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Pollination ofOphrys (Orchidaceae) in Cyprus
Abstract
In the southern part of Cyprus the pollinator —Ophrys (Orchidaceae) relationships and its specifity have been investigated from the end of February until the middle of March 1986. 12Ophrys spp. were found. To date, only a single pollinator reference has been reported from this island. We found the following pollinators:Melecta tuberculata (Ophrys kotschyi),Eucera dimidiata (Ophrys flavomarginata),Eucera gaullei (Ophrys umbilicata),Eucera paulusi (Ophrys bornmuelleri),Anthophora erschowi (Ophrys elegans),Andrena torda (Ophrys sicula =O. lutea subsp.minor),Andrena cinereophila (Ophrys fusca, small-flowered),Andrena flavipes (Ophrys israelitica),Andrena morio (Ophrys iricolor andOphrys transhyrcana),Andrena bimaculata (Ophrys sphegodes aggr., probably formerly confused withO. transhyrcana). Most interestingly, it could be verified thatO. flavomarginata/O. umbilicata, O. bornmuelleri/O. levantina andO. transhyrcana/O. sphegodes aggr. (possiblyO. sintenisii) are different biospecies. This is a result of genetic isolation due to varying pollinators, and of differences in flower morphology.
... Floral volatiles are key floral traits that mediate flower-visitor interactions by attracting pollinators, structuring flower-visitor communities, and defending against plant and flower antagonists (Junker et al., 2010;Galen et al., 2011;Schiestl et al., 2014;Junker and Parachnowitsch, 2015). They also have other adaptive roles such as repellents (Borg-Karlson et al., 1993;Kessler et al., 2008;Paulus and Gack, 1990) and physiological protectors against abiotic stresses (Knudsen et al., 2006;Dudareva et al., 2013). VOCs are generally lipophilic and have low molecular weights and high melting points. ...
Species within the primitive genus Magnolia may often produce specialized floral traits and behaviour to grab the attention of potential pollinators from their surroundings. These reproductive traits in plants undergo various selection pressures and frequently bring forth variations to adapt to the new habitat that may result in speciation. We have aimed to understand the floral traits, the functional role of floral parts, and the variable response of visitors in Magnolia grandiflora belonging to an ancient order Magnoliales. Our observations reveal that the floral traits of M. grandiflora resemble those of basal angiosperms, conforming to the primitive existence of the genus Magnolia . The inconsistency in floral form reflected that M. grandiflora has been experiencing various selection pressures from biotic and abiotic factors. Inconsistency in floral equations and diagrams reflect the structural variability in flowers, which can directly impact pollination and reproductive output. SEM images of pollen grains reveal that the pollen grains were monocolpate and boat-shaped in structure. GC-MS analysis showed that VOCs in stigmatic exudation of the flower were largely composed of terpene hydrocarbons such as Perthenine, β-Elemene, β-Caryophyllene, α-Humulene, Bicyclogermacrene, Germacrene A and D, etc. Beyond pollinators attraction, VOCs play a major role in repelling unwanted visitors and in improving the defensive mechanisms in Magnolia . Beetles, bees, and flies were found to be the active pollinators and the behaviour of bees indicates that bees were trying to replace the role of beetles in pollinating M. grandiflora . In summary, floral whorls were diversely functionalized to ensure maximum reproduction in M. grandiflora .
... There are records of pollination of the Sombre bee-orchid Ophrys fusca subsp. blitopertha (Paulus & [16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23]. ...
During field trapping of Tropinota hirta (Cetoniidae) by blue traps baited with the respective floral lure regular catches Blitopertha lineolata were recorded in an experimental field in Sofia plain, Bulgaria. In order to investigate the relative importance of chemical and visual cues on the attraction response of this species, several field tests were performed using CSALOMON® VARb3k funnel traps in Sofia during 2007-2009. In 2007, we evaluated the behavioral response of the adults to four variants of traps - transparent and blue unbaited traps, and transparent and blue traps baited with the lure for T. hirta . The most numerous catches of B. lineolata were recorded in blue traps independently of the presence or absence of the floral bait. In a subsequent test we compared the attractiveness of baited traps developed for cetoiid beetle species: T. hirta , Oxythyrea funesta , Cetonia aurata and Protaetia cuprea (Cetoniidae). The most numerous catches were recorded in traps for C. aurata/P. cuprea but there was no significant difference between mean catches in these traps and traps for T. hirta . The color preference of B. lineolata was evaluated comparing the colors, white, blue, yellow, fluorescent yellow or transparent of VARb3 traps without chemical lures. Results of these tests revealed that highest mean numbers of adults were recorded in the blue traps followed by the fluorescent yellow traps in 2008, and white and yellow traps in 2009. During this study, the seasonal flight of B. lineolata in the Sofia region started at the second half of May and lasted till the beginning of July in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Blue CSALOMON® VARb3k funnel traps can be considered as an efficient tool for detection and monitoring the seasonal flight of this species. Further research is needed to find a semiochemical attractant to B. lineolata . New distributional data for this species in Bulgaria are provided as well.
... The Orchidaceae has an estimated 30,543 species (POWO 2021) with a breathtaking diversity of floral forms (Dressler 1993) and specialised pollination strategies (Ackerman et al. 2023;Johnson and Schiestl 2016). Specialisation arises through floral cues that attract particular pollinators, whether food (Nilsson 1983), chemical fragrance (Dressler 1968;Schiestl et al. 1999Schiestl et al. , 2003 or visual (Kullenberg 1961;Paulus and Gack 1990) but also the structure of the flower, where pollinators have to be a particular size to remove and deposit pollinia (Anderson and Johnson 2008;Li et al. 2008;Phillips et al. 2020a). Fascinatingly, orchids rely on a single or a few pollinator species to set seed (Tremblay 1992;Schiestl and Schluter 2009;Phillips et al. 2020b). ...
Critical for conserving endangered orchids is identifying their pollinators and their distribution. Caladenia xanthochila is an endangered orchid that has floral traits characteristic of pollination by food foraging insects. We identified the pollinator(s), mechanisms of attraction and the presence of pollinators at natural, existing and potential translocation sites. Furthermore, we quantified pollination success at translocation sites and investigated the effect of rainfall on pollination success over 19 years at a natural site. We clarify if sharing of pollinators occurs with closely related species by comparing the CO1 barcoding region of the pollinators' DNA. Caladenia xanthochila was pollinated by a single species of thynnine wasp, Phymatothynnus aff. nitidus. Caladenia xanthochila produced 27.0 µg ± 7.1 sucrose on the labellum, while pollinators vigorously copulated with glandular clubs on the sepal tips, suggestive of a mixed pollination system. Pollination success of C. xanthochila was 7.6 ± 1.5% SE at the natural site and 16.1 ± 3.6% SE across the translocation sites. Furthermore, hand pollinations demonstrated that pollination was pollen limited. Pollination success was significantly related to average rainfall during the growth phase of the orchid (P < 0.001). Potential translocation sites for C. xanthochila were limited, with four of six surveyed lacking the pollinator. We found evidence for cryptic species of Phymatothynnus, with C. xanthochila pollinators being unique amongst the orchids studied. We recommend hand pollinations at translocated and remnant wild populations to boost initial recruitment. The evidence for cryptic species of pollinators further highlights the need for accurate identification of pollinators.
... Pollination by sexual deceit has been reported for 22 orchid genera, representing all TDWG Level 1 regions of the world except Northern America and Antarctica. While the first sexually deceptive systems studied in detail involved bees and wasps (Coleman, 1928;Ames & Ames, 1937;Kullenberg, 1961;Stoutamire, 1975;Paulus & Gack, 1990;Singer, 2002), there is now a range of animal groups known to be exploited via sexual deception including ants (Peakall, 1989), three families of fungus gnats (Blanco & Barboza, 2005;Phillips et al., 2014;Reiter et al., 2019c), tachinid flies (Martel et al., 2016) and three families of beetles (Arakaki et al., 2016;Joffard et al., 2019Cohen et al., 2021). A single genus, Ophrys of the European/ Mediterranean region, accounts for 55% of the species with pollinator records, a percentage that may be inflated because of taxonomic uncertainty (e.g. ...
Orchidaceae show remarkable diversity in pollination strategies, but how these strategies vary globally is not entirely clear. To identify regions and taxa that are data-rich and lend themselves to rigorous analyses or are data-poor and need attention, we introduce a global database of orchid reproductive biology. Our database contains > 2900 species representing all orchid subfamilies and 23 of 24 tribes. We tabulated information on habit, breeding systems, means of pollinator attraction and the identity of pollinators. Patterns of reproductive biology by habit, geography and taxonomy are presented graphically and analysed statistically. On the basis of our database, most orchid species sampled are pollinator dependent (76%) and self-compatible (88%). Pollinator attraction based on rewards occurs in 54% of the species, whereas 46% use some means of deceit. Orchids generally have highly specific pollinator interactions (median number of pollinator species = 1). Nonetheless, on average, specificity is lower for species offering rewards, occurring in multiple continental regions or Northern America (as defined by the Taxonomic Database Working Group Level 1 regions). Although our database reveals impressive knowledge gains, extensive gaps in basic observations of orchid reproductive biology exist, particularly in tropical regions and diverse lineages of fly-pollinated species. The database is expected to facilitate targeted studies, further elucidating the ecological and evolutionary drivers of orchid diversity. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: biogeography-breeding systems-floral deception-Orchidaceae-pollinator diversity-pollinator rewards-reproductive biology-sexual deceit.
... Pollination by sexual deceit has been reported for 22 orchid genera, representing all TDWG Level 1 regions of the world except Northern America and Antarctica. While the first sexually deceptive systems studied in detail involved bees and wasps (Coleman, 1928;Ames & Ames, 1937;Kullenberg, 1961;Stoutamire, 1975;Paulus & Gack, 1990;Singer, 2002), there is now a range of animal groups known to be exploited via sexual deception including ants (Peakall, 1989), three families of fungus gnats (Blanco & Barboza, 2005;Phillips et al., 2014;Reiter et al., 2019c), tachinid flies (Martel et al., 2016) and three families of beetles (Arakaki et al., 2016;Joffard et al., 2019Cohen et al., 2021). A single genus, Ophrys of the European/ Mediterranean region, accounts for 55% of the species with pollinator records, a percentage that may be inflated because of taxonomic uncertainty (e.g. ...
Orchidaceae show remarkable diversity in pollination strategies, but how these strategies vary globally is not entirely clear. To identify regions and taxa that are data-rich and lend themselves to rigorous analyses or are data-poor and need attention, we introduce a global database of orchid reproductive biology. Our database contains > 2900 species representing all orchid subfamilies and 23 of 24 tribes. We tabulated information on habit, breeding systems, means of pollinator attraction and the identity of pollinators. Patterns of reproductive biology by habit, geography and taxonomy are presented graphically and analysed statistically. On the basis of our database, most orchid species sampled are pollinator dependent (76%) and self-compatible (88%). Pollinator attraction based on rewards occurs in 54% of the species, whereas 46% use some means of deceit. Orchids generally have highly specific pollinator interactions (median number of pollinator species = 1). Nonetheless, on average, specificity is lower for species offering rewards, occurring in multiple continental regions or Northern America (as defined by the Taxonomic Database Working Group Level 1 regions). Although our database reveals impressive knowledge gains, extensive gaps in basic observations of orchid reproductive biology exist, particularly in tropical regions and diverse lineages of fly-pollinated species. The database is expected to facilitate targeted studies, further elucidating the ecological and evolutionary drivers of orchid diversity.
... Sexual deception has been recorded in the Asteraceae (Ellis and Johnson, 2010) and Iridaceae (Vereecken et al., 2012), but is most prevalent among the Orchidaceae, with several 100 species of orchid employing this pollination strategy (Schiestl, 2005;Jersáková et al., 2006;Gaskett, 2011;Bohman et al., 2016). As a by-product of mimicking female sex pheromones, which are targeted at conspecific males, sexually deceptive orchids often have just a single pollinator species (Paulus and Gack, 1990;Blanco and Barboza, 2005;Bower and Brown, 2009;Peakall et al., 2010;. Due to the pivotal role of floral chemistry in pollinator attraction, novel pollinators can be attracted via a change in floral odor, which is not necessarily accompanied by morphological divergence Breitkopf et al., 2013;Peakall and Whitehead, 2014). ...
Morphologically cryptic taxa must be accounted for when quantifying biodiversity and implementing effective conservation measures. Some orchids pollinated by sexual deception of male insects contain morphologically cryptic ecotypes, such as the warty hammer orchid Drakaea livida (Orchidaceae). This species is comprised of three cryptic pollination ecotypes, which can be distinguished based on differences in pollinator species and floral volatiles. The present study aims were: (a) to investigate the geographic range of the three D. livida ecotypes, enabling assessment of their conservation status; and (b) to test the efficacy of different methods of identifying the D. livida ecotypes. Three methods of ecotype identification were assessed: morphometric analysis, genome size comparison, and analysis of chemical volatile composition of labellum extracts from pollinated flowers. MaxEnt species distribution models revealed that each ecotype has a different predicted geographic range, with small areas of overlap at the range margins. One ecotype is known from just ten populations over a limited geographic area, the majority of which has been cleared for agriculture, and urban development. While there was broad overlap between the ecotypes in individual morphological traits, multivariate analysis of morphological traits provided correct assignment to ecotype in 87% of individuals. Using the labellum of pollinated flowers, screening for volatile chemical compounds associated with particular ecotypes returned an even higher correct assignment rate, of 96.5%. As such, we advocate that the use of volatiles from the labellum of recently pollinated flowers is an effective way to determine the ecotype of unknown individuals of D. livida, with minimal impact on the flowering plant.
... Sexual deception has been recorded in the Asteraceae (Ellis and Johnson, 2010) and Iridaceae (Vereecken et al., 2012), but is most prevalent among the Orchidaceae, with several 100 species of orchid employing this pollination strategy (Schiestl, 2005;Jersáková et al., 2006;Gaskett, 2011;Bohman et al., 2016). As a by-product of mimicking female sex pheromones, which are targeted at conspecific males, sexually deceptive orchids often have just a single pollinator species (Paulus and Gack, 1990;Blanco and Barboza, 2005;Bower and Brown, 2009;Peakall et al., 2010;. Due to the pivotal role of floral chemistry in pollinator attraction, novel pollinators can be attracted via a change in floral odor, which is not necessarily accompanied by morphological divergence Breitkopf et al., 2013;Peakall and Whitehead, 2014). ...
Although many plant species are reliant on insect pollination, agricultural plant breeding programs have primarily focused on traits that appeal to growers and consumers, rather than on floral traits that enhance pollinator attraction. In some vegetable seed production systems, this has led to declining pollinator attraction and poor seed yields.
We predicted that low-yielding crop varieties would be less attractive to pollinators due to deficiencies in nectar rewards or volatile floral attractants. To test our prediction, we used a chemical phenotyping approach to examine how floral chemical traits of five carrot lines affect honey bee visitation.
In bioassays, honey bees avoided feeders containing nectar from all carrot lines indicating a general non-attractant effect. Certain compounds in carrot flowers and nectar not only failed to elicit attraction but functioned as repellents, including the sesquiterpenes α-selinene and β-selinene. Others enhanced attraction, e.g. β-ocimene.
The repellent sesquiterpenes have previously been implicated in plant defense suggesting a fine balance between pollination and plant protection, which when disrupted in artificial selection in plant breeding programs can impact the crop yield. These new insights highlight the importance of bioactive compounds in attracting pollinators toward floral resources in both ecological and agricultural settings.
... All Australian species of Cryptostylis are pollinated by sexual deception of the same geographically widespread species of ichneumonid wasp, Lissopimpla excelsa (Coleman, 1928(Coleman, , 1929(Coleman, , 1930a(Coleman, , 1930b. This contrasts with most sexually deceptive orchids, where co-occurring orchid species typically use different pollinator species (Paulus and Gack, 1990;Peakall et al., 2010;Phillips et al., 2014Phillips et al., , 2017. ...
While many Australian terrestrial orchids have highly specialized mycorrhizal associations, we tested the hypothesis that the geographically widespread orchid genus Cryptostylis associates with a diversity of fungal species. We investigated the mycorrhizal associations of five Australian Cryptostylis species (27 sites sampled) and included limited sampling from three Asiatic Cryptostylis species (two sites), using fungal isolation and molecular approaches. Like related orchid genera, Tulasnellaceae formed the main fungal associations of the Cryptostylis species we sampled, although some ectomycorrhizal, ericoid and saprotrophic fungi were detected infrequently. Each species of Australian Cryptostylis associated with three to seven Tulasnella Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs), except for C. hunteriana where only one Tulasnella OTU was detected. In total, eleven Tulasnella OTUs associated with Australian Cryptostylis. The Asiatic Cryptostylis associated with four different Tulasnella OTUs belonging to the same lineage as the Australian species. While five Tulasnella OTUs (T. australiensis, T. prima, T. warcupii, T. densa, and T. punctata) were used by multiple species of Australian Cryptostylis, the most commonly used OTU differed between orchid species. The association with different Tulasnella fungi by Cryptostylis species co-occurring at the same site suggests that in any given environmental condition, Cryptostylis species may intrinsically favour different fungal OTUs.
Background and Aims
Understanding the origin of pollination by sexual deception has proven challenging, as sexually deceptive flowers are often highly modified, making it hard to resolve how any intermediate forms between sexual deception and an ancestral strategy might have functioned. Here, we report the discovery in Caladenia (Orchidaceae) of sexual attraction with pollination during feeding behaviour, which may offer important clues for understanding shifts in pollination strategy.
Methods
In Caladenia robinsonii, we observed the behaviour of its male wasp pollinator, Phymatothynnus aff. nitidus (Thynnidae), determined the site of release of the sexual attractant, and experimentally evaluated if the position of the attractant influences rates of attempted copulation and feeding behaviour. We applied GC-MS to test for surface sugar on the labellum. To establish if this pollination strategy is widespread in Caladenia, we conducted similar observations and experiments for four other Caladenia species.
Key results
In C. robinsonii, long-range sexual attraction of the pollinator is via semiochemicals emitted from the glandular sepal tips. Of the wasps landing on the flower, 57 % attempted copulation with the sepal tips, while 27 % attempted to feed from the base of the labellum, the behaviour associated with pollen transfer. A similar proportion of wasps exhibited feeding behaviour when the site of odour release was manipulated. A comparable pollination strategy occurs in another phylogenetically distinct clade of Caladenia.
Conclusions
We document a previously overlooked type of sexual deception for orchids involving long-distance sexual attraction, but with pollination occurring during feeding behaviour at the labellum. We show this type of sexual deception operates in other Caladenia species and predict that it is widespread across the genus. Our findings may offer clues about how an intermediate transitional strategy from a food rewarding or food deceptive ancestor operated during the evolution of sexual deception.
Los principios geográficos son la base para el desarrollo y operación del componente espacial del Sistema de Monitoreo de los Manglares en México (smmm). Los manglares son ecosistemas complejos y biodiversos de las costas mexicanas que ofrecen servicios ecosistémicos de gran relevancia. En este capítulo se exponen métodos y técnicas utilizados para generar la cartografía del smmm, mediante el uso de datos satelitales como insumo para el monitoreo del ecosistema e identificación de los agentes de cambio. Asimismo, se presentan herramientas para la visualización y distribución de los resultados. La disponibilidad de información y conocimiento sobre estos ecosistemas, tanto de tipo cualitativo como cuantitativo, es fundamental para la toma de decisiones en los temas de conservación de la biodiversidad”
Within the preparation of an updated practice-orientated fieldguide on the European and Mediterranean orchids and of the OPTIMA-Atlas on their distribution (BAUMANN et al. 2002, 2004) the review of nomenclaturally and taxonomically critical taxa as weil as fieldwork has been continued. From this some entities were recognised as new taxa, several others were attributed to different, mainly lower ranks or were evaluated as younger synonyms. Few of the new taxa are treated at this place very concisely, more detailed treatments are in preparation and will be published in this Journal at a later stage.
The latest survey on the orchids of Israel (Dafni, 1981; Feinbrun-Dothan, 1986) enumerates 28 species and 4 hybrids. The present list includes new findings and updates the taxonomic status of some taxa. This new inventory includes 43 taxa: 29 species (3 of them containing 2 subspecies) and 11 hybrids, out of which 6 are new.