Main Visitors Research Articles

Insect Visitors of Lavender (Lavandula officinalis L.): Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Interactions of the Plant with Its Main Pollinators

An inventory of insects visiting Lavandula officinalis flowers was established during three years (2009, 2010 and 2013) in a plot in the Constantine region (northeast Algeria). Three orders of insects were recorded on the flowers: Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera. The majority (81 %) of taxa identified on the plant showed very low average abundances (≤1 individual/day) and 73 % of these taxa were bees and included the honeybee, Apis mellifera, the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, Ceratina cucurbitina and two Megachilidae, Anthidium florentinum and A. manicatum. The bees had higher visitation rates than Lepidopterans (Iphiclides podalirius, Pieris rapae and Polyommatus dorylas). The ‘quantitative’ interaction of the plant with its main visitors, determined by the abundance and the visitation rate, showed that B. terrestris and A. mellifera are the most dominant pollinators of the plant. Analysis of the ‘qualitative’ component of the interaction of L. officinalis with the five major bees by counting pollen grains transported on their bodies revealed that B. terrestris, in addition to its dominance, was also the most efficient pollinator of the plant.

Reproductive biology of Ferocactus recurvus (Mill.) Borg subsp. recurvus (Cactaceae) in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, Mexico.

Mexico has one of the highest diversities of barrel cacti species worldwide; however, all are threatened and require conservation policies. Information on their reproductive biology is crucial, but few studies are available. Ferocactus recurvus subsp. recurvus is a barrel cactus endemic to the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley. Our research aimed to characterise its floral and pollination biology. We hypothesised bee pollination, as suggested by its floral morphology and behaviour, and self-incompatibility, like most barrel cacti studied. Three study sites were selected in the semiarid Zapotitlán Valley, Mexico. We examined 190 flowers from 180 plants to determine: morphometry and behaviour of flowers, flower visitors and probable pollinators, and breeding system. Flowers showed diurnal anthesis, lasting 2-5days, the stigma being receptive on day 2 or 3 after the start of anthesis. Flowers produced scarce/no nectar and main visitors were bees (Apidae), followed by flies (Muscidae), ants (Formicidae), thrips (Thripidae) and hummingbirds (Throchilidae); however, only native bees and occasionally wasps contacted the stigma and anthers. Pollination experiments revealed that this species is self-incompatible and xenogamous. In natural conditions, fruit set was 60% and cross-pollination fruit set was 100%. Percentage seed germination resulting from cross-pollination was higher than in the control treatment. Our results provide ecological information for conservation programmes to ensure ahigh probability of breeding and seed production in natural populations of F.recurvus.

Effects of forest and cave proximity on fruit set of tree crops in tropical orchards in Southern Thailand

Abstract:Deforestation and forest fragmentation are contributing to declines in crop pollinator populations worldwide. Several studies have examined the impact of forest proximity on plant pollination ecology, but concentrated on single crop species. However, it can be more informative to investigate multiple crop and pollinator species in a community, because different pollinator groups may respond differently to forest distance. We evaluated flower visitor diversity, visitation frequency, and fruit set for three crop species (rambutan, durian and mango) in 10 pairs of mixed fruit orchards. Each pair consisted of one orchard near to (< 1 km) and one orchard far from (> 7 km) the forest edge. Rambutan fruit set was significantly influenced by distance to forest. The main visitors of rambutan flowers were stingless bees. In contrast, the dominant visitors to durian and mango flowers were nectarivorous bats and flies, respectively, and the fruit set of these crops were not significantly influenced by distance to forest. However, durian fruit set was negatively affected by distance to the nearest cave inhabited by nectarivorous bats. This study demonstrates that both caves and forests can be important pollinator sources for agricultural crops, and that the dispersal success of pollinators is related to isolation from source habitats. Maintaining forest patches and limestone karsts may provide stepping stones across fragmented landscapes, and attract greater numbers of pollinators to agricultural areas.

The importance of pollinators and autonomous self-fertilisation in the early stages of plant invasions: Banksia and Hakea (Proteaceae) as case studies.

Reproduction is a crucial stage in the naturalisation of introduced plant species. Here, using breeding system experiments and observations of floral visitors, we investigate whether a lack of pollinators or an inability to autonomously self-fertilise limits naturalisation in five Australian Banksia species and the co-familial Hakea salicifolia in South Africa. Banksia species were heavily utilised by native insects and nectar-feeding birds. Although Banksia produced fruit when pollinators were excluded, pollinators significantly increased seed set in four of the five species. H.salicifolia flowers were visited by 11 insect species; honeybees (Apis mellifera) were the main visitors. Flowers in naturalised H.salicifolia populations received almost four times the number of visits as flowers in non-naturalised populations; the latter showed both pollen limitation (PLI 0.40) and partial self-incompatibility. This should not prevent invasion, since H.salicifolia produces fruits via autonomous selfing in the absence of pollinators. The results suggest a limited role of breeding systems in mediating naturalisation of introduced Proteaceae species. Other factors, such as features of the recipient environments, appear to be more important. Spatial variation in rates of reproduction might, however, explain variation in the extent and rate of naturalisation of different populations.

Marketing Research of the Russian State Historical Museum Lecture-Hall Visitors

The present paper demonstrates study results concerning visitors of the Russian State Historical Museum lecture-hall. Lecture-hall is a special space in the museum. To develop a marketing program for a lecture-hall, it is necessary to investigate its visitors. This study aimed at exploring the social and demographic characteristics of lecture-hall visitors; motivation for a lecture-hall visiting; duration of a series of lectures, and sources of information about the lectures. The study used a questionnaire survey of the museum lecture-hall visitors. These results demonstrate that the main visitors are middle-aged and elderly people, and lecture subject matters are the most important criterion when choosing a lecture. Popular are the lectures on the history of Russia and other countries. Short courses of lectures are most convenient for visitors. The main sources of information about the lectures are ads at the museum and online notifications. On the basis of the results obtained there were proposed recommendations for the development of communication and pricing policies of the lecture-hall.

Diversity of the Insect Visitors onCalluna vulgaris(Ericaceae) in Southern France Heathlands

As part of an ongoing research project on the pollination networks in European heathlands, the objective of this study was to assess the insect visitor guild on Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull (Ericaceae). We focused the study on a region renowned for its largely well-preserved heathlands, the Cévennes National Park, Southern France. In 2013, flower visitors were observed over 3 d per site, in four heathland sites at mont Lozère. Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) were the main visitors (62–88% of total visitors). Besides honeybees, a high diversity of visitors was detected with 57 different species identified (42 Diptera and 15 Hymenoptera). Hoverflies (Syrphidae, Diptera) visitors were abundant and diverse, especially individuals belonging to the genera Eristalis and Episyrphus. The reported diversity of visitors was probably due to the preservation of large heathland areas at mont Lozère and to the generalist pollination system of C. vulgaris.RESUME. Cette étude fait partie d’un projet de recherche en cours sur les réseaux de pollinisation dans les landes européennes. Son objectif est d’évaluer la guilde des insectes visiteurs de Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull (Ericaceae). Cette étude se déroule dans une région réputée pour ses landes globalement bien préservées: le Parc natinal des Cévennes, situé dans le sud de la France. En 2013, les insectes visiteurs ont été observés durant trois jours par site, dans quatre sites au mont Lozère. Les abeilles domestiques (A. mellifera L.) sont les visiteurs principaux (62–88% du nombre total de visiteurs). Outre les abeilles domestiques, une diversité importante de visiteurs est constatée: 57 espèces ont été identifiées (42 appartenant à l'ordre des Diptères et 15 à l'ordre des Hyménoptères). Les syrphes (Syrphidae, Diptera) sont abondants et diversifiés, en particulier les genres Eristalis et Episyrphus. La diversité de visiteurs observée peut certainement s’expliquer par la préservation de grandes étendues de landes au mont Lozère et par le caractère généraliste de la pollinisation de la callune.

Are empidine dance flies major flower visitors in alpine environments? A case study in the Alps, France.

Pollination is one of the most important ecosystem services and bees the most important pollinators. As a population decline of bees has been documented in numerous regions of the world, it is crucial to develop understanding on other possible pollinators. Here, we study the potential pollination impact of Diptera, and among them Empidinae, in an alpine environment, where the abundance of bees is naturally lower. Interactions between 19 entomophilous plants and their flower visitors were recorded in a subalpine meadow in the French Alps during six weeks. Visitation frequencies were used to build the flower-visitor network. Our results show that interactions between flies and plants are dominant; flies represent more than 60% of all visitors, with 54% of them being Empidinae. We especially found that flies, Empidinae and bees are the main visitors of 11, three and one plants, respectively. When considering both bees and Syrphidae together, six plants were more visited by Empidinae; when considering bees and Syrphidae separately, 10 plants were more visited by Empidinae than by bees or Syrphidae. The results support the idea that flies widely replace bees as main flower visitors at altitude, and among them the Empidinae might play a key role in pollination.

Pollination Ecology ofArnebia szechenyi(Boraginaceae), a Chinese Endemic Perennial Characterized by Distyly and Heteromorphic Self-Incompatibility

Heterostyly, a genetically controlled floral polymorphism, includes both distyly and tristyly. In Boraginaceae, distyly was reported in several genera but it was rarely studied quantitively in the genus Arnebia. We experimentally studied the pollination ecology of Arnebia szechenyi, a perennial herb native to China. It exhibited precisely reciprocal herkogamy and marked between-morph pollen number and pollen shape dimorphism, and the ratio between the two morphs in each of the four populations studied was nearly equal to 1. This indicates an equilibrium ratio in distylous species with heteromorphyic self-incompatibility, which was further supported by the fact that no fruit was produced in flowers subjected to self-pollination or intra-morph pollination. In comparison with naturally pollinated flowers, hand inter-morph pollination increased both fruit set and seed set significantly, indicating pollen limitation in both morphs under natural conditions. Bombylius sp. and Nomia femoralis were the main visitors and could efficiently pollinate between the morphs of A. szechenyi. Overall, our results indicate that A. szechenyi is a typically distylous species with heteromorphic self-incompatibility, and the pollen limitation of seed production might suggest that distyly in A. szechenyi could be selected via male fitness.

Generalized pollination system: Are floral traits adapted to different pollinators?

Flowers that are pollinated both during the day and at night could exhibit two different groups of pollinators and produce two different sets of attractants and rewards. We explored the patterns of emission of flower scents and production of nectar in the cactus Echinopsis chiloensis ssp. chiloensis, in relation to the patterns of activity of its diurnal and nocturnal pollinators. We measured frequency of flower visitors, analyzed floral scents, measured nectar production and sugar concentration, and performed pollination exclusion experiments. Bees were the main visitors at daytime and hawkmoths at nighttime. Diurnal scents were dominated by several compounds that can attract a wide range of pollinators, whereas nocturnal scents were less diverse and were dominated by (E)-nerolidol, a compound eliciting antennal responses in hawkmoths. Nectar volume and sugar concentration at night were similar to those recorded in hawkmoth-pollinated flowers. Daytime nectar volume was higher than those commonly found in bee-pollinated flowers, but similar to those found in flowers pollinated by several pollinators. Daytime sugar concentration was similar to those recorded in bee-pollinated flowers. Flowers of E. chiloensis ssp. chiloensis seem morphologically adapted to hawkmoth pollination, but diurnal and nocturnal pollinators contribute to similar extents to reproductive success. Additionally, diurnal and nocturnal pollinators showed a synergic effect on the product of fruit set and seed set. The results are discussed in terms of the linkage between floral traits and perception abilities and requirements of pollinators.

Self-sterility and self-fertility of Passiflora L. (Passifloraceae) in the Cerrado of Central Brazil

Many species of wild passion fruit are used for the genetic breeding of passion fruit crop and kept in germplasm banks. This study investigated floral biology, breeding system, and chromosome number of Passiflora species that occur in areas of Cerrado in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, from 2008 to 2010. In general, the species bloomed in the rainy season, the anthesis was diurnal, except for P. tricuspis, and flowers were open from 6 to 12 h. At the time of flower opening, the nectar was already accumulated in the nectariferous chamber. Protandry occurred only in P. tenuifila. Bees were the main flower visitors of these species. There were significant differences in the diameter and length of the floral androgynophore among species. Passiflora amethystina, P. tenuifila (both subgenus Passiflora), and P. suberosa (subgenus Decaloba) were self-fertile, while P. cincinnata (subgenus Passiflora) and P. tricuspis (subgenus Decaloba) were self-sterile, which contrasted with the usual trends in the group. The chromosome number for P. tricuspis was 2n = 12, P. amethystina and P. tenuifila were 2n = 18 chromosomes, and P. suberosa was 2n = 24 chromosomes, which conformed to the recorded results for the group. Overall conservative chromosome numbers, and self-fertility in P. amethystina are interesting results for breeding programs and basic information for conservation.

Not just a pretty face: putting the learning into the Learning Commons

Not just a pretty face: putting the learning into the Learning Commons

Bee fauna potential visitors of coriander flowers Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae) in the Mitidja area (Algeria)

Abstract Coriander Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae) is a year-round condiment and aromatic Mediterranean plant. It is cultivated in several countries in North Africa, in Europe, and Western Asia. In the El Harrach area of Algiers, the insect fauna visiting crop flowers includes Diptera (Syrphidae), Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera such as Chrysididae, Vespoidea, and Apoidea (Bees). The latter super-family comprises the majority of insect pollinators. Visiting bees belong to four families: Apidae, Andrenidae, Halictidae, and Colletidae. The main visitors are honeybees and six species of Andrenidae: Andrena flavipes, Andrena thoracica, Andrena lagopus, Andrena bimaculata, Andrena discors, and Andrena cinerea elliptica. The three species Andrena lagopus, Andrena bimaculata, and Andrena cinerea elliptica have 100% pollinating visits while Apis mellifera has only 63%. Andrena cinerea elliptica is the most frequent and the most abundant species.

Dioecy derived from distyly and pollination in Psychotria rubra (Rubiaceae) occurring in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan

AbstractFloral morphology and breeding system were examined in natural populations of Psychotria rubra (Rubiaceae) occurring in the Ryukyu Islands in southwest Japan. This species is morphologically dimorphic with long‐ and short‐styled morphs; however, these morphs are functionally dioecious. All long‐styled morphs set fruits, but their short anthers completely lack pollen grains; thus, they function as pistillate flowers. Alternately, short‐styled morphs usually have fertile pollen and never set fruit, whether after open or obligate pollinations; thus, they function as staminate flowers. However, some short‐styled morphs in Mounts Katsuu‐dake and Oppa‐dake populations have no fertile pollens. No fruit was obtained from bagging experiments, indicating that P. rubra requires pollinators for its reproduction. In our pollinator observations, flies and short‐tongued wasps were the main visitors of the flowers of P. rubra. Thus, these insects are probably effective pollinators for P. rubra in the Ryukyu Islands. Considering the morphological features, the dioecy found in P. rubra is probably derived from distyly; however, no sufficient evidence is available showing that dioecy has evolved “directly” from distyly.

Media Communications and Sustainable Tourism in Batangas

This paper focuses on the role of media communications in the sustainability of tourism as determined by the number of travelers who visited the different tourist destinations in Batangas from 2004 to 2008. The Batangas Provincial Tourism Office primarily uses the internet in promoting tourism in the province. It also uses other media forms like print and mobile communication in enhancing tourism promotion. Besides, the office initiates projects and programs and participates in celebrations and festivities in the different municipalities in the province. Foreign tourists coming from Asia, America, Oceania, Africa, and Europe, OFWs, and domestic tourists frequent different destinations. During the month of February, those from Korea, USA, Australia, South Africa, and United Kingdom are mostly observed to be visiting the different tourist spots while during the month of April, both OFWs and domestic tourists are the main visitors. Each year, the number of visitors in the different Batangas tourist spots increases which manifests that as media communications advance, the more that the travelers become aware and exposed to the pride of the province. Keywords - Media Communication, tourism, Batangas,

Beyond the pollination syndrome: nectar ecology and the role of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators in the reproductive success of Inga sessilis (Fabaceae)

Inga species present brush-type flower morphology allowing them to be visited by distinct groups of pollinators. Nectar features in relation to the main pollinators have seldom been studied in this genus. To test the hypothesis of floral adaptation to both diurnal and nocturnal pollinators, we studied the pollination ecology of Inga sessilis, with emphasis on the nectar secretion patterns, effects of sequential removals on nectar production, sugar composition and the role of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators in its reproductive success. Inga sessilis is self-incompatible and pollinated by hummingbirds, hawkmoths and bats. Fruit set under natural conditions is very low despite the fact that most stigmas receive polyads with sufficient pollen to fertilise all ovules in a flower. Nectar secretion starts in the bud stage and flowers continually secreting nectar for a period of 8 h. Flowers actively reabsorbed the nectar a few hours before senescence. Sugar production increased after nectar removal, especially when flowers were drained during the night. Nectar sugar composition changed over flower life span, from sucrose-dominant (just after flower opening, when hummingbirds were the main visitors) to hexose-rich (throughout the night, when bats and hawkmoths were the main visitors). Diurnal pollinators contributed less than nocturnal ones to fruit production, but the former were more constant and reliable visitors through time. Our results indicate I.sessilis has floral adaptations, beyond the morphology, that encompass both diurnal and nocturnal pollinator requirements, suggesting a complementary and mixed pollination system.

The importance of a single floral visit of Eucara macrognatha and Tetralonia fraterna (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the pollination and the yields of Abelmoschus esculentus in Maroua, Cameroon

Experiments were made to determine the effects of a bee visit on the pollination and the productivity of okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (Malvaceae). Three treatments were used on 30 randomlyselected plants each. These included Autonomous Self-Pollination (ASP) with flowers from which insects visit, with airborne pollen flow excluded, flowers that received a single bee visit (SBV) of Eucara macrognatha (SBV1) and Tetralonia fraterna (SBV2). All flowers produced fruits with or without insect visits. The two main visitors E. macrognatha and T. fraterna were effective pollinators, and of course their visits increased the proportion of ovules that developed into seeds (pollination rate), which led to longer fruits. The domestication of the two wild bees is recommended to improve the pollination and the productivity of okra in Maroua.

Three wild Lithuanian strawberry species and their pollinators

The European wild strawberry species Fragaria vesca L., Fragaria viridis Weston, and Fragaria moschata Weston are sympatric and bloom concurrently, introducing the possibilities of cooperation and competition for pollinators. We studied the pollination biology of strawberries that were grown in rectangular plots at a field site near Vilnius city in Lithuania. The number of open flowers, the number of insects visiting flowers, and the plot area covered by strawberry plants were recorded. Wild strawberries were visited by solitary bees (38.5%), flies (31.4%), and other hymenopterans (21%; ants accounted for approximately 98% of this group). Coleopterans, lepidopterans and honey bees together represented less than 10% of the insects recorded on strawberries. Fragaria viridis and F. moschata flowers were more attractive to pollinators than those of F. vesca. The main visitors of F. viridis were small solitary bees; those of F. moschata were ants, while F. vesca flowers were visited by solitary bees, ants and flies in comparable numbers. We discuss competition for pollinators and the possible impact of climate fluctuation on strawberry-pollinator interactions.

Transporte diferencial de polen por colibríes en una planta diestílica: no es lo mismo picos cortos que largos

Las poblaciones de plantas diestílicas usualmente tienen individuos que producen flores con estigmas largos y anteras cortas (flores longiestiladas, Pin), o individuos con estilos cortos y anteras largas (flores breviestiladas, Thrum). Estas características promueven la polinización cruzada asumiendo hercogamia recíproca. Sin embargo, se ha sugerido que cuando el forrajeo de sus polinizadores es selectivo hacia algún morfo, el flujo del polen se puede tornar altamente asimétrico. Asimismo, la correspondencia entre anteras y estigmas de ambos morfos puede desviarse de la reciprocidad perfecta, y promover un éxito reproductivo diferencial entre los morfos, y como consecuencia llevar a la especie a evolucionar otros sistemas reproductivos tales como la dioecia. Estas características hacen que las plantas diestílicas sean un modelo interesante para estudiar procesos relacionados con la especialización de las funciones sexuales y evaluar el papel de los polinizadores en promoverla. Bouvardia ternifolia es una planta herbácea distílica presente en el Parque Nacional La Malinche, Tlaxcala, cuyos principales visitantes son cinco especies de colibríes. En el presente estudio, evaluamos el nivel de reciprocidad de los órganos sexuales (anteras y estigmas) de los morfos de esta planta y se realizaron pruebas cualitativas y cuantitativas sobre los sitios de deposición de polen en sus colibríes visitantes. Asimismo, llevamos a cabo pruebas de polinización con colibríes de las cinco especies en ambos morfos, y la producción de semillas fue cuantificada. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que las flores de B. ternifolia no son completamente recíprocas en sus estructuras sexuales, lo cual afecta la forma en que el polen de ambos morfos es depositado al ser visitado por el gremio de colibríes. Asimismo, se mostró que la deposición diferencial de polen podría ser producto tanto de la falta de reciprocidad total como de las diferencias en la talla del pico de los colibríes visitantes. Aunado a esto, la deposición diferencial de polen parece tener consecuencias desde el punto de vista del éxito reproductivo de los morfos visitados.

Flowering, nectar secretion, pollen shed and insect foraging on Aquilegia vulgaris L. (Ranunculaceae)

This study on blooming biology, nectar secretion, pollen production and insect visitation of <i>Aquilegia vulgaris</i> L. was carried out in 2009 and 2011 in Lublin. The peak of flower opening during the day was between 5.00 and 7.00 (GMT +2). The flowers are protandrous with the female phase beginning approx. on the 3rd day of anthesis. The dynamics of nectar secretion and pollen shed from anthers (progressing from the central part of the androecium outwards) support the reproductive system. The amount of nectar accumulated in the spurs increased from the bud stage and was the highest in the phase with approx. ¾ of dehisced anthers, usually on the 3<sup>rd</sup> day of flower life. Then, towards the end of anthesis, the amount of secreted and accumulated nectar decreased. The number of anthers developed per flower varied from 41 to 61 (mean = 49.1). The mass of pollen per 100 anthers averaged 6.7 mg. Pollen production per flower (mean = 3.28 mg) slightly varied between years and was mainly correlated with the number of developed anthers. Estimated pollen yield was 1.69 g per m<sup>2</sup> and sugar yield 1.22 g per m<sup>2</sup>. Species from the genus <i>Bombus</i> were the main flower visitors, with <i>B. terrestris</i> being the most frequent forager.

Reproductive biology of Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth (Fabaceae)

The aim of this study was to investigate the reproductive biology of Bowdichia virgilioides in an area of Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna). The study was carried out in Chapadinha, State of Maranhao in northeastern Brazil. Bowdichia virgilioides has cornucopia flowering and annual pattern. Flowering occurred at the beginning of the dry season, between June and August; and fruiting in the middle of this season, between July and October. The anthesis of B. virgilioides is diurnal, and the main flower resource is the nectar. During the flower opening, the anthers becomes dehiscent and thus pollen grains are deposited at the stigma, promoting automatic self-pollination. The species is self-compatible and apomitic. In the study area, they were visited by nine species of bees, four butterflies, two wasps, and two hummingbirds. The visits began in early morning and persisted throughout the day, with a peak of activity between 8:00 and 9:00 hours. Species of Centris were the main visitors of B. virgilioides . The butterfly and wasp species were considered resource robbers, and other floral visitors were considered occasional visitors. Although the flowers of B. virgilioides are widely visited, the species shows a high rate of inbreeding because of automatic self-pollination.