宁夏枸杞的花粉呈现式样及交配系统研究北大核心CSCD

被子植物的花回馈、雌雄蕊时空分离特征和花粉呈现式样等花部特征及传粉者效率会影响雄性适合度和有性繁殖过程。宁夏枸杞(Lycium barbarum)是中国宁夏、新疆、内蒙等干旱和半干旱地区分布的特有种。该研究对新疆喀什地区宁夏枸杞自然种群的花部综合征、花粉呈现式样、花回馈、传粉者行为与交配方式的关系进行观察及统计分析,以探讨其花粉逐步呈现的适应性及其在提高雌雄繁殖过程中的意义。结果表明:(1)宁夏枸杞的单花寿命为(4.07±0.15) d,而雄性持续时间(0.07±0.01 d)比雌性持续时间短(4±0.01 d);花寿命内雌蕊长度比雄蕊长,属柱头探出式异位类型;花粉呈现式样为不完全逐步呈现。(2)花寿命不同阶段花回馈间存在显著差异。(3)意大利蜜蜂(Apis mellifera)、熊蜂(Bombus sp.)、食蚜蝇(Syrphidae sp.)是宁夏枸杞在自然居群的主要访花者,其中熊蜂和食蚜蝇是主要传粉者,但传粉者效率低,属于高移出低沉积类型。(4)宁夏枸杞的花粉胚珠比(2 448.11±448.32)及授粉实验结果均表现出兼性异交特征;自发自交及人工自花授粉花的座果率及结籽率很低,属于自交不亲和类型;自然传粉花的座果率及结籽率比人工去雄异花低,存在其较高的花粉限制(40.71%)。研究发现,宁夏枸杞花部综合征表现出雌雄异位和花粉不完全逐步呈现式样,这是避免雌雄功能及雄蕊各花药间的干扰、减少花粉同步移出及保障其雄性适合度的有效途径,但自然居群的传粉者种类限制、传粉效率低以及自交不亲性是导致宁夏枸杞花粉限制及降低雌性繁殖成功的主要原因。     

圆唇苣苔属(Gyrocheilos)花柱侧偏弯折现象及其传粉适应机制

圆唇苣苔属(Gyrocheilos)是苦苣苔科的中国特有属,有5种,全部狭域分布在我国西南及广东的高海拔山区。圆唇苣苔属所有物种的花柱侧偏且花柱顶端呈90°弯折,使得柱头位于花开口的中央位置。这种独特的侧偏弯折花柱结构,说明圆唇苣苔属可能有着特殊的演化历史和适应机制。为揭示这种特殊的花柱侧偏弯折现象的发生范围、发育过程及其传粉适应机制,该研究在圆唇苣苔(Gyrocheilos chorisepalus)、折毛圆唇苣苔(G. retrotrichus)和微毛圆唇苣苔(G. microtrichus)3个物种中开展了花部综合征观察,并研究了广东大雾岭保护区内的折毛圆唇苣苔花发育过程、花部特征和繁育系统以及传粉过程。结果表明:(1)微毛圆唇苣苔只有花柱左偏弯折现象,而圆唇苣苔和折毛圆唇苣苔虽然大部分花是花柱左偏弯折,但在部分个体中出现了少量的花柱右偏弯折现象(占种群总花数的2%～3%)。(2)传粉观察发现,折毛圆唇苣苔在花蕾期即出现了花柱弯折现象,2个可育雄蕊的花药合生、位于花冠筒喉部中央位置,与侧偏花柱不存在左右镜像对称关系。(3)折毛圆唇苣苔的花粉胚珠比(P/O)为456.98±15.55,属于兼性异交繁育系统。折毛圆唇苣苔存在一定的传粉限制,自交授粉可以结实,但异交种子萌发率更高,可能存在近交衰退。(4)折毛圆唇苣苔的访花昆虫较少,访花频率较低,主要访花昆虫有隧蜂、熊蜂、食蚜蝇等; 熊蜂体型较大,访花时降落在弯折花柱和花瓣下唇,胸部侧面及下部能有效接触到柱头。(5)反射率结果显示,折毛圆唇苣苔花瓣反射波长范围集中在紫光和蓝紫光区域,花冠的反射波长范围与蜂类视觉范围一致且花冠筒外侧和花瓣下唇的反射强度最大,更容易吸引蜂类落置在花冠宽大的下唇; 圆唇苣苔属的花柱侧偏弯折现象可能来自近缘的长蒴苣苔属(Didymocarpus)的花柱下弯现象或镜像花(mirror-image flowers)。综上认为,这种侧偏弯折的花柱,可能通过提供昆虫降落平台,使得柱头位于花开口中央和花瓣下唇的上方位置,提高了柱头接触访花昆虫的概率,是适应高海拔地区低频率访花者的一种机制。     

Reproductive biology and pollinators of the invasive shrub Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunberg)

This study examined the reproductive biology of the invasive nitrogen-fixing shrub Elaeagnus umbellata. Hand-pollination experiments and pollinator-exclusion experiments were performed in four Illinois, U.S.A. populations to determine the breeding system of E. umbellata, and floral visitors were collected to determine pollinators in the invasive range. Although self-compatibility is a trait shown to confer invasiveness, our experiments revealed that E. umbellata is a mostly outcrossing species with a self-incompatible breeding system. Variation does exist in that a small percentage of individuals allow self-fertilization through autogamy. There is also variability among plants in the separation of male and female floral parts that may further affect selfing potential. The majority of floral visitors to E. umbellata were generalist pollinators, including bees, flies, and moths. Many of the larger insect visitors are pollinators of E. umbellata based on analysis of pollen on insect specimens, but smaller insects do not pollinate as frequently. Its ability to attract generalist pollinators means that E. umbellata will produce fruit wherever pollinators and mates occur; however, the low fruit set on open-pollinated branches contrasts with the idea of a prolifically fruiting plant. E. umbellata seems to serve as a reliable food source for many ecologically and economically significant insects, including native bumble bees (Bombus), the exotic honey bee (Apis mellifera), and armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta), a crop pest.     

Effect of floral morphology on fruit set in Epimedium sagittatum (Berberidaceae)

The relationship between the floral morphology, especially the heterostyly, and the pollination ability in Epimedium sagittatum was investigated. Three distinct kinds of flowers were observed in this species: (1) about 54% of the flowers had pistils that were of equal length or shorter than the stamens (PESS); (2) in 23.5% of the flowers, the pistils were longer than the stamens (PLS), and; (3) in 22.5% of the flowers, the styles were positioned axially away from the anthers (SAA). No significant difference in fruit setting rate was observed between PLS and SAA flowers, but PESS flowers set less fruits than the other two. A breeding experiment indicated that the species was self-incompatible, and revealed that the presence of PLS and SAA could increase outcrossing and fruit set. A field experiment showed that open-pollinated flowers of E. sagittatum produced significantly less fruits than an artificial xenogamy experiment. This may be because most of the flowers in natural populations have pistils and anthers of the same length (PESS). The principal visitors and effective pollinators are Bombus sp1 and Bombus sp2. Attractant experiments indicated that the fruit set of flowers whose spurs were removed was significantly lower than that of flowers whose stamens were removed, suggesting that the spurs of the flowers could strongly increase the pollinator visitation and fruit set. The results therefore showed that floral morphology could significantly affect fruit set in E. sagittatum.     

THE POLLINATION DYNAMICS OF SYMPATRIC SPECIES OF PEDICULARIS (SCROPHULARIACEAE)

Sympatric populations of Pedicularis oederi, P. cystopteridifolia, and P. groenlandica on the Beartooth Plateau (Montana) were obligately dependent on Bombus pollinators. Their corolla colors were mutually distinct to insect vision, but their nectars had identical sugar components. Analysis of corbicular pollen loads of pollinating insects indicated a high degree of polylecty. Queen/worker ratios of pollinators on plant species corresponded to the parallel phenological sequences of plant blooming and insect caste development. The total number of individual pollinators of each Bombus species on all plants was directly related to the number of plant species it pollinated, but a comparable relationship between the number of pollinators on a plant species to the number of Bombus species pollinating it was not found. Morphological and behavioral correspondence of floral mechanisms and pollinators form an integral part of the general pattern of coadaptive evolution of the floral ecology of Pedicularis in North America known from previous studies. Reproductive isolation between Pedicularis species in this study is attributed to internal barriers. Wide overlaps of blooming seasons, proboscis lengths of bumblebee species and castes, and pollinator species on Pedicularis species suggest resource sharing, rather than resource partitioning or competition for resources among plant and insect species and individuals.     

Pollinator visits to floral colour phases of Fuchsia excorticata

Abstract

Fuchsia excorticata is a gynodioecious tree (endemic to New Zealand) which is pollinated by honeyeater birds. Red, tubular flowers are common among bird-pollinated plants, and the tubular flowers of F. excorticata change colour from green to red. The purpose of the present study was to describe the timing of the colour change, dropping of the floral tube, and nectar production of F. excorticata and to determine how bellbirds (Anthornis melanura) and two introduced species of nectar robbers (Zosterops lateralis and Bombus sp.) respond to the different colour phases.

Floral tubes fell off about 11 days after anthesis in both sexes, with colour change occurring on about Day-4 for female trees and on about Day-5 for hermaphrodite trees. Green-phase hermaphrodite flowers produced significantly more nectar/day than did green-phase female flowers, while red-phase flowers did not produce nectar in either sex. All three floral visitors studied preferentially visited green-phase flowers and virtually ignored the nectarless flowers in the red phase. These results contrast with the general association between red, bird-pollinated flowers and the presence of a nectar reward. We suggest that the non-migratory habit of the New Zealand honeyeaters and the lack of native insect visitors to this species may account for this anomalous green-to-red colour change.     

BUMBLEBEE POLLINATION RELATIONSHIPS ON THE BEARTOOTH PLATEAU TUNDRA OF SOUTHERN MONTANA

The coadaptive, dynamic relationship between the members of a floral community and their respective bumblebee pollinators was studied on the alpine-tundra of the Beartooth Plateau in southern Montana. A total of ten species of Bombus was observed foraging for pollen and/or nectar on Castilleja pulchella, Delphinium bicolor, Lupinus monticola, Mertensia ciliata, Oxytropis campestris, Penstemon procerus, and Trifolium dasyphyllum. The number of Bombus species per plant species ranged from 1 to 9. Based on relative percentage of pollen types in corbicular loads, monolectic foragers comprised 53.5% and polylectic foragers 46.5% of the bumblebees. Examinations of relative length of nectariferous corolla-tubes, tongue-length of pollinators, foraging frequency of pollinators, phenology of floral anthesis, and stature of plants did not indicate specific resource partitioning. Non-tundra-nesting bumblebees from lower elevations preferred adventive or typically non-tundra plants. Examination of perianth colors in visible light by reflectance spectrophotometry and in long-wave (360 nm) ultraviolet light by photography disclosed well-defined visible light reflectance spectra in all species but ultraviolet reflectance patterns only in D. bicolor. Insect collections and exclosure studies indicated all plant species except D. bicolor and P. procerus are highly reliant on bumblebee pollinators.     

Reproductive biology and pollination of Utricularia reniformis A.St.‐Hil. (Lentibulariaceae)

Utricularia reniformis is an endemic Brazilian carnivorous plant, most common in high‐altitude grasslands. Knowledge of the reproductive biology of U. reniformis is essential for planning conservation strategies, but it is currently poorly understood. Thus, we studied the floral morphology, floral biology, breeding system and pollination of this species. U. reniformis produces and stores nectar in the flower spur, a classic feature of bee‐pollinated flowers, and we recorded Xylocopa sp. and Bombus sp. as pollinators. Moreover, although it is self‐compatible it is an obligate animal‐pollinated species, as the sensitive stigma avoids self‐pollination. However, in natural conditions reproductive success is low due to the rarity of visits from pollinators. We suggest that the low reproductive success caused by a deficit of pollinators may affect gene flow, causing loss of genetic diversity in U. reniformis.     

Local bumble bee decline linked to recovery of honey bees,drought effects on floral resources

Time series of abundances are critical for understanding how abiotic factors and species interactions affect population dynamics, but are rarely linked with experiments and also scarce for bee pollinators. This gap is important given concerns about declines in some bee species. I monitored honey bee (Apis mellifera) and bumble bee (Bombus spp.) foragers in coastal California from 1999, when feral A. mellifera populations were low due to Varroa destructor, until 2014. Apis mellifera increased substantially, except between 2006 and 2011, coinciding with declines in managed populations. Increases in A. mellifera strongly correlated with declines in Bombus and reduced diet overlap between them, suggesting resource competition consistent with past experimental results. Lower Bombus numbers also correlated with diminished floral resources. Declines in floral abundances were associated with drought and reduced spring rainfall. These results illustrate how competition with an introduced species may interact with climate to drive local decline of native pollinators.     

Fly pollination and duodichogamy in Bridelia stipularis and Cleistanthus sumatranus (Phyllanthaceae)

The globally distributed family Phyllanthaceae comprises 1745 species, all of which produce unisexual flowers, and most of the species occur in the tropics. The few species in which the pollination system has been studied are pollinated by flies, wasps, or specialized moths, and at least two species are duodichogamous. Here we report on the flowering phenology and pollination of the Chinese species Bridelia stipularis and Cleistanthus sumatranus, which were studied on the tropical Hainan Island. Both species are duodichogamous and indicated to be fly‐pollinated. The calliphorid species Chrysomya megacephala, Isomyia isomyia, Pierretia sp., Hemipyrellia sp., and Achoetandrus tufifacies were the most frequent flower visitors to B. stipularis; some of these species together with syrphids (Meliscaeva cinctella, Dideopsis sp., and Eristalis sp.) were the most abundant visitors to Cl. sumatranus flowers. Fruit set in hand‐pollinated flowers was higher than in open‐pollinated flowers, but because of natural fruit abortion the difference was not significant, indicating that fly pollinators do not limit reproduction of these Phyllanthaceae species. This study provides an addition to the limited Asian literature on pollination by flies and the even more limited literature on duodichogamy. It could help to broaden our understanding for analysis of the evolution of duodichogamy in future research, but the specific ecological factors behind the evolution of this rare sexual system are still difficult to generalize.     

Floral biological observations onHeliamphora tatei (Sarraceniaceae) and other plants from Cerro de la Neblina in Venezuela

During 20 days in 1985, floral biological observations were made at 1 850–2 100m elevation on Cerro de la Neblina in Venezuela.Heliamphora tatei var.neblinae (Sarraceniaceae) is nectarless and has poricidal anthers.Heliamphora tatei, Graffenrieda fruticosa, G. polymera, G. reticulata, Tocca pachystachya, T. tepuiensis (Melastomataceae),Saxofridericia compressa, andStegolepsis neblinensis (Rapateaceae), are buzz-pollinated by ten species ofBombus, Eulaema, Melipona, Centris, Xylocopa, Dialictus, andNeocorynura. Additional observations of floral visits on tepui species ofGentianaceae, Loranthaceae, Malpighiaceae, Ericaceae, Orchidaceae, andAsteraceae are reported. Visitors include the hummingbirdCampylopterus duidae, the flower-piercerDiglossa duidae, the nectarivorous batAnoura geoffroyi, and various species ofCentris andBombus bees. Scent baits for euglossine bees attracted very few bees.Apis mellifera adansonii-scutellata, the africanized honey bee, was caught at 1 850m elevation.     

Native bees with floral sonication behaviour can achieve high-performance pollination of highbush blueberry in Chile

1. Blueberry is one of the most relevant buzz-pollinated crops worldwide and Chile is the most important global producer of fresh blueberries during wintertime in the Northern Hemisphere. Thousands of exotic Bombus terrestris are imported from Europe to pollinate blueberries. However, no study has investigated the performance of the native Chilean fauna to pollinate blueberry or other crops. Therefore, we aimed to compare the performance of native Chilean floral visitors with managed visitors to pollinate highbush blueberry.
2. Per-visit pollination performance (stigmatic pollen deposition) and floral visitation were measured and the presence of sonication behaviour of flower visitors was evaluated for five cultivars in two blueberry orchards located in southern Chile.
3. Floral visitors showed a preference for one or more blueberry cultivars, instead of visiting all cultivars equally. Floral visits with sonication deposited more conspecific pollen on stigmas than visits without sonication. Some native sonicating bees (Cadeguala and Bombus), especially Cadeguala occidentalis, were efficient pollen vectors of blueberry and better pollinators than honeybees (5.8 times more pollen transferred) similar to that of the managed bee B. terrestris.
4. The results indicate that some Chilean native bee species, especially those with sonication behaviour, can provide pollination service to highbush blueberry crops.

     

Pollinator community structure and sources of spatial variation in plant–pollinator interactions in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clarkia xantiana</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">xantiana</Emphasis>

The structure of diverse floral visitor assemblages and the nature of spatial variation in plant–pollinator interactions have important consequences for floral evolution and reproductive interactions among pollinator-sharing plant species. In this study, I use surveys of floral visitor communities across the geographic range of Clarkia xantiana ssp. xantiana (hereafter C. x. xantiana) (Onagraceae) to examine the structure of visitor communities, the specificity of the pollination system, and the role of variation in the abiotic vs. biotic environment in contributing to spatial variation in pollinator abundance and community composition. Although the assemblage of bee visitors to C. x. xantiana is very diverse (49 species), few were regular visitors and likely to act as pollinators. Seventy-four percent of visitor species accounted for only 11% of total visitor abundance and 69% were collected in three or fewer plant populations (of ten). Of the few reliable visitors, Clarkia pollen specialist bees were the most frequent visitors, carried more Clarkia pollen compared to generalist foragers, and were less likely to harbor foreign pollen. Overall, the core group of pollinators was obscured by high numbers of incidental visitors that are unlikely to contribute to pollination. In a geographic context, the composition of specialist pollinator assemblages varied considerably along the abiotic gradient spanning the subspecies range. However, the overall abundance of specialist pollinators in plant populations was not influenced by the broad-scale abiotic gradient but strongly affected by local plant community associations. C. x. xantiana populations sympatric with pollinator-sharing congeners were visited twice as often by specialists compared to populations occurring alone. These positive indirect interactions among plant species may promote population persistence and species coexistence by enhancing individual reproductive success.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Variation in pollinator assemblages in a fragmented landscape and its effects on reproductive stages of a self-incompatible treelet, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Psychotria suterella</Emphasis> (Rubiaceae)

Few studies of plant–pollinator interactions in fragmented landscapes evaluate the consequences of floral visitor variation on multiple stages of plant reproduction. Given that fragmentation potentially has positive or negative effects on different organisms, and that self-incompatible plant species depend on pollinators for sexual reproduction, differences in floral visitor assemblages may affect certain plant reproductive stages. We evaluated how pollinator assemblage, availability of floral resources, pollination, reproductive output, and seed and seedling performance of Psychotria suterella Muell. Arg. varied among three fragmentation categories: non-fragmented habitats, fragments connected by corridors, and isolated fragments. Richness and frequency of floral visitors were greater in fragments than in non-fragmented sites, resulting mainly from the addition of species typically found in disturbed areas. Although 24 species visited Psychotria suterella flowers, bumblebees were considered the most important pollinators, because they showed the highest frequency of visits and were present in eight out of ten sites. Additionally, the number of pollen tubes per flower per visit was lower in areas without bumblebees. The increased visitation in fragments seemed to enhance pollination slightly. However, fruit and seed output, germination, and seed and seedling mass were similar in non-fragmented sites, connected sites, and isolated fragments. Our results suggested that, even for a self-incompatible species, responses to habitat fragmentation at different stages of plant reproduction might be decoupled from the responses observed in floral visitors, if fruit set is not pollen limited. If all reproductive stages were considered, variation on the small scale was more important than the variation explained by fragmentation category. In spite of its self-incompatible breeding system, this plant–pollinator system showed resilience to habitat fragmentation, mainly as a result of high availability of potential mates to P. suterella individuals, absence of pollen limitation, and the presence of bumblebees (Bombus spp.) throughout this highly connected landscape.     

Pollen-Foraging Dynamics of Subalpine Bumblebees (Bombus Latr.)

Abstract A 23-year study on Mount Rainier of nectar-foraging hummingbirds and pollen-foraging bumblebees (Bom-bus Latr.) indicated a constant relative frequency of Bombus species in the area and a wide occurrence of insect species on flowers plus a wide range of flower species pollinated by a single insect. Early-blooming plants had a high queen/worker pollinator ratio, while workers predominated on later-blooming plants. No altitudinal difference in distribution of Bombus species occurred. Analysis of 955 corbicular pollen loads from 1158 bumblebees collected yielded 49.5% monolecty for queens and 34.5% for workers with a wider range for queens than for workers. Colors of corollas photographed in visible and ultraviolet light corresponded to the visual spectra of animal pollinators. In the stable plant-pollinator community investigated, pollinating insect activity appears phenologically controlled by floral anthesis and behaviorally related to floral form and function. Bumblebee tongue length, however. Is not a valid determinant for foraging niche separation except in Castilleja with a deep corolla tube accommodating long tongues of hummingbirds and bumblebees. It is concluded that in a biotic community well-coordinated with the physical environment, limited flower constancy of pollen-foraging pollinators appears to contribute a necessary degree of adaptive versatility through sharing of insect and floral resources. Flower constancy is primarily a function of the circumstance in which a pollinator operates and not simply a characteristic of the pollinator itself.     

Effects of low-efficiency pollinators on plant fitness and floral trait evolution in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campanula americana</Emphasis> (Campanulaceae)

Floral visitors vary in their pollination efficiency and their preferences for floral traits. If low-efficiency pollinators decrease the amount of pollen available to higher efficiency visitors, then low-efficiency visitors may actually have negative fitness consequences for the plants that they visit. We used experimental arrays in two populations to determine the floral preferences and the fitness effects of low-efficiency (or ugly) pollinators on Campanula americana. These ugly pollinators (halictid bees) preferentially visited flowers with pollen over flowers that had had their pollen removed. C. americana pollen color varies quantitatively from light tan to dark purple, and we found that natural variation in pollen color influenced the magnitude of halictid preferences for flowers with pollen. In general, preferences for flowers with pollen were stronger when the ugly pollinators foraged in arrays of flowers with tan-colored pollen than in arrays with purple-colored pollen. When plants received few visits by efficient Bombus pollinators, visits by ugly pollinators significantly decreased siring success relative to plants where visits by ugly pollinators were prevented. In contrast, ugly pollinators did not influence siring success when higher efficiency pollinators were more abundant. Thus, the relationship between low-efficiency pollinators and the plants that they visit varies from commensalistic to antagonistic depending on the presence of other pollinators in the community. Our findings suggest that the negative fitness effects and floral preferences of low-efficiency or ugly pollinators may contribute to the maintenance of a pollen color polymorphism in C. americana.     

POLLINATION ADAPTATION IN PEDICULARIS GROENLANDICA

Cinematographic and stereophotographic records indicate that Pedicularis groenlandica is pollinated in the Colorado Front Range by seven species of pollen-foraging bumblebees (Bombus sp.) to which the nectarless flower is intricately adapted functionally and structurally. Removing pollen by wing vibrations of an oscilloscopically identified frequency significantly distinct from flight vibration frequency, foragers carried pollen loads with up to three foreign pollen types in addition to Pedicularis pollen, which was found in all loads. No direct correlation was evident between flight vibration frequency and combined body-pollen load weight, ambient air temperature, or forager species. The flower is phenologically and morphologically adapted to the worker caste of apparently any Bombus species available to it throughout the plant's montane-alpine zone vertical-distribution range. The evolutionary position of the pollination mechanism is considered in relation to the floral morphology of other species in the genus Pedicularis.     

Spatial predictability and resource specialization of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) at a superabundant, widespread resource

For reciprocal specialization (coevolution) to occur among floral visitors and their host plants the interactions must be temporally and spatially persistent. However, studies repeatedly have shown that species composition and relative abundance of floral visitors vary dramatically at all spatial and temporal scales. We test the hypothesis that, on average, pollen specialist bee species occur more predictably at their floral hosts than pollen generalist bee species. Taxonomic floral specialization reaches its extreme among species of solitary, pollen-collecting bees, yet few studies have considered how pollen specialization by floral visitors influences their spatial constancy. We test this hypothesis using an unusually diverse bee guild that visits creosote bush (Larrea tridentatd), the most widespread, dominant plant of the warm deserts of North America. Twenty-two strict pollen specialist and 80 + generalist bee species visit Larrea for its floral resources. The sites we sampled were separated by 0.5 to > 1450 km, and spanned three distinct deserts and four vegetation zones. We found that species of Larrea pollen specialist bees occurred at more sites and tended to be more abundant than generalists. Surprisingly, spatial turnover was high for both pollen specialist and generalist bee species at all distances, and species composition of samples from sites 1–5 km apart varied as much as repeat samples made at single sites. Nevertheless, the pattern of bee species turnover was not haphazard. As distance among sites increased faunal similarity of sites decreased. Faunal similarities among sites within 250 km of each other were generally greater than if randomly distributed over all sites (the null model). No single ecological category of species (widespread, localized, Larrea pollen specialist, floral generalist) accounted for this spatial predictability. Evidently, concordant local distribution patterns of many ecologically diverse species contribute to the non-random spatial pattern. The ecological dominance of creosote bush does not confer obvious ecological advantages to its specialist floral visitors. Spatial turnover is comparable to that found for bee guilds from other biogeographic regions of the world and is not therefore limited to those bee species that inhabit highly seasonal climates, such as deserts. Philopatry and differences in bloom predictability among sites are probably more important causes for spatial turnover of bee species than are interspecific competition for nest sites or floral resources.     

A preliminary study on pollination biology of Omphalogramma souliei Franch. (Primulaceae), a species endemic to China

The pollination biology of Omphalogramma souliei Franch., a species endemic to southwestern China, was investigated. Floral phenology, flower visitors, pollen/ovule ratio, attractants and rewards to the visitors were observed, measured, and recorded. Bagging experiments to exclude pollinators were carried out in the wild for two years. Our results revealed five important aspects of the reproductive biology of Omphalogramma souliei. 1) The pollen-ovule ratio was 1748±233. The breeding system was self-compatible, with facultative xenogamy. 2) The pollination syndrome is entomophily, and this species could not be pollinated by wind if the pollinators were unavailable. 3) Six insect species were observed visiting the flowers of Omphalogramma souliei in the wild, of them, three species of hymenoptera, Lasioglossum sp., Heriades parvula Cockerell and Micrapis florae Fabricius, are the principal floral visitors and effective pollinators. 4) The visual attractants to the visitors are floral color and shape, the large yellow anthers, and the rewards for visitors are pollen and nectar. 5) Cleistogamy may also occur, since the anthers of some flowers dehisced before opening of the corolla. The results of floral biology and pollination characters suggest that xenogamy predominated and autogamy played an assistant role in the evolution of reproduction and breeding system of O. souliei.     

Are pollination syndromes useful predictors of floral visitors in Tasmania?

Abstract Diurnal visitors to the flowers of many native plant species were identified in a wide range of Tasmanian sclerophyllous vegetation between September 1996 and April 1997. These foraging profiles were analysed to determine whether they were characteristic of various floral morphologies in predictable ways. It was found that although visitor profiles were sometimes consistent with classic pollination syndromes, these syndromes were unreliable predictors of floral visitors. Very few flowers were exclusively bird‐pollinated, and none were strictly fly‐, beetle‐, wasp‐, or butterfly‐pollinated. The majority of flowering plants were unspecialized in their morphology, and consequently hosted a diverse array of visitors. In addition, visitor profiles to congeners with similar floral morphologies, and even to conspecifics, differed between habitats. Altitude was a major factor in determining visitors, with flies being the most abundant visitors above 700 m. However, congeners in several genera of Epacridaceae, as well as the genus Correa, which differed in floral morphology also differed in visitor profiles. Tubular flowers were associated with birds, while flowers with more accessible nectar were visited by insects. The only taxa exhibiting a bee‐pollination syndrome that were largely visited by bees were the Fabaceae and Goodenia ovata Sm. Several species with purple or pink flowers were also predominantly visited by bees, but did not strictly conform to the melittophilous syndrome. In contrast, other flowers exhibiting an ostensibly mellitophilous syndrome hosted very few bees. Of these, species that occurred at high altitude were mainly visited by flies, while others received very few potential pollen vectors.