Floral Specialization and Bat Pollination in Subtribe Cereinae (Cactaceae): A Morphological Approach
Cactaceae has many vertebrate-pollinated species, and in the subtribe Cereinae, several genera are indicated as being pollinated by bats. In this subtribe, we observed phenotypic specialization in floral morphological attributes associated with chiropterophily, allowing high precision in the determi...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/207 |
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| author | Sinzinando Albuquerque-Lima Nigel P. Taylor Daniela C. Zappi Isabel C. Machado |
| author_facet | Sinzinando Albuquerque-Lima Nigel P. Taylor Daniela C. Zappi Isabel C. Machado |
| author_sort | Sinzinando Albuquerque-Lima |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cactaceae has many vertebrate-pollinated species, and in the subtribe Cereinae, several genera are indicated as being pollinated by bats. In this subtribe, we observed phenotypic specialization in floral morphological attributes associated with chiropterophily, allowing high precision in the determination of this pollination system. However, in loco pollination records of bats have been confirmed only in a few species. In this context, using a morphological approach, we studied the floral biology of 14 columnar cacti of Cereeae-Cereinae with emphasis on species with chiropterophilous attributes and confirmed the role of bats specialized in nectar consumption as pollinators of these taxa. The studied taxa have similarities in their floral <i>bauplan</i>, observed by analysing the overlap in the floral morphospace. The length and opening of the floral tube are important characteristics for pollen deposition. Approximately 156 visits by bats of the subfamilies Glossophaginae and Lonchophyllinae were observed among the studied taxa. Chiropterophily is the prevalent pollination system among Cereinae, and hereby, we verified this system in five of its genera. There is, however, much variation between diurnal and nocturnal systems within this subtribe, and variation among genera and within species of a given genus may reflect the evolutive pathways, this being worthy of future studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:56:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dce07e461dc141a1bce6b9dd9f627b86 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:56:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj.art-dce07e461dc141a1bce6b9dd9f627b862023-11-16T20:04:35ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-02-0115220710.3390/d15020207Floral Specialization and Bat Pollination in Subtribe Cereinae (Cactaceae): A Morphological ApproachSinzinando Albuquerque-Lima0Nigel P. Taylor1Daniela C. Zappi2Isabel C. Machado3Laboratory of Floral and Reproductive Biology, Pos-Graduate Program in Plant Biology, Botany Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária 1235, Recife 50670-901, PE, BrazilThe Alameda, Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Campus, University of Gibraltar, Red Sands Road, P.O. Box 843, Gibraltar GX11 1AA, UKSecretariat for the Coordination of the Post-Graduate Program in Botany, University of Brasília, Brasília 70919-970, DF, BrazilLaboratory of Floral and Reproductive Biology, Pos-Graduate Program in Plant Biology, Botany Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária 1235, Recife 50670-901, PE, BrazilCactaceae has many vertebrate-pollinated species, and in the subtribe Cereinae, several genera are indicated as being pollinated by bats. In this subtribe, we observed phenotypic specialization in floral morphological attributes associated with chiropterophily, allowing high precision in the determination of this pollination system. However, in loco pollination records of bats have been confirmed only in a few species. In this context, using a morphological approach, we studied the floral biology of 14 columnar cacti of Cereeae-Cereinae with emphasis on species with chiropterophilous attributes and confirmed the role of bats specialized in nectar consumption as pollinators of these taxa. The studied taxa have similarities in their floral <i>bauplan</i>, observed by analysing the overlap in the floral morphospace. The length and opening of the floral tube are important characteristics for pollen deposition. Approximately 156 visits by bats of the subfamilies Glossophaginae and Lonchophyllinae were observed among the studied taxa. Chiropterophily is the prevalent pollination system among Cereinae, and hereby, we verified this system in five of its genera. There is, however, much variation between diurnal and nocturnal systems within this subtribe, and variation among genera and within species of a given genus may reflect the evolutive pathways, this being worthy of future studies.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/207Caatingachiropterophilycolumnar cactifloral morphologyGlossophaginaeLonchophyllinae |
| spellingShingle | Sinzinando Albuquerque-Lima Nigel P. Taylor Daniela C. Zappi Isabel C. Machado Floral Specialization and Bat Pollination in Subtribe Cereinae (Cactaceae): A Morphological Approach Diversity Caatinga chiropterophily columnar cacti floral morphology Glossophaginae Lonchophyllinae |
| title | Floral Specialization and Bat Pollination in Subtribe Cereinae (Cactaceae): A Morphological Approach |
| title_full | Floral Specialization and Bat Pollination in Subtribe Cereinae (Cactaceae): A Morphological Approach |
| title_fullStr | Floral Specialization and Bat Pollination in Subtribe Cereinae (Cactaceae): A Morphological Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Floral Specialization and Bat Pollination in Subtribe Cereinae (Cactaceae): A Morphological Approach |
| title_short | Floral Specialization and Bat Pollination in Subtribe Cereinae (Cactaceae): A Morphological Approach |
| title_sort | floral specialization and bat pollination in subtribe cereinae cactaceae a morphological approach |
| topic | Caatinga chiropterophily columnar cacti floral morphology Glossophaginae Lonchophyllinae |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/207 |
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