Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil.
Laboratório de Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campus do Pantanal, Corumbá, MS, 79304-902, Brazil.
Naturwissenschaften. 2024 Jul 1;111(4):37. doi: 10.1007/s00114-024-01924-6.
Studies of reproductive biology and resources availability to floral visitors by plant species are important to understand the plant-pollinator interactions that drive species adaptation. We aim to understand the relationship between reproduction mechanisms of Deuterocohnia meziana (Bromeliaceae) and pollinators. The species occurs in Bolivia and Paraguay, and it is the only species of the genus found in Brazil, where it is restricted to ironstone outcrops. These areas are currently threatened by the iron mining industry. Additionally, they face risks from fire occurrence and grazing by cattle. We analyzed the floral biology, reproductive system, phenology, and pollination ecology of a natural population of Deuterocohnia meziana, from ironstone outcrops in Brazil. The species exhibits diurnal anthesis, with stigma receptive throughout anthesis, and 77% of pollen viability. Deuterocohnia meziana produces relatively large amounts of nectar, especially early in the morning (32.8 ± 9.4 μl), with a mean sugar concentration of 23.5 (± 3.2) ºBrix. It is self-incompatible with a peak flowering occurring in August (dry season), although flowers are observed continuously throughout the year. The species exhibits two types of inflorescences, young and mature, among which an average of 13.1 and 3.6 flowers open per day, respectively. Hummingbirds and bees are the effective pollinators, although butterflies and ants also visit D. meziana flowers. The species is reliant on exogenous pollen and pollinators for fruit set. The continuous conservation of D. meziana populations and their communities is essential for preserving plant-pollinator mutualism and the floral community adapted to ironstone outcrops.
研究植物物种的生殖生物学和对传粉者的资源可利用性对于理解驱动物种适应的植物-传粉者相互作用至关重要。我们旨在了解 Deuterocohnia meziana（凤梨科）的繁殖机制与传粉者之间的关系。该物种分布于玻利维亚和巴拉圭，是巴西特有的物种，仅见于铁岩露头。这些地区目前受到铁矿开采业的威胁。此外，它们还面临火灾发生和牛群放牧的风险。我们分析了来自巴西铁岩露头的自然种群的 Deuterocohnia meziana 的花卉生物学、生殖系统、物候学和传粉生态学。该物种表现出昼间开花，柱头在整个花期内均具有接受花粉的能力，花粉活力为 77%。Deuterocohnia meziana 产生相对大量的花蜜，尤其是清晨（32.8±9.4 μl），平均糖浓度为 23.5（±3.2）°Brix。它是自交不亲和的，高峰期出现在 8 月（旱季），尽管全年都可以观察到花朵。该物种表现出两种类型的花序，幼嫩和成熟，平均每天分别有 13.1 和 3.6 朵花开放。蜂鸟和蜜蜂是有效的传粉者，尽管蝴蝶和蚂蚁也访问 D. meziana 花朵。该物种依赖于外源花粉和传粉者来实现果实结实。持续保护 D. meziana 种群及其群落对于保护植物-传粉者共生关系和适应铁岩露头的花卉群落至关重要。
