Diversity of Insect Flower Visitors of Xylopia aromatica (Magnoliales, Annonaceae) in a Brazilian Savanna

Fábio Pinheiro Saravy,Karl-L Schuchmann,Marinez I Marques

doi:10.3390/d13120661

Fábio Pinheiro Saravy, Karl-L Schuchmann + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/d13120661

Copy DOI

Abstract

Small beetles are important pollinators of Annonaceae whose flower chambers are small and have diurnal and/or nocturnal anthesis. The pollinators of these flowers belong to the families Nitidulidae, Staphylinidae, Chrysomelidae, and Curculionidae. In this study, the first conducted in the Cerrado of Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil, the behavior of the insect flower visitors of Xylopia aromatica was observed, in both the field and the laboratory. The chambers of 253 flowers were collected from 11 plants, and the biological aspects of their visitors were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The most abundant visitors were thrips and beetles. Coleoptera was represented by four morphospecies occurring frequently in the floral chambers (>70% of individuals). Among beetles, one species belonged to Nitidulidae (Cillaeinae, Conotelus sp. 1) and two belonged to Staphylinidae (Aleocharinae sp. 1 and Aleocharinae sp. 2). These three morphospecies of small elongate beetles have setae where pollen may adhere. In addition, they were present on both male and female phases of the flowers, indicating potential cross-pollination. In the study area, X. aromatica possesses mixed pollination promoted by Thysanoptera and small Nitidulidae and Staphylinidae beetles. This study brings the first record of Lamprosomatinae (Chrysomelidae) and, especially, of Conotelus (Nitidulidae) in the flower chambers of X. aromatica, with new information on behavior of floral visitors coupled with their morphological traits that may promote cross-pollination in this plant species.

Highlights

Biotic interactions and their diversity are deemed keepers of biodiversity in many communities [1]
Facility (GBIF, Based on the hypothesis that geographic variations influence the assemblage of floral visitors, this study aims to (1) determine which beetle taxa are floral visitors of Xylopia aromatica in the Cerrado study area, (2) confirm whether the behavior of these taxa indicates them as pollinators of this Annonaceae species, and (3) describe natural history traits of
Based on the hypothesis that geographic variations influence the assemblage of floral visitors, this study aims to (1) determine which beetle taxa are floral visitors of Xylopia aromatica in the Cerrado study area, (2) confirm whether the behavior of these taxa indicates them as pollinators of this Annonaceae species, and (3) describe natural history traits of the interaction between this angiosperm species and its coleopteran visitors

Summary

Introduction

Biotic interactions and their diversity are deemed keepers of biodiversity in many communities [1]. The causes of insect diversification in the Mesozoic are still under debate. Some authors explain the diversification of insect lineages as an effect of angiosperm radiation [2]. These authors suggested that the closing of carpels and the appearance of angiosperms may have occurred as an adaptation to beetle predation. Modern associations between angiosperms and Coleoptera are very diverse and of great ecological and economic importance worldwide. Beetles may be serious pests of fruit cultivars, such as the Nitidulidae subfamily Carpophilinae [5,6,7] and several Curculionidae subfamilies [8,9,10]. In Brazil, beetles of the genera Cyclocephala and Phyllophaga (Scarabaeoidea, Melolonthidae) are pests of cereal crops, such as sunflower and soybean [11,12]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion