Several groups within tribe Phyllantheae (Phyllanthaceae) formed, independently, an (obligate) pollination mutualism with Epicephala moths, which originally had been parasitic. In this pollination... Show moreSeveral groups within tribe Phyllantheae (Phyllanthaceae) formed, independently, an (obligate) pollination mutualism with Epicephala moths, which originally had been parasitic. In this pollination system, female moths actively collect pollen from staminate flowers and deposit it on the stigma of pistillate flowers, after which they place at least one egg in or against the ovary. The high pollination rate makes the system beneficial for the plants, whereas the larvae are provided with food (part of the developing seeds) and some protection against predation. Qualitative comparisons are made between non-moth-pollinated lineages, used as outgroups and various, independently moth-pollinated Phyllantheae clades, used as ingroups, thereby looking for parallel developments. The flowers of both sexes of various groups display similar, convergent morphological adaptations to the pollination system, likely to secure the obligate relationship and to improve efficiency. Sepals in both sexes, free or partly to highly connate, are commonly upright and form a narrow tube. The staminate flowers often have united, vertical stamens with the anthers along the androphore or on top of the androphore. Pistillate flowers generally reduce the stigmatic surface, either by making the stigmas shorter or by uniting them into a cone with a small opening at the top for pollen deposition. Less obvious is the reduction of the stigmatic papillae; these are often present in non-moth-pollinated taxa, but absent in the moth-pollinated species. The most diverging, parallel adaptations to moth pollination are currently found in the Palaeotropics, whereas in the Neotropics, some groups continue to also be pollinated by other insect groups and are morphologically less changed. Show less
Alejandre, E.M.; Potts, S.G.; Guinée, J.B.; Bodegom, P. M. van 2022
This study presents the first approach to characterise relative land use impacts on pollinator abundance for life cycle assessment (LCA). Pollinators make an essential contribution to global crop... Show moreThis study presents the first approach to characterise relative land use impacts on pollinator abundance for life cycle assessment (LCA). Pollinators make an essential contribution to global crop production and in recent years evidence of declines has raised concerns on how land use, among other factors, affects pollinators. Our novel method assesses land use impacts on pollinator abundance and proposes a new impact category that is compatible with the current framework of life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). While a systematic literature research showed the existence of multiple models that could assess pollinator abundance impacts, their parameterization is too complicated for applications in LCA. Therefore, a simplified method based on expert knowledge is presented. The practical application of the method is illustrated through the connection to, and characterisation of, relevant land use types derived from the widely used LCA database, ecoinvent. The illustrative characterisation factors demonstrate that key differences among land use types can be reflected through the proposed approach. Further development of robust characterisation factors through a larger sample of pollinator abundance estimates, and improvements to the model, such as considerations of spatial differentiation, will contribute to the identification of impacts of agricultural practices in LCA studies, helping prevent further pollinator abundance decline. Show less
We described a total of 4 species and 4 subspecies of Coelogyne and one species of Panisea from the Himalayan region as new species to science based on analysis of morphological characters and DNA... Show moreWe described a total of 4 species and 4 subspecies of Coelogyne and one species of Panisea from the Himalayan region as new species to science based on analysis of morphological characters and DNA sequences. Extrafloral nectar produced by Nepalese Coelogyninae was found to play a key role in attracting aggressive ants protecting flowers and leaves against herbivorous beetles. This nectar was found to be exudated by nectary-modified stomata positioned just below the pedicels on the inflorescence. Our ethnobotanical survey showed that a total of 60 species of wild orchids were found to be used as energizers, aphrodisiacs and treatments of burnt skin, fractured or dislocated bones, headaches, fever and wounds. The antibacterial screening carried out by us indicated that the majority of the medicinal orchid species used by local people in Nepal showed biological activity. A total of 10% of confiscated orchids remained sterile but could be identified to species level by applying DNA barcoding and chemical profiling. Our market surveys in central Nepal showed that many wild orchid species are involved in illegal trade and exported to China and India for preparation of herbal products and traditional Chinese medicines. Wild orchids were found to be immensely important to sustain local livelihoods in Nepal. Due to large scale ille_gal trade, many species are rapidly becoming endangered in the wild. Establishing sustainable orchid breeding enterprises could be a valuable alternative for the production of medicinal orchids for local communities. Critically endangered species should be placed on CITES Appendix I to prevent their extinc_tion from the wild. DNA barcoding and chemical profiling seem promising tools for a better control of cross-border illegal trade. Show less
Interaction patterns between plants and flower visitors in a Mediterranean flower visitation web can be explained surprisingly well by the combination of two simple mechanisms. Firstly, the size... Show moreInteraction patterns between plants and flower visitors in a Mediterranean flower visitation web can be explained surprisingly well by the combination of two simple mechanisms. Firstly, the size threshold that the nectar tube depth of flowers puts on the tongue length of potential flower visitors; and secondly, random interactions proportional to the frequency of tube depths and tongue lengths in the local species pool. Simulation models revealed that the combination of these factors can reproduce the observed variation in the number of interaction partners, the observed asymmetry of plant - flower visitor interactions, and the degree of morphological matching between tube depth and proboscis length. The study shows also that the frequency distributions of tongue lengths and tube depths have a profound influence on the interaction patterns. The shapes of the observed trait distributions resemble ubiquitous lognormal body size distributions. Knowledge about the structure of flower visitation webs and the underlying causes is essential for understanding the evolution of plants and their pollinators. It also provides an important tool for biodiversity conservation. Show less
