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32 results for “Pollinator specialization”
Data from: The evolution of the traplining pollinator role in hummingbirds, specialization is not an evolutionary dead end
<p>Trapliners are pollinators that visit widely dispersed flowers along circuitous foraging routes. Through coevolution with the flowers they pollinate, trapliners are hypothesised to become more morphologically and ecologically specialised than their non-traplining counterparts. We hypothesised that independent transitions to traplining in hummingbirds should entail convergent morphological specialisation, and we tested whether such transitions are irreversible and lead to lower rates of diversification as predicted by the hypothesis that specialisation is an 'evolutionary dead end'. We find that there have been multiple independent transitions to traplining across the hummingbird phylogeny, but reversals have been rare or incomplete at best. Multiple independent lineages of trapliners have become morphologically specialised, convergently evolving relatively large bills for their body size. Traplining is not an evolutionary dead end however, since trapliners continue to give rise to new traplining species at a rate comparable to non-trapliners.</p>
Data from: The evolution of the traplining pollinator role in hummingbirds, specialization is not an evolutionary dead end
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Dataset for: Short flowers for long tongues: functional specialization in a nocturnal pollination network of an asclepiad in long-tongued hawkmoths (Biotropica)
<p><span>Since Darwin, very long and narrow floral tubes have been known to represent the main floral morphological feature for specialized long-tongued hawkmoth pollination. However, specialization may be driven by other contrivances instead of floral tube morphology. Asclepiads are plants with a complex floral morphology where primary hawkmoth pollination had never been described. We detailed here the intricate pollination mechanism of the South American asclepiad <em>Schubertia grandiflora</em>, where functional specialization on long-tongued hawkmoth pollinators occurs despite the short floral tube of this species. We studied two plant populations in the Brazilian Cerrado and recorded floral visitors using different approaches, such as light-trapped hawkmoths for pollen analysis, direct field observations, and IR motion-activated cameras. Finally, using a community-level approach we applied an ecological network analysis to identify the realized pollinator niche of <em>S. grandiflora</em> among the available niches in the pollinator community. Throughout a period of 17 years, long-tongued hawkmoths were consistently recorded as the main floral visitors and the only effective pollinators of <em>S. grandiflora</em>. Flowers rely on highly modified corona and gynostegium, and enlarged nectar chambers, to drive visitors and pollination mechanism. Despite relatively short-tube, network analysis placed <em>S. grandiflora</em> in the module including exclusively long-tongued hawkmoth pollinators and the most phenotypically specialized sphingophilous plants in the community. These results represent the first example of functional specialization in long-tongued hawkmoths in an asclepiad species. However, this specialization is uncoupled from the long floral tubes historically associated with the sphingophily syndrome.</span></p>
Data from: What makes a good pollinator? Abundant and specialized insects with long flight periods transport the most strawberry pollen
<ol> <li>Despite the importance of insect pollination to produce marketable fruits, insect pollination management is limited by insufficient knowledge about key crop pollinator species. This lack of knowledge is due in part to: 1) the extensive labour involved in collecting direct observations of pollen-transport, 2) the variability of insect assemblages over space and time, and 3) the possibility that pollinators may need access to wild plants as well as crop floral resources.</li> <li>We address these problems using strawberry in the UK as a case study. First, we compare two proxies for estimating pollinator importance: flower visits and pollen transport. Pollen-transport data might provide a closer approximation of pollination service, but visitation data are less time-consuming to collect. Second, we identify insect parameters that are associated with high importance as pollinators, estimated using each of the proxies above. Third, we estimated insects' use of wild plants as well as the strawberry crop.</li> <li>Overall, pollinator importances estimated based on easier-to-collect visitation data were strongly correlated with importances estimated based on pollen loads. Both frameworks suggest that bees <em>Apis</em> and <em>Bombus</em> and hoverflies <em>Eristalis</em> are likely to be key pollinators of strawberries, although visitation data underestimate the importance of bees.</li> <li>Moving beyond species identities, abundant, relatively specialised insects with long active periods are likely to provide more pollination service. </li> <li>Most insects visiting strawberry plants also carried pollen from wild plants, suggesting that pollinators need diverse floral resources.</li> <li>Identifying essential pollinators or pollinator parameters based on visitation data will reach the same general conclusions as those using pollen transport data, at least in monoculture crop systems. Managers may be able to enhance pollination service by preserving habitats surrounding crop fields to complement pollinators' diets and provide habitats for diverse life stages of wild pollinators.</li> </ol>
Data from: What makes a good pollinator? Abundant and specialized insects with long flight periods transport the most strawberry pollen
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Dataset for: Short flowers for long tongues: functional specialization in a nocturnal pollination network of an asclepiad in long-tongued hawkmoths (Biotropica)
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Data from: Effects of hummingbird morphology on specialization in pollination networks vary with resource availability
Specialization of species in interaction networks influences network stability and ecosystem functioning. Spatial and temporal variation in resource availability may provide insight into how ecological factors, such as resource abundance, and evolutionary factors, such as phylogenetically conserved morphological traits, influence specialization within mutualistic networks. We used independent measures of hummingbird abundance and resources (nectar), information on hummingbird traits and plant–hummingbird interactions to examine how resource availability and species' morphology influence the specialization of hummingbirds in three habitat types (forest, shrubs, cattle ranch) sampled over 10 sessions across two years in the southern Andes of Ecuador. Specialization of hummingbird species in the networks was measured by three indices: d' (related to niche partitioning), generality (related to niche width) and PSI (related to pollination services). Specialization indices d', generality and PSI of hummingbird species were influenced by resource availability. All indices indicated that specialization of hummingbirds increased when the availability of resources decreased. Variation in d' was also explained by an interaction between resource availability and bill length; hummingbirds with a long bill switched from being more specialized than other species when resource availability was low to being similarly specialized when availability was high. Overall, our results highlight the importance of ecological and evolutionary factors determining the specialization of species in interaction networks. We demonstrate in particular that ecological gradients in resource availability cause substantial changes in consumers' foraging behavior contingent on their morphology. Changes in pollinator specialization along resource gradients can have impacts on ecosystem functions, such as pollination by animals.
Data from: Floral paedomorphy leads to secondary specialization in pollination of Malagasy Dalechampia (Euphorbiaceae)
The traditional evolutionary interpretation of Von Baer's "laws" of embryology is that retention of early developmental forms into adulthood (paedomorphosis) leads to the evolution of simpler or more generalized morphology and ecology. Here we show that paedomorphosis can also be involved in an increase in ecological specialization, in this case of plant-pollinator relationships. A paedomorphic transition from generalized pollination (by several functional types of pollinators) to specialized pollination (by one or a few species in one functional type) occurred in a clade of endemic Malagasy vines (Dalechampia spp., Euphorbiaceae). This evolutionary transition involved staminate flowers that fail to develop "normally," instead holding mature pollen inside virtually unopened, bud-like flowers. This paedomorphic morphology restricts reward access to "buzz-pollinating" bees, specifically Xylocopa sp. (carpenter bees), which can remove pollen by sonication. This is one of very few reports of paedomorphic specialization, and, as far as we are aware, the first documented case of a rapid reversal to specialized pollination in a lineage of plants that had previously switched from specialized to generalized pollination in conjunction with dispersing to a new region.
Data from: Temporal variation in plant-pollinator networks from seasonal tropical environments: higher specialization when resources are scarce
The temporal dynamics of plant phenology and pollinator abundance across seasons should influence the structure of plant-pollinator interaction networks. Nevertheless, such dynamics are seldom considered, especially for diverse tropical networks. Here, we evaluated the temporal variation of four plant-pollinator networks in two seasonal ecosystems in Central Brazil (Cerrado and Pantanal). Data were gathered on a monthly basis over one year for each network. We characterized seasonal and temporal shifts in plant-pollinator interactions, using temporally discrete networks. We predicted that the greater floral availability in the rainy season would allow for finer partitioning of the floral niche by the pollinators, i.e., higher specialization patterns as previously described across large spatial gradients. Contrary to these expectations, we found that dry season networks, although characterized by lower floral resource richness and abundance, showed higher levels of network-wide interaction partitioning (complementary specialization and modularity). For nestedness and species level indices, though, this between-seasons difference was not consistent. Reduced resource availability in the dry season may promote higher interspecific competition among pollinators leading to reduced niche overlap, thus explaining the increase in specialization. Importantly, we also show that targeted data collection during peak flowering generates higher estimates of network specialization. Hence, depending on the period of data collection, different structural values for the networks of interactions may be found. Synthesis: Our study suggests that networks of tropical environments have structural properties that vary according to seasons, which should be taken into account in the description of the complex systems of interactions between plants and their pollinators in these areas.
Data from: Specialization and phenological synchrony of plant–pollinator interactions along an altitudinal gradient
1. One of the most noticeable effects of anthropogenic climate change is the shift in timing of seasonal events towards earlier occurrence. The high degree of variation in species' phenological shifts has raised concerns about the temporal decoupling of interspecific interactions, but the extent and implications of this effect are largely unknown. In the case of plant–pollinator systems, more specialized species are predicted to be particularly threatened by phenological decoupling, since they are assumed to be less flexible in the choice of interaction partners, but until now this hypothesis has not been tested. 2. In this paper, we studied phenology and interactions of plant and pollinator communities along an altitudinal gradient in the Alps as a model for the possible effects of climate change in time. 3. Our results show that even relatively specialized pollinators were much more flexible in their use of plant species as floral resources than their local flower visitation suggested. We found no relationship between local specialization of pollinators and the consistency of their visitation patterns across sites, and also no relationship between specialization and phenological synchrony of pollinators with particular plants. 4. Thus, in contrast to the conclusions of a recent simulation study, our results suggest that most pollinator species included in this study are not threatened by phenological decoupling from specific flowering plants. However, the flexibility of many rarely observed pollinator species remains unknown. Moreover, our results suggest that specialized flower visitors select plant species based on certain floral traits such as the length of the nectar holder tube. If that is the case, the observed flexibility of plant–pollinator interactions likely depends on a high degree of functional redundancy in the plant community, which may not exist in less diverse systems.
Data from: Intraspecific divergence and convergence of floral tube length in specialized pollination interactions
Floral tubes are often thought to be a consequence of adaptive specialization towards pollinator morphology. We explore floral tube length evolution within Tritoniopsis revoluta (Iridaceae), a species with considerable geographical tube length variation. We ask whether tube lengths of T. revoluta populations are associated with pollinator proboscis lengths, whether floral divergence occurs in the presence of different pollinators and whether floral convergence occurs between distantly related populations pollinated by the same pollinator. Finally, we ask whether tube length evolution is directional. Shifts between morphologically different pollinators were always associated with shifts in floral morphology, even when populations were very closely related. Distantly related populations had similar tube lengths when they were pollinated by the same pollinator. Shifts in tube length tended to be from short to long, although reversals were not infrequent. After correcting for the population-level phylogeny, there was a strong positive, linear relationship between floral tube length and pollinator proboscis length, suggesting that plants are functionally specialized on different pollinators at different sites. However, because tube length evolution in this system can be a bidirectional process, specialization to the local pollinator fauna is unlikely to result in evolutionary or ecological dead-ends such as canalization or range limitation.
Data from: Beta diversity and specialization in plant-pollinator networks along an elevational gradient
Aim: To assess whether the reduced nutritional resources available for pollinators due to plant community simplification along an elevational plant-diversity gradient changes pollinator niche breadth and richness. Additionally, we evaluated how body size and proboscis length of pollinators shifted along the gradient, and whether these changes were related to pollinator niche breadth. Location: An elevational gradient (2,350-3,520 m a.s.l.) on the oceanic high-mountain strato-volcano of El Teide (Tenerife, Canary Islands). Taxon: Flowering plant and pollinator species. Methods: We compared quantitative plant–pollinator networks along the plant-diversity gradient. We calculated a set of niche-based topological metrics that capture the degree of specialization, niche breadth and niche overlap. Furthermore, we obtained β-diversity measures and the proportion of replacement and richness components. Results: There was an overall decline in species richness of pollinators with increasing elevation. This decline was mainly driven by the loss of species along the elevational gradient, which conformed a nested subset pattern. The whole network showed less specialization, greater connectance and lower modularity towards the summit. At high elevations, pollinators were more generalized and less selective in their flower choice, showing a greater trophic niche breadth compared to pollinators at lower elevations. Mean body size of pollinators increased with elevation, and species body size and proboscis length were positively associated with the number of plant species visited. Main conclusions. Overall, results indicated that the elevational gradient filters pollinator species, probably according to their thermal tolerance and ability to exploit a wide range of trophic resources. The finding that pollinators become more generalized and opportunistic at higher elevations is a novel result, which may have implications for new research into how ecological networks vary over environmental gradients. From an applied perspective, our results highlight the importance of considering the spatial variation of species assemblages when aiming to construct functionally reliable interaction networks along environmental gradients.
Plant-pollinator specialization: Origin and measurement of curvature
<p>A feature of biodiversity is the abundance of curves displayed by organs and organisms. Curvature is a widespread, convergent trait that has important ecological and evolutionary implications. In pollination ecology, the curvature of flowers and pollinator mouthparts (e.g. hummingbird bills) along the dorsiventral plane has been associated with specialization, competition, and species co-existence. Six methods have historically been used to measure curvature in pollination systems; we provide a solution to this inconsistency by defining curvature using well-established concepts from differential geometry. Intuitively, curvature is the degree to which a line is not straight, but more formally, it is the rate at which the tangent of a curve changes direction with respect to arc length. Here, we establish a protocol wherein a line is fitted against landmarks placed on an image of a curved organ or organism, then curvature is computed at many points along the fitted line and the sum taken. The protocol is demonstrated by studying the development of nectar spur curvature in the flowering plant genus <em>Epimedium</em> (Berberidaceae). By clarifying the definition of curvature, our aim is to make the language of comparative morphology more precise and broadly applicable to capture other curved structures in nature.</p>
FIGURE 3. Canavalia reflexiflora. A. Habit. B. Leaves. C. Inflorescence. D in A new species of Canavalia (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) from Brazil with a specialized corolla suggesting bird pollination
FIGURE 3. Canavalia reflexiflora. A. Habit. B. Leaves. C. Inflorescence. D. Flower with the reflexed standard (arrow). E. Immature fruits. F. Mature fruits. G. Seeds.
FIGURE 2. Canavalia reflexiflora. A. Habit. B. Leaflet indumentum. C in A new species of Canavalia (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) from Brazil with a specialized corolla suggesting bird pollination
FIGURE 2. Canavalia reflexiflora. A. Habit. B. Leaflet indumentum. C. Branch and part of a peduncle. D. Inflorescence. E. Floral bud. F. Flower. G. Calyx. H. Standard. I. Wing petals. J. Keel petals. K. Androecium. L. Gynoecium (Drawn from C. Snak et al. 1112). DRAWN BY ROSANE QUINTELLA.
FIGURE 1 in A new species of Canavalia (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) from Brazil with a specialized corolla suggesting bird pollination
FIGURE 1. Examples of flowers with resupinate corolla. A. Canavalia parviflora. B. Centrosema coriaceum. C. Clitoria guianensis. D. Periandra mediterranea.
FIGURE 4 in A new species of Canavalia (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) from Brazil with a specialized corolla suggesting bird pollination
FIGURE 4. Distribution of Canavalia reflexiflora (BA = Bahia; ES = Espírito Santo; GO = Goiás; MG = Minas Gerais; RJ = Rio de Janeiro; SP = São Paulo).
Pollination ecology, specialization, and genetic isolation in sympatric bee pollinated Salvia (Lamiaceae)
<p><i>Premise of research.</i><i> </i>Previous pollination ecology studies in <i>Salvia</i> have shown that there is low specialization to certain subgroups of bees and that pollinator number varies with species and locality. We studied twelve <i>Salvia</i> species (three clades with different corolla morphologies and staminal lever mechanisms) which in part co-occur and co-flower to examine pre-zygotic isolation mechanisms and the degree of specialization vs. generalization in pollination ecology.</p> <p><span><i>Methodology.</i> Pollinators were identified using field observations, photos, and related literature across three sites in Turkey. Video documentation of the visitation rate and the site of pollen placement on the pollinator body, morphometric measurements between flowers and pollinators, flowering time, flower color, handling time, and stigma contact ratio were analyzed. Plant-pollinator networks were constructed.</span></p> <p><i>Pivotal results.</i> Mechanical, phenological, and ethological isolation occur among sympatric <i>Salvia</i> species. Morphological fit is evident between flower tube length and proboscis length of main pollinators. Pollinator networks indicate that most species are ecological generalists but only few are specialists.</p> <p><i>Conclusions.</i> The twelve <i>Salvia</i> species, though phenotypically and functionally specialized due to their zygomorphic-bilabiate flowers and bee pollination syndrome, differ in the degree of ecological specialization. Most of the sympatric <i>Salvia </i>species tend to be ecologically generalized with two or more main pollinators and a few additional secondary pollinators, while a few <i>Salvia </i>species are clearly specialized. Some floral traits (e.g., flower color, morphology, size, corolla tube length and width of corolla tube entrance, type and size of the staminal lever mechanism, small numbers of flowers in the inflorescence), short flowering time, and small population size appear correlated to the degree of ecological specialization.</p>
Data from: Temporal variation in plant-pollinator networks from seasonal tropical environments: higher specialization when resources are scarce
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Data from: Insectivorous bat pollinates columnar cactus more effectively per visit than specialized nectar bat
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