Brief Pollination Assessment of a Critically Endangered Food-Deceptive Orchid (<i>Cypripedium guttatum</i>) Using a Network Approach

The translocation of orchids (Orchidaceae) cannot be successful if one is unaware of their effective pollinators and plant–pollinator interactions. <i>Cypripedium guttatum</i> is a generalized food-deceptive orchid, which is highly threatened in the Republic of Korea, thus, requiring imm...

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Main Authors: Hakbong Lee, Heung-Sik Lee, Kee-Hwa Bae
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-03-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/6/798
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author Hakbong Lee
Heung-Sik Lee
Kee-Hwa Bae
author_facet Hakbong Lee
Heung-Sik Lee
Kee-Hwa Bae
author_sort Hakbong Lee
collection DOAJ
description The translocation of orchids (Orchidaceae) cannot be successful if one is unaware of their effective pollinators and plant–pollinator interactions. <i>Cypripedium guttatum</i> is a generalized food-deceptive orchid, which is highly threatened in the Republic of Korea, thus, requiring immediate translocation actions. Although effective pollinators of the orchid are well known in China, little is known about the pollinators in the Republic of Korea and the ecological context in which the orchid can be successfully pollinated. To briefly assess the pollination of <i>C. guttatum</i> prior to translocation, we conducted a one-month survey of general pollination and the community-wide plant–pollinator network properties. Over 21 h of observation, we found that an effective pollinator of the orchid was the sweat bee <i>Lasioglossum virideglaucum</i>. The network was significantly specialized and modular, but not significantly nested. <i>L. virideglaucum</i> (pollinator) and <i>Arabis gemmifera</i> (plant) were determined to be keystone species, based on network metrics. A total of six network modules were identified and the flower colors of the plant species belonging to the <i>C. guttatum</i> module were purple, white, and yellow. After comparing the daily network patterns, we found that pollination of the orchid was accomplished when various flowering plant species bloom, and the nestedness value was high. This study revealed that high plant and pollinator richness could increase the chance that the deceptive orchid would be pollinated. Our study suggests that the network properties of this food-deceptive orchid community could provide useful insight into understanding the ecologically suitable habitat for the translocation of the highly threatened orchid species <i>C. guttatum</i>.
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spelling doaj.art-a24f9fb5cb114a29a46ba34bb57f93382023-11-30T22:01:15ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-03-0111679810.3390/plants11060798Brief Pollination Assessment of a Critically Endangered Food-Deceptive Orchid (<i>Cypripedium guttatum</i>) Using a Network ApproachHakbong Lee0Heung-Sik Lee1Kee-Hwa Bae2Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon 11186, KoreaAnimal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, KoreaSeed Vault Center, Baekdudaegan National Arboretum, Bonghwa-gun 36209, KoreaThe translocation of orchids (Orchidaceae) cannot be successful if one is unaware of their effective pollinators and plant–pollinator interactions. <i>Cypripedium guttatum</i> is a generalized food-deceptive orchid, which is highly threatened in the Republic of Korea, thus, requiring immediate translocation actions. Although effective pollinators of the orchid are well known in China, little is known about the pollinators in the Republic of Korea and the ecological context in which the orchid can be successfully pollinated. To briefly assess the pollination of <i>C. guttatum</i> prior to translocation, we conducted a one-month survey of general pollination and the community-wide plant–pollinator network properties. Over 21 h of observation, we found that an effective pollinator of the orchid was the sweat bee <i>Lasioglossum virideglaucum</i>. The network was significantly specialized and modular, but not significantly nested. <i>L. virideglaucum</i> (pollinator) and <i>Arabis gemmifera</i> (plant) were determined to be keystone species, based on network metrics. A total of six network modules were identified and the flower colors of the plant species belonging to the <i>C. guttatum</i> module were purple, white, and yellow. After comparing the daily network patterns, we found that pollination of the orchid was accomplished when various flowering plant species bloom, and the nestedness value was high. This study revealed that high plant and pollinator richness could increase the chance that the deceptive orchid would be pollinated. Our study suggests that the network properties of this food-deceptive orchid community could provide useful insight into understanding the ecologically suitable habitat for the translocation of the highly threatened orchid species <i>C. guttatum</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/6/798ecological contexteffective pollinatornestednessnetworkslipper orchid
spellingShingle Hakbong Lee
Heung-Sik Lee
Kee-Hwa Bae
Brief Pollination Assessment of a Critically Endangered Food-Deceptive Orchid (<i>Cypripedium guttatum</i>) Using a Network Approach
Plants
ecological context
effective pollinator
nestedness
network
slipper orchid
title Brief Pollination Assessment of a Critically Endangered Food-Deceptive Orchid (<i>Cypripedium guttatum</i>) Using a Network Approach
title_full Brief Pollination Assessment of a Critically Endangered Food-Deceptive Orchid (<i>Cypripedium guttatum</i>) Using a Network Approach
title_fullStr Brief Pollination Assessment of a Critically Endangered Food-Deceptive Orchid (<i>Cypripedium guttatum</i>) Using a Network Approach
title_full_unstemmed Brief Pollination Assessment of a Critically Endangered Food-Deceptive Orchid (<i>Cypripedium guttatum</i>) Using a Network Approach
title_short Brief Pollination Assessment of a Critically Endangered Food-Deceptive Orchid (<i>Cypripedium guttatum</i>) Using a Network Approach
title_sort brief pollination assessment of a critically endangered food deceptive orchid i cypripedium guttatum i using a network approach
topic ecological context
effective pollinator
nestedness
network
slipper orchid
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/6/798
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