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Comparative reproductive biology reveals two distinct pollination strategies in Neotropical twig-epiphyte orchids

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Abstract

Members of Oncidiinae are widely known for their interactions with oil-collecting bees that explore lipophilic secretions on flowers. They may also be pollinated through food deception and the offering of nectar. Although data on breeding systems are available for many Oncidiinae orchids, little is known about the reproductive strategies in Rodriguezia, a neotropical genus of ca. 55 species. In this paper, we explore the reproductive biology of two species of Rodriguezia with distinctive morphologies: R. decora and R. lanceolata. Floral features, spectral reflectance, pollinators and pollination mechanisms, and breeding systems were studied. Both species are scentless and produce nectar as a reward. Floral nectar is secreted by a gland at the base of the labellum and stored into the sepaline spur. Rodriguezia decora reflects mainly in the blue and red regions of the light spectrum, while R. lanceolata reflects in the red region. Rodriguezia decora is exclusively visited and pollinated by butterflies, while Trochilidae hummingbirds are the pollinators of R. lanceolata. Pollinaria attach to the upper third of the proboscis of butterflies (R. decora), and to the bill of hummingbirds (R. lanceolata), during the collection of nectar from the spur. Both Rodriguezia species are self-sterile. Flower features and floral reflectance support the occurrence of psychophily in R. decora and ornithophily in R. lanceolata.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank André V.L. Freitas (UNICAMP) for the identification of the butterflies. A.W.C.F. thanks FAPEMA for funding this research (grant 0430/2015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-901, Brazil

    Emerson R. Pansarin & Silvia R. M. Pedro

  2. University of Campinas, Rua Monteiro Lobato 255, Cidade Universitária “Zeferino Vaz”, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Pedro J. Bergamo

  3. Centro Universitário de Pinheiro, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Estrada Pinheiro-Pacas, s/n, Bairro Enseada, Pinheiro, MA, 65200-000, Brazil

    Lucenilda J. C. Ferraz

  4. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Campus Dom Delgado, Av. dos Portugueses, 1966, São Luís, MA, 65080-805, Brazil

    Alessandro W. C. Ferreira

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  1. Emerson R. Pansarin
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  2. Pedro J. Bergamo
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  3. Lucenilda J. C. Ferraz
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  4. Silvia R. M. Pedro
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  5. Alessandro W. C. Ferreira
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Correspondence to Emerson R. Pansarin.

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Pansarin, E.R., Bergamo, P.J., Ferraz, L.J.C. et al. Comparative reproductive biology reveals two distinct pollination strategies in Neotropical twig-epiphyte orchids. Plant Syst Evol 304, 793–806 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-018-1510-7

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