Abstract
The structural variation of orchids enables myriad fascinating symbiotic relationships with organisms across kingdoms. Orchids are frequently known for having elaborate arms races with their pollinators that result in intricate morphologies in both parties, and flowers with long corollas hypothesized to be pollinated only by individual species of long tongued hawkmoths are of particular concern for conservation. Florida’s endangered ghost orchid, Dendrophylax lindenii, has long been confidently assumed to be pollinated by one species (Cocytius antaeus), despite the presence of a resident community of multiple suitable long-tongued candidates. Here we present the first description of ghost orchid pollination, and describe novel remote camera trapping methods. Pollination of D. lindenii by Pachylia ficus disproves long-standing hypotheses concerning the pollination ecology of long-spurred orchids, and new multiple pollinator hypotheses are proposed. We discuss the broader implications for the conservation of an endangered species, orchids globally, and the importance of Everglades restoration.
Highlights
The structural variation of orchids enables myriad fascinating symbiotic relationships with organisms across kingdoms
Many factors have hindered scientific research to understand the natural history of D. lindenii, confounding the quest to understand the species’ pollination ecology; some factors include: the species’ rarity, restricted access to areas where it occurs, the remarkably strenuous conditions posed for field researchers in these habitats, historical political relations between the United States and Cuba, the temporally nocturnal emission of volatile compounds[19], and the need for advanced camera technology
Contrary to the assumption of this long proliferated “just so story”[23], numerous species of Sphingidae, and other Lepidopterans, possess a proboscis length that would be sufficient to reach the nectar reward of D. lindenii in south Florida, and no reports have acknowledged the presence of closely related hawkmoths possessing comparable proboscis lengths, notably the Amphonyx and Manduca genera, other species of Cocytius in Cuba, or even longer still, one species occurring in Cuba with a proboscis length more than twice that of C. antaeus, Neococytius cleutenius[24]
Summary
The structural variation of orchids enables myriad fascinating symbiotic relationships with organisms across kingdoms. Orchids are frequently known for having elaborate arms races with their pollinators that result in intricate morphologies in both parties, and flowers with long corollas hypothesized to be pollinated only by individual species of long tongued hawkmoths are of particular concern for conservation. The ghost orchids (Dendrophylax spp.) range from south Florida throughout the Caribbean and many species are restricted to single islands[14,16] These endemic species exhibit morphological adaptations to island-specific ecological conditions[17], while numerous species maintain a long nectar spur throughout the genus. Widespread conjecture within the orchid community has long stated with confidence that only one hawkmoth species in Florida, Cocytius antaeus (giant sphinx moth), fits the morphological description of having a proboscis of comparable length to the corolla of D. lindenii, and must be the only pollinator[22]. Contrary to the assumption of this long proliferated “just so story”[23], numerous species of Sphingidae, and other Lepidopterans, possess a proboscis length that would be sufficient to reach the nectar reward of D. lindenii in south Florida, and no reports have acknowledged the presence of closely related hawkmoths possessing comparable proboscis lengths, notably the Amphonyx and Manduca genera, other species of Cocytius in Cuba, or even longer still, one species occurring in Cuba with a proboscis length more than twice that of C. antaeus, Neococytius cleutenius[24]
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