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Ann Bot

Title:		Mixed pollination system and floral signals of Paepalanthus (Eriocaulaceae): insects and geitonogamy ensure high reproductive success
Author(s):		Martins Junior ER; da Costa ACG; Milet-Pinheiro P; Navarro D; Thomas WW; Giulietti AM; Machado IC;
Address:		"Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biologia Vegetal, Departamento de Botanica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Instituto Tecnologico Vale, Belem, Para, Brazil. Universidade de Pernambuco, Campus Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. Departamento de Quimica Fundamental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY, USA. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Botanica, Feria de Santana, Bahia, Brazil"
Journal Title:		Ann Bot
Year:		2022
Volume:		129
Issue:		4
Page Number:		473 - 484
DOI:		10.1093/aob/mcac008
ISSN/ISBN:		1095-8290 (Electronic) 0305-7364 (Print) 0305-7364 (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Eriocaulaceae exhibit a great variety of floral traits associated with insect (e.g. nectariferous structures) and wind pollination (unisexual flowers, exposed sexual organs and small pollen grains), as well as the 'selfing syndrome' (small flowers, short distance between stigma and anthers, and temporal overlap of male and female phases). Paepalanthus bifidus, P. subtilis and P. tortilis are related species that differ in form, size and colour of floral structures. We aimed to investigate the pollination and reproductive biology of these three species. METHODS: We analysed the floral biology, floral visitors, pollinator behaviour, and the contribution of insects, wind and spontaneous geitonogamy to fruit set. We also evaluated the floral colour and scent of the species. Colour reflectance of capitula of each species was measured and plotted in models of insect vision. Floral scent samples were extracted and the compounds were compared to vegetative scent samples. KEY RESULTS: In all species, the staminate and pistillate flowers are arranged in alternating cycles with a temporal overlap between these phases. Ants were the most frequent floral visitors and were effective pollinators in P. bifidus and P. tortilis, while flies were occasional pollinators in P. tortilis. Floral visitors were not observed in P. subtilis. In all species, fruits were produced by spontaneous geitonogamy, with no evidence of wind pollination. According to the models of insect vision, the colours of the capitula of P. bifidus and P. subtilis are the most inconspicuous for ants and flies. We found no difference between the emission of volatiles of inflorescences and vegetative structures. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ant pollination might be more widespread in Eriocaulaceae than currently assumed. Furthermore, for small monocarpic plants, mixed mating strategies are most favourable, by ensuring reproduction either by outcrossing when pollinators are abundant or by spontaneous geitonogamy when pollinations are scarce/absent"
Keywords:		Animals *Ants *Eriocaulaceae Flowers/chemistry Insecta Pollination Reproduction Camponotus crassus Paepalanthus bifidus Paepalanthus subtilis Paepalanthus tortilis Solenopsis tridens floral colour floral volatiles myrmecophily selfing spectral reflection;
Notes:		"MedlineMartins Junior, Edivaldo Rodrigues da Costa, Ana Carolina Galindo Milet-Pinheiro, Paulo Navarro, Daniela Thomas, William Wayt Giulietti, Ana Maria Machado, Isabel Cristina eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2022/01/19 Ann Bot. 2022 Mar 23; 129(4):473-484. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcac008"