Abstract
This study investigated floral visitations of two beetles, Parastasia bimaculata (Scarabaeidae) and Chaloenus schawalleri (Chrysomelidae), and examined associations between beetle visitations and variation in attractant traits, such as quantitative variations of attractants in floral odors and heat generation of spadices in Homalomena propinqua (Araceae). Observations showed P. bimaculata visited pistillate-phase inflorescences most frequently during heat generation, whereas C. schawalleri visited regardless of floral stages and heat generation. Chemical analyses of five dominant components of floral odors showed quantities of 2-butanol, veratrole, and α-pinene during the pistillate phase were the most abundant during all floral stages, and increased during heat generation. When testing combinations of these five authentic chemicals, some mixtures including 2-butanol or veratrole or both attracted both beetles, and veratrole attracted C. schawalleri. These results strongly suggested that the increased emission of floral odor attractants which accompanied heat generation influences floral visitations by P. bimaculata, but not by C. schawalleri. We therefore hypothesize that P. bimaculataaculata is a reliable pollinator, and that variation in attractant traits is a honest signal for P. bimaculata to seek rewards. In contrast, C. schawalleri can detect the signal even at low levels, and so visits inflorescences steadily during all floral stages.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews ES, Theis N, Adler LS (2007) Pollinator and herbivore attraction to Cucurbita floral volatiles. J Chem Ecol 33:1682–1691
Armbruster WS, Antonsen L, Pélabon C (2005) Phenotypic selection on Dalechampia blossoms: honest signaling affects pollination success. Ecology 86:3323–3333
Ayasse M, Schiestl FP, Paulus HF, Löfstedt C, Hansson B, Ibarra F, Francke W (2000) Evolution of reproductive strategies in the sexual deceptive orchid Ophrys sphegodes: how does flower-specific variation odor signals influence reproductive success? Evolution 54:1995–2006
Bernhardt P (2000) Convergent evolution and adaptive radiation of beetle-pollinated angiosperms. Plant Syst Evol 222:293–320
Cresswell JE, Galen C (1991) Frequency-dependent selection and adaptive surfaces for floral character combinations: the pollination of Polemonium viscosum. Amer Nat 138:1342. doi:10.1086/285290
Dafni A, Potts SG (2004) The role of flower inclination, depth, and height in the preferences of a pollinating beetle (Coleoptera: Glaphyridae). J Insect Behav 17:823–834
Dohzono I, Suzuki K, Murata J (2004) Temporal changes in calyx tube length of Clematis stans (Ranunculaceae): a strategy for pollination by two bumble bee species with different proboscis lengths. Am J Bot 91:2051–2059. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.12.2051
Dötterl S, Wolfe LM, Jürgens A (2005) Qualitative and quantitative analyses of flower scent in Silene latifolia. Phytochemistry 66:203–213
Fukaya M, Akino T, Yasuda T, Yasui H, Wakamura S (2004) Visual and olfactory cues for mate orientation behaviour in male white-spotted longicorn beetle, Anoplophora malasiaca. Entomol Exp Appl 111:111–115
Fukaya M, Wakamura S, Arakaki N, Yasui H, Yasuda T, Akino T (2006) Visual ‘pinpoint’ location associated with pheromonal cue in males of the black chafer Holotrichia loochooana loochooana (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Appl Entomol Zool 41:99–104
Fumero-Cabán JJ, Meléndez-Ackerman EJ (2007) Relative pollination effectiveness of floral visitors of Pitcairnia angustifolia (Bromeliaceae). Am J Bot 94:419–424. doi:10.3732/ajb.94.3.419
Garcia-Robledo C, Kattan G, Murcia C, Quintero-Marin P (2004) Beetle pollination and fruit predation of Xanthosoma daguense (Araceae) in an Andean cloud forest in Colombia. J Trop Ecol 20:459–469
Gauthier M-PL, Barabe D, Brueau A (2008) Molecular phylogeny of the genus Philodendron (Araceae): delimitation and infrageneric classification. Bot J Lin Soc 156:13–27
Gibernau M (2003) Pollinators and visitors of aroid inflorescences. Aroideana 26:66–83
Gibernau M, Barabé D (2002) Pollination ecology of Philodendron squamiferum (Araceae). Can J Bot 80:316–320
Gibernau M, Barabé D, Cerdan P, Dejean A (1999) Beetle pollination of Philodendron solimoesense (Araceae) in French Guiana. Int J Plant Sci 160:1135–1143
Gibernau M, Barabé D, Labat D (2000) Flowering and pollination of Philodendron melinonii (Araceae) in French Guiana. Plant Biol 2:331–334
Gibernau M, Barabé D, Labat D, Cerdan P, Dejean A (2003) Reproductive biology of Montrichardia arborescens (Araceae) in French Guiana. J Trop Ecol 19:103–107. doi:10.1017/S0266467403003134
Gottsberger G, Silberbauer-Gottsberger I (1991) Olfactory and Visual Attraction of Eriscelis emarginata (Cyclocephalini, Dynastinae) to the inflorescence of Philidendron selloum (Araceae). Biotropica 23:23–28
Johnson SD, Steiner KE (2000) Generalization versus specialization in plant pollination systems. Trends Ecol Evol 15:140–143
Juric M, Bertelsen G, Mortensen G, Petersen MA (2003) Light-induced colour and aroma changes in sliced, modified atmosphere packaged semi-hard cheeses. Int Dairy J 13:239–249
Kato M (1996) Plant-pollinator interactions in the understory of a lowland mixed dipterocarp forest in Sarawak. Am J Bot 83:732–743
Knudsen JT, Eriksson R, Gershenzon J (2006) Diversity and distribution of floral scent. Bot Rev 72:1–120
Kumano Y, Yamaoka R (2006) Synchronization between temporal variation in heat generation, floral scents and pollinator arrival in the beetle-pollinated tropical Araceae, Homalomena propinqua. Plant Spec Biol 21:173–183
Maeto K, Fukuyama K, Sajap AS, Wahab YA (1995) Selective attraction of flower-visiting beetles (Coleoptera) to floral fragrance chemicals in tropical rain forest. Jap J Entomol 63:851–859
Mayo SJ, Bogner J, Boyce PC (1997) The genera of Araceae. Royal botanical gardens, Kew, UK
Metcalf RL, Lampman RL (1991) Evolution of diabroticite rootworm beetle (Chrysomelidae) receptors for Cucurbita blossom volatiles. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:1869–1872
Momose K (2005) Beetle pollination in tropical rainforests. In: Roubik D, Sakai S, Hamid AA (eds) Pollination ecology and the rain forest––Sarawak studies. Springer, Berlin, pp 104–127
Momose K, Yumoto T, Nagamitsu T, Kato M, Nagamasu H, Sakai S, Harrison RD, Itioka T, Hamid AA, Inoue T (1998) Pollination biology in a lowland dipterocarp forest in Sarawak, Malaysia. I. Characteristics of the plant-pollinator community in a lowland dipterocarp forest. Am J Bot 85:1477–1501
Montaño A, Sánchez AH, Casado FJ, de Castro A, Rejano L (2003) Chemical profile of industrially fermented green olives of different varieties. Food Chem 82(2):297–302. doi:10.1016/S0308-8146(02)00593-9
Ratnayake RMCS, Gunatilleke IAUN, Wijesundara DSA, Saunders RMK (2007) Pollination ecology and breeding system of Xylopia championii (Annonaceae): curculionid beetle pollination, promoted by floral scents and elevated floral temperatures. Int J Plant Sci 168:1255–1268
Rochat D, Morin J-P, Kakul T, Beaudoin-Ollivier L, Prior R, Renou M, Malosse I, Stathers T, Embupa S, Laup S (2002) Identification of pheromone synergists in American palm weevil, Rhynchophorus palmarum, and attraction of related Dynamis borassi. J Chem Ecol 26:155–187
Sahli HF, Conner JK (2007) Visitation, effectiveness, and efficiency of 15 genera of visitors to wild radish, Raphanus raphanistrum (Brassicaceae). Am J Bot 94:203–209. doi:10.3732/ajb.94.2.203
Sakai S (2000) Reproductive phenology of gingers in a lowland mixed dipterocarp forest in Borneo. J Trop Ecol 16:337–354
Sakai S, Inoue T (1999) A new pollination system: dung-beetle pollination discovered in Orchidantha inouei (Lowiaceae, Zingiberales) in Sarawak, Malaysia. Am J Bot 86:56–61
Sakai S, Kato M, Inoue T (1999) Three pollination guilds and variation in floral characteristics of Bornean gingers (Zingiberaceae and Costaceae). Am J Bot 86:646–658
Schiestl FP, Ayasse M (2001) Post-pollination emission of a repellent compound in a sexually deceptive orchid: a new mechanism for maximizing reproductive success? Oecologia 126:531–534
Seymour RS, Matthews PGD (2006) The role of thermogenesis in the pollination biology of the Amazon waterlily Victoria amazonica. Ann Bot 98:1129–1135. doi:10.1093/aob/mcl201
Seymour RS, Gibernau M, Ito K (2003a) Thermogenesis and respiration of inflorescences of the dead horse arum Helicodiceros muscivorus, a pseudothermoregulatory aroid associated with fly pollination. Funct Ecol 17:886–894
Seymour RS, White CR, Gibernau M (2003b) Heat reward for insect pollinators. Nature 426:243–244
Seymour RS, Terry I, Roemer RB (2004) Respiration and thermogenesis by cones of the Australian cycad Macrozamia machinii. Funct Ecol 18:925–930. doi:10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00918.x
Silberbauer-Gottsberger I, Gottsberger G, Webber AC (2003) Morphological and functional flower characteristics of new and old world Annonaceae with respect to their mode of pollination. TAXON 52:701–718
Stebbins GL (1971) Adaptive radiation of reproductive characteristics in angiosperms, I: pollination mechanisms. Am Nat 1(1):307–326. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.01.110170.001515
Stensmyr MC, Urru I, Collu I, Celander M, Hansson BS, Angioy A-M (2002) Rotting smell of dead-horse arum florets. Nature 420:625–626
Stránský K, Valterová I (1999) Release of volatiles during the flowering period of Hydrosme rivieri (Araceae). Phytochemistry 52:1387–1390
Theis N, Raguso RA (2005) The effect of pollination on floral fragrance in Thistles. J Chem Ecol 31:2581–2600
Tollsten L (1993) A multivariate approach to post-pollination changes in the floral scent of Platanthera bifolia (Orchidaseae). Nord J Bot 13:495–499
Ventura MU, Martins M, Pasini A (2000) Responses of Diabrotica speciosa and Cerotom arcuata Tingomariana (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to volatile attractants. Fla Entomol 83:403–410
Waser NM (1979) Pollinator availability as a determinant of flowering time in ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens). Oecologia 39:107–121
Whitmore TC (1984) Tropical rainforests of the far east, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, New York, USA
Wright GA, Lutmerding A, Dudareva N, Smith BH (2005) Intensity and the ratios of compounds in the scent of snapdragon flower affect scent discrimination by honeybees (Apis mellifera). J Comp Physiol A 191:105–114
Young HJ (1986) Beetle pollination of Dieffenbachia longispatha (Araceae). Am J Bot 73:931–944
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to J. Kendawang and L. Chong for permission to conduct this study and two anonymous referees for their valuable comments. We thank M. Ichikawa and T. Nakashizuka for their help with our field study. We also thank H. Takizawa and K. Kishimoto-Yamada for identification of the chrysomelid beetle, and K. Senoh, T. Miyake, and T. Akino for many helpful comments. This study was financially supported by RIHN Research Project 2–2.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kumano-Nomura, Y., Yamaoka, R. Beetle visitations, and associations with quantitative variation of attractants in floral odors of Homalomena propinqua (Araceae). J Plant Res 122, 183–192 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-008-0204-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-008-0204-6