between pollinators and plants have been studied in the two subgenera Cymbidium and Cyperorchis, but only a few studies in the subgenus Jensoa have been reported. Here we report on the reproductive characteristics of C. goeringii (in sub-genus Jensoa) in three populations in the southwest of Hunan Province, China, during the winter from December 2005 to March 2006. Floral phenological and morphological features, behavior of visitors, the breeding system, and fruit sets under natural conditions were studied. The flowers of C. goeringii were strongly fragrant, but did not present any rewards to the visitors. The flowering period of C. goeringii in the studied populations lasted about 40 days, and most flowers (about 60%) opened within 30 days. Flowers opened immediately when temperature increased obviously and reached to about 16 ℃. The flowering time of the pollinated flowers, unpollinated flow-ers and the flowers with pollinarium removed were similar. Two bees of Apidae, Apis cerana cerana (honeybee) and Anthophora melanognatha, were observed visiting flowers of C. goeringii, but only the honeybees performed as pollinators. The honeybees mostly visited the orchid flowers at 10:00–17:00 on sunny days with temperature above 10 ℃. A total of only thirteen visits were observed during 20 days of observation, indicating pollinators were rare. Honeybees directly landed on the upper surface of the labellum and inserted their heads into the flowers between column and labellum, while the hind legs trod on the surface of the curved downward mid-lobe of label-lum. When a honeybee landed on the labellum of a flower, the labellum moved up and down slightly. After the honeybee entered the flower further, its head might touch the foot of the column. At this time, the body of the honeybee was parallel with the upper surface of the labellum. Then the honeybee used its front legs to scratch on the callus ridges on the upper surface of the labellum, and its hind legs hooked the edges of the side lobe of label-lum, trying to exit forcibly from the flower. During exiting process, sometimes the honeybee’s body was arched owing to tension. In this case, the surface of the scutellum came into close contact with the viscidium and then pollinaria, together with the anther cap, were removed. When this honeybee visited next flower, the pollinaria would be adhered to the stigma when it arched its body during the exiting process. Three plant species flowered synchronously with C. goeringii in the studied areas, but their flowers were different with C. goeringii in color or shape. Because C. goeringii is rewardless to pollinators, the flowers probably attract visitors by olfactory stimu-lus. Breeding system experiments showed no spontaneous autogamy and pollination success relying on pollinators in C. goeringii. Artificial pollination resulted in 90% fruit set by induced autogamy, 100% by pollinating within clone, and 100% by xenogamous pollination, respectively. These results indicate that C. goeringii is highly self-compatible and the fruit production is pollen limited. Because pollinators are essential for fruit set of C. goeringii in natural habitats, protection of wild honeybee populations or apiculture is likely a simple but effective strategy to maintain the orchid populations.     

春兰(兰科)传粉生物学的研究

为探讨兰属Cymbidium建兰亚属subgen.Jensoa植物与传粉者之间的关系,对湖南省西南部野生春兰Cymbidiumgoeringii的传粉生物学进行了研究.结果表明春兰花期近40天,多数花(60%左右)在30天内开放.春兰的花开放与气温有直接的关系,当温度明显升高时,春兰的花会大量开放;春兰的花唇瓣3裂,中裂片强烈外弯成90°至180°不等,且少数花的中裂片上有紫褐色斑点;花能够散发出浓郁的香气,距离花1m左右就可以闻到香气.春兰唯一的传粉者为中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana,主要在晴天1000-1700气温较高的时间段活动.中华蜜蜂访花时,直接落在唇盘上,后腿蹬在唇瓣中裂片上.头部直接进入花内.当中华蜜蜂头部接近合蕊柱基部时便不能继续进入,开始挣扎退出.退出过程中有时中胸会随着挣扎而拱起,接触到合蕊柱上部,蹭到粘盘(viscidium).当中华蜜蜂中胸背部蹭到粘盘后,花粉块连同药帽就粘到蜜蜂的背部被一起带出.中华蜜蜂访花后,如果没有带出花粉块,则继续访花或者飞离居群;访花后若带出花粉块,则会立即飞离该居群.黑颚条蜂Anthophora melanognatha只是春兰的访问者.春兰不会为传粉者提供花蜜、花粉等报酬,也没有模仿同期开花植物花的形态特征,因而可能是通过其强烈的香味来吸引传粉者.自然条件下,春兰的结实率仅为6.67%.人工异花授粉、自花授粉、同克隆内授粉的结实率分别为100%、90%和100%,表明春兰是高度自交亲和的.而套袋后不采取措施、去雄的花均不结实,表明春兰不存在自动的自花授粉、无融合生殖,因而,春兰必须通过一定的媒介传粉才能繁衍后代.     

Phenology and Pollination Ecology of Three Brazilian Fig Species (Moraceae)

The phenology and pollination ecology of three native fig species were studied in southeastern Brazil. Populations displayed continual syconia production, with one species showing intra-tree flowering asynchrony. Pollination of the fig flowers was necessary for the development of the syconia; lack of pollination induced abortion of syconia. All three species follow the general pattern of pollination known for figs, but the behavior of the pollinator wasps, Pegoscapus spp., differed in some aspects from those of other neotropical and paleotropical fig wasps, mainly with respect to pollen loading and unloading during pollination. The longevity of Pegoscapus wasps outside the syconium was about two days.     

Pollination and Breeding System of two Co-Occurring Hirtella Species (Chrysobalanaceae) in Central Brazil

The phenology, major floral characteristics, breeding systems and fruiting success of two co-occurring species of Hirtella: H. glandulosa and H.gracilipes (Chrysobalanaceae) were studied in Central Brazil. The two species occur as trees in mesophyllous forests but H. glandulosa is frequent also in dense savanna areas. Both species flower at the end of the dry season (September) and have flowers with one-day longevity. In both species flowers produce nectar and are pollinated exclusively by butterflies. The number of visits recorded and pollination rate in each species were significantly different and indicate that pollinators prefer H. glandulosa flowers. Natural and controlled fruit sets were low in both species. The index of self-incompatibility (ISI) was 0.17 in H. glandulosa and 0.86 in H. gracilipes. Although ISI in H. glandulosa could denote an incompatibility system, the presence of fruits with aborted embryos at different degrees of development point to an inbreeding depression situation. Low pollen viability and fruit set in H. gracilipes suggested reproductive problems which may be linked to hybridization events.     

Pollination ecotypes of Satyrium hallackii (Orchidaceae) in South Africa

Intraspecific variation in floral traits may reflect adaptive shifts in the pollination system of a plant. This idea was tested by examining the pollination biology of Satyrium hallackii H. Bolus., an orchid which has spurs varying from 8 to 36 mm among populations in southern Africa. Field observations showed that the short-spurred form ( S. hallackii subsp. hallackii ) in coastal fynbos habitats is pollinated by bees, while the long-spurred form ( S. hallackii subsp. ocellatum ) in grassland habitats is pollinated primarily by hawkmoths and, secondarily, by long-tongued flies. The shift between hawkmoths and bees as pollinators may have been promoted by an ecological gradient in South Africa: carpenter bees are common in coastal fynbos habitats, but rare in grassland habitats where there are few available nesting sites. On the other hand, hawkmoths are common in grassland habitats, but rare in fynbos where there are few palatable host-plants. The formation of pollination ecotypes across pollinator gradients has probably been a major factor in the diversification of South African plants with specialized pollination systems.     

A New Neotropical Genus and Species of Odontocerinae (Trichoptera: Odontoceridae) from Southeastern Brazil

Anastomoneura gen. nov. and A. guahybae sp. nov. are described and illustrated based on adult male and female specimens from the Mantiqueira mountain range, Minas Gerais State. This is the third genus recorded of the family Odontoceridae from South America. The new genus is characterized by the forewing anastomosis of veins R₄ and R₅ and male genitalia with a unique, tubular, projection dorsad to the plates of tergite X.     

A New Species of Antarctoecia Ulmer, 1907 (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) from Southeastern Brazil

A new species of Antarctoecia Ulmer, 1907 (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) from south-eastern Brazil, Antarctoecia brasiliensis sp. nov., is described and figured based on adult male and female specimens from Mantiqueira mountain range, Minas Gerais State. This is the first record of the family Limnephilidae from Brazil.     

Three New Species of Curtara (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Gyponinae) from Brazil

Three new species of the leafhopper genus Curtara DeLong & Freytag, 1972, C. mejdalanii spec. nov., C. maricaensis spec. nov., and C. restingalis spec. nov., are described from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. They belong to the Notanda group of the subgenus Curtara because of the presence of only two subapical processes in the aedeagal shaft. C. mejdalanii spec. nov. seems to be more closely related to C. rugara DeLong & Freytag, 1976 because of the shape of the subapical aedeagal processes but differs from it by the enlarged apical area of the aedeagus, the absence of ventral pre-apical saliency of style, the rounder apex of the subgenital plate, and the longer pygofer, with a fold accompanying the whole lateral margin. C. maricaensis spec. nov. and C. restingalis spec. nov. seem to be closely related to C. esona DeLong & Freytag, 1976, as suggested by the general shape of internal genital parts, but differ from it by the shape of the apex of basal processes of the aedeagus, the apex of subgenital plates and the absence of an outer fold on the ventral margin of the pygofer.     

Microbial Communities of Three Sympatric Australian Stingless Bee Species

Bacterial symbionts of insects have received increasing attention due to their prominent role in nutrient acquisition and defense. In social bees, symbiotic bacteria can maintain colony homeostasis and fitness, and the loss or alteration of the bacterial community may be associated with the ongoing bee decline observed worldwide. However, analyses of microbiota associated with bees have been largely confined to the social honeybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus spec.), revealing – among other taxa – host-specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB, genus Lactobacillus) that are not found in solitary bees. Here, we characterized the microbiota of three Australian stingless bee species (Apidae: Meliponini) of two phylogenetically distant genera (Tetragonula and Austroplebeia). Besides common plant bacteria, we find LAB in all three species, showing that LAB are shared by honeybees, bumblebees and stingless bees across geographical regions. However, while LAB of the honeybee-associated Firm4–5 clusters were present in Tetragonula, they were lacking in Austroplebeia. Instead, we found a novel clade of likely host-specific LAB in all three Australian stingless bee species which forms a sister clade to a large cluster of Halictidae-associated lactobacilli. Our findings indicate both a phylogenetic and geographical signal of host-specific LAB in stingless bees and highlight stingless bees as an interesting group to investigate the evolutionary history of the bee-LAB association.     

Trophic and Spatial Niches of two Large-sized Species of Leptodactylus (Anura) in Southeastern Brazil

Leptodactylus ocellatus (LO) and L. labyrinthicus (LL) are known to prey on other frogs. Here we compare their food habits based on the analysis of stomach contents and their spatial distribution when in sympatry. LO was found most frequently near stream banks, and LL on the margins of lakes and ponds. LO was found within 10 m of permanent water bodies; LL frequently used ponds far from lakes and rivers. Coleoptera, Formicidae, and Isoptera comprised 52% of the prey types identified in the LO sample, whereas Coleoptera and insect larvae represented 58% of the prey items of LL. Frogs were not frequent in the diet of either species but, in volume, represented the second most important category for LO and the first for LL. LO showed a larger trophic niche breadth than LL. The trophic niche overlap between the two species was 68.3% for percentage of prey items. The present work confirms the relative importance of frogs in the diet of both species. The greater capacity of LL in moving far away from permanent water bodies may generate better opportunities for prey selection and a narrower trophic niche breadth. The large range of prey used by these two species indicates they are generalist/opportunistic feeders.