露蕊乌头(毛茛科)不同海拔居群的传粉生态学

对青藏高原东北部两个不同海拔地点（互助,2460m和海北,3200m）的露蕊乌头Aconitum gymnandrum的传粉生态学进行了比较研究。研究结果表明高海拔居群的单花花期、雄性期持续时间、雌性期持续时间比低海拔长。露蕊乌头不存在无融合生殖现象,尽管高度自交亲和,但产生种子必须依赖传粉媒介。熊蜂是露蕊乌头的主要传粉昆虫,两个居群均存在传粉限制。熊蜂取食花蜜为主,在同一个花序上的访问顺序以由下向上为主,但在互助居群和海北居群有3．9％和2．7％的访花是由上向下进行的。统计发现有37．7％和29．3％的访问行为发生在同一植株内;因此,同株异花传粉造成的自交在露蕊乌头中仍然不能避免。低海拔居群的熊蜂种类和访花频率均高于高海拔居群,但自然状态下两个居群的结实率并没有显著差异。高海拔露蕊乌头居群可能具有较长的柱头持续时间,从而补偿了由于访花频率低带来的结实率降低。     

THE CONTRIBUTION OF MATING SYSTEM VARIATION TO REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION IN TWO CLOSELY RELATED CENTAURIUM SPECIES (GENTIANACEAE) WITH A GENERALIZED FLOWER MORPHOLOGY

In closely related plant species that display strong similarities in phenology and pollinator communities, differences in breeding system and associated shifts in floral traits may have important effects on the magnitude and direction of heterospecific pollen flow and hybridization. Here, we quantified the strength of several pre‐ and postzygotic barriers acting between the facultatively outcrossing Centaurium erythraea and the predominantly selfing C. littorale via a suite of experiments, and estimated the frequency of hybridization in the field using molecular markers. The reproductive barriers primarily responsible for preventing hybridization were essentially prezygotic and these acted asymmetrically. Due to differences in floral display, pollen production, and pollen transfer rates, heterospecific pollen flow occurred predominantly from C. erythraea to C. littorale. In C. littorale, on the other hand, close anther–stigma positioning and resulting higher capacity for autonomous selfing functioned as an efficient barrier to counterbalance the higher risk for hybrid mating. In both species the action of all reproductive barriers resulted in a small opportunity for hybrid establishment, which was confirmed by the occurrence of only ～1% putative hybrids in the field. Our findings confirm that differences in breeding system affect heterospecific pollen transfer patterns and that autonomous selfing may efficiently prevent hybridization.     

Autonomous self‐pollination in the nectarless orchid Pogonia minor

The pollination biology of the nectarless orchid Pogonia minor was investigated in central Japan. The investigation revealed that the solitary flowers failed to attract pollinators, while high rates of fruit set were observed in the natural population. Comparable levels of fruit set were obtained in bagged, artificial self‐pollinated and artificial cross‐pollinated plants, indicating that the species is not pollinator‐limited for fruit set under natural conditions. Autonomous self‐pollination in P. minor resulted from a reduced rostellum, which allowed contact between the pollinia and the stigma. Self‐pollination is thought to be an adaptive response that provides reproductive assurance under conditions of pollinator limitation. Since pollen limitation is generally known to be frequent among deceptive orchids, strong pollen limitation is probably a driving force in the autonomous self‐pollination mechanism in the nectarless orchid P. minor.     

An experimental evaluation of self-interference in Narcissus assoanus: functional and evolutionary implications

Floral traits that reduce self-pollination in hermaphroditic plants have usually been interpreted as mechanisms that limit the genetic consequences of self-fertilization. However, the avoidance of sexual conflict between female and male function (self-interference) may also represent an important selection pressure for the evolution of floral traits, particularly in self-incompatible species. Here, we use experimental manipulations to investigate self-interference in Narcissus assoanus, a self-incompatible species with a stigma-height dimorphism in which the degree of spatial separation between sex organs (herkogamy) differs strikingly between the long- and short-styled morphs (hereafter L- and S-morphs). We predicted that weak herkogamy in the L-morph would cause greater self-pollination and hence self-interference. Experimental self-pollination reduced seed set when it occurred prior to, or simultaneously with, cross-pollination in the L-morph, but only if it occurred prior to cross-pollination in the S-morph. In the field, autonomous self-pollination was greater in the L-morph than the S-morph, but we found no evidence that self-interference reduced maternal or paternal fitness in either morph. One-day-old flowers of the L-morph have reduced stigma receptivity and hence exhibit protandry, whereas stigma receptivity and anther dehiscence are concurrent in the S-morph. This suggests that the two style morphs have alternative strategies for reducing self-interference: dichogamy in the L-morph and herkogamy in the S-morph. These results provide insight into the mechanisms that reduce sexual conflict in hermaphrodite plants and are of significance for understanding the evolution and maintenance of sexual polymorphisms.     

The reproductive biology of the Mediterranean endemic Cyclamen balearicum Willk. (Primulaceae)

Knowledge of the reproductive biology of endemic plants improves our understanding of how mating system may be related to patterns of species abundance and provides a basis for the development of rational conservation programmes. In this paper we present natural population data on the floral biology and reproductive ecology of the endemic Mediterranean species Cyclamen balearicum Willk. This is a long-lived, diploid perennial herb which occurs in southern France in five fragmented and isolated regions and on the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Cabrera and Draponera. Our observations indicate a particularly scarce pollinator activity (rare syrphid visits) and dispersal by ants over small distances. A controlled pollination experiment in a natural population showed that in southern France C. balearicum is fully self-compatible and that selfing is autonomous and probably delayed (i.e. following opportunities for outcrossing). The proximity of stigmas and anthers will favour autonomous selfing. The high pollen/ovule ratio indicates nevertheless that C. balearicum has a mixed mating system. Patterns of variation in stigma-anther separation and pollen production per flower suggest that not only has the current mating system of the species evolved from an outcrossing ancestor but that due to the fragmentation and isolation of populations greater levels of selfing have evolved in southern France (and to an intermediate degree on Ibiza and Menorca). On the island of Mallorca where larger continuous belts of C. balearicum habitat still exist the species has floral traits indicating a more outcrossed mating system. To our knowledge this is the first paper to document such trends in floral traits in the endemic component of the Mediterranean flora.     

两性花的雄蕊运动:多样性和适应意义

雄蕊运动指雄蕊在自身能量支持下发生的主动运动,不包括雄蕊在访花者触碰下造成的被动位移。该文总结了雄蕊的应激运动、快速猛烈弹射、缓慢运动以及级联运动等4种主要类型,分析了这些运动类型的系统分布及繁殖适应意义等方面的研究进展。雄蕊的应激运动由访花者或其他外力诱发,可能起到促进散粉和实现繁殖保障的作用;雄蕊快速猛烈的弹射运动可将花粉猛然撒向空中或访花者身上,促进了花粉的风媒或虫媒散布;缓慢运动的雄蕊可能通过在不同花期改变雄蕊的空间位置和雌雄异位程度来调节繁殖策略,或主动将雄蕊花药移至特定部位(如柱头表面)实现自交;雄蕊逐一、依次发生的级联运动较为复杂,主要分布在刺莲花科、梅花草科、旱金莲科和芸香科中,目前还缺乏实验研究;但根据\"花粉呈现理论\"以及其他类型的雄蕊运动研究结果,雄蕊的级联运动可以将花粉分批呈现给不同的传粉者,通过不同传粉者的分别传粉来提高花粉的输出;而且可避免已散粉雄蕊对即将散粉雄蕊的干扰,同时可能也降低了雌雄功能干扰和(或)花内自交。在芸香(Ruta graveolens)中,级联运动之后的雄蕊还会在花末期再同时向花中央运动;这种多向、多次运动方式是目前发现的最复杂的雄蕊运动类型。雄蕊运动领域值得今后开展进一步实验研究的方向主要有:1)雄蕊运动尤其是级联运动对雌雄功能干扰(性别间干扰)、雄蕊与雄蕊的\"性别内干扰\"等植物繁殖格局的影响;2)雄蕊运动与雌雄异熟、雌雄异位等花部特征的相互作用;3)雄蕊运动复杂类型的生理与发育机制。     

A restatement of the natural science evidence base concerning neonicotinoid insecticides and insect pollinators

There is evidence that in Europe and North America many species of pollinators are in decline, both in abundance and distribution. Although there is a long list of potential causes of this decline, there is concern that neonicotinoid insecticides, in particular through their use as seed treatments are, at least in part, responsible. This paper describes a project that set out to summarize the natural science evidence base relevant to neonicotinoid insecticides and insect pollinators in as policy-neutral terms as possible. A series of evidence statements are listed and categorized according to the nature of the underlying information. The evidence summary forms the appendix to this paper and an annotated bibliography is provided in the electronic supplementary material.     

Highly efficient pollination by bumblebees ensures seed production in Pedicularis lachnoglossa (Orobanchaceae), an early-flowering Himalayan plant

Pedicularis (Orobranchaceae) is a common high altitude genus of the Himalayas that may be affected by pollination limitation.Using Pedicularis lachnoglossa from Yulong (Jade Dragon) Snow Mountain in Li...     

The best of both worlds? A review of delayed selfing in flowering plants

Premise of Study

In a seminal body of theory, Lloyd showed that the fitness consequences of selfing will depend on its timing in anthesis. Selfing that occurs after opportunities for outcrossing or pollen dispersal can provide reproductive assurance when pollinators are limited and is expected to incur little cost, even when inbreeding depression is high. As a result, delayed selfing is often interpreted as a “best‐of‐both‐worlds” mating system that combines the advantages of selfing and outcrossing.

Methods

We surveyed 65 empirical studies of delayed selfing, recording floral mechanisms and examining information on inbreeding depression, autofertility, and other parameters to test the support for delayed selfing as a best‐of‐both‐worlds strategy.

Key Results

Phylogenetic distribution of the diverse floral mechanisms suggests that some basic floral structures may predispose plant taxa to evolve delayed selfing. Delayed selfing appears to serve as a best‐of‐both‐worlds strategy in some but not all species. While the capacity for autonomous selfing is often high, it is lower, in some cases, than in related species with earlier modes of selfing. In other delayed‐selfers, low inbreeding depression and reduced investment in corollas and pollen suggest limited benefits from outcrossing.

Conclusions

Despite a growing literature on the subject, experimental evidence for delayed selfing is limited and major gaps in knowledge remain, particularly with respect to the stability of delayed selfing and the conditions that may favor transitions between delayed and earlier selfing. Finally, we suggest a potential role of delayed selfing in facilitating transitions from self‐incompatibility to selfing.