Pollinator effectiveness in the mixed-pollination system of a neotropical proteaceae

by Santiago Cárdenas et al.

O. grandiflora inflorescence. By Pedro Machado.

Pollination is a key interaction for maintaining ecological functionality in biodiverse ecosystems like the tropical Andes. When a plant is visited and seemingly pollinated by a diverse community of animals, we can better understand their unique roles by comparing their contribution to pollination.
O. grandiflora is an Andean shrub ideally suited to study pollination effectiveness among different pollinators. It is visited by hummingbirds during the day, and by night, by bats and mice.

Read the whole summary in: English!
Read the scientific publication in JPE.

Stealthy behaviour of bees for entering the flower buds of Strobilanthes ixiocephala

 

by Priyanka Ambavane, Nikhil More, Renee M. Borges

 

Plant–pollinator interactions are mostly mutually beneficial when flowers attract bees, flies and birds for pollination and in return provide nectar or pollen rewards. Sometimes when the flowers are tubular and visitors cannot reach the nectar rewards, they exploit the flowers by piercing a hole at the bottom of the flower tube to access the rewards. At such times, they may or may not provide pollination services. There are two types of such floral cheaters. Robbers are cheaters that pierce a hole to gain rewards while thieves sneakily consume nectar or pollen without damaging the flower. This collectively is termed floral larceny. 

 

Read the whole summary in: English!
Read the scientific publication in JPE.