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Reproductive traits related to anemophily and insect visitors in two species of Poaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

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Abstract

The floral biologies of two grass species occurring in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Bahia were examined to determine whether the morphological characteristics of their synflorescences, spikelets, and pollen grains were compatible with those expected for anemophily, and whether there was any biotic assistance in their pollination. Both Lasiacis ligulata Hitchc. & Chase (Panicoideae) and Olyra latifolia L. (Bambusoideae) have herbaceous habits, paniculate synflorescences, bifloral and unifloral spikelets, inconspicuous flowers, with pollen offered as a resource. L. ligulata is a homogamous species, while O. latifolia is protogynous. Their pollens are only available in the morning; the pollen grains of L. ligulata and O. latifolia are ornamented and contain starch, but without pollenkitt or lipids. Both species are visited by flies (Cecidomyiidae), beetles (Chrysomelidae), and ants (Brachymyrmex sp.) that possibly can aid in liberating pollen grains. The present study brings new data concerning the floral biology and anemophily of herbaceous Poaceae in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, suggesting the insect-assisted anemophily in L. ligulata.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Postgraduate Program in Botany/Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana for providing the infrastructure necessary for the fieldwork and the experiments undertaken; the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Grants 478901/2008-9, 562349/2010-3, and 401526/2014-3); the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (Grant APR 0218/2008); the Plantações Michelin da Bahia Ltda. (PMB), presented by Kevin Flesher and Juliana Laufer, for providing logistical support for fieldwork; R.P.O. and F.A.R.S. were supported by CNPq Grants (PQ1D and PQ2, respectively), and M.C.D. was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-graduação em Botânica, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, Novo Horizonte, Feira De Santana, Bahia, 44.036-900, Brazil

    M. C. Dórea, D. W. J. Santos, R. P. Oliveira, L. S. Funch & F. A. R. Santos

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  1. M. C. Dórea
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  2. D. W. J. Santos
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  3. R. P. Oliveira
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  4. L. S. Funch
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  5. F. A. R. Santos
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Correspondence to M. C. Dórea.

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Dórea, M.C., Santos, D.W.J., Oliveira, R.P. et al. Reproductive traits related to anemophily and insect visitors in two species of Poaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. Braz. J. Bot 41, 425–434 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-018-0454-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-018-0454-z

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