Pollination of Turnera subulata: exotic or native bees? / Polinização de Turnera subulata: abelhas exóticas ou nativas?

This work analyzed floral visitors of Turnera subulata Sm. (Turneraceae) within an anthropized area in Bahia (UEFS Campus), focusing on potential pollinators, fruit and seed production and the influence of climatic factors on this interaction. The study was carried during six months in 2018 and 2019. Aspects of floral biology and visitor behavior were observed. Turnera subulata flowers lasted approximately six hours and during this period they were exposed to visitors at different intervals to assess the peak time of fruit formation. The most frequent visitors were the bees Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, Trigona sp., Augochlora sp. and Protomeliturga turnerae (Ducke, 1907). The foraging peak occurred in the morning, coinciding with the time of greatest formation of fruits and seeds, and with the time of greatest number of open flowers. Both exotic and native bees acted as potential pollinators, being considered complementary in the flower pollination process.

Este trabalho analisou visitantes florais de Turnera subulata Sm. (Turneraceae) em área antropizada na Bahia (Campus UEFS), com foco nos potenciais polinizadores, na produção de frutos e sementes e na influência dos fatores climáticos nesta interação. O estudo foi realizado durante seis meses em 2018 e 2019. Foram observados aspectos da biologia floral e comportamento do visitante. As flores de T. subulata duraram aproximadamente seis horas e durante este período foram expostas aos visitantes em diferentes intervalos para avaliar o pico de formação dos frutos. Os visitantes mais frequentes foram as abelhas Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, Trigona sp., Augochlora sp. e Protomeliturga turnerae (Ducke, 1907). O pico de forrageamento ocorreu pela manhã, coincidindo com o momento de maior formação de frutos e sementes, e com o maior número de flores abertas. Tanto as abelhas exóticas quanto as nativas atuaram como potenciais polinizadores, sendo consideradas complementares no processo de polinização das flores.

The efficiency of bees in pollinating ephemeral flowers of Jacquemontia bracteosa (Convolvulaceae)

The family Convolvulaceae is widely distributed in tropical regions, mainly in open areas. Convolvulaceae flowers are characterized mainly by being beautiful and ephemeral, attracting many flower visitors that belong to different taxonomic groups. This work aimed to investigate the interactions between insects and flowers of Jacquemontia bracteosa (Convolvulaceae), focusing on the pollination efficiency, in an area in the Brazilian semiarid. From November 2011 to October 2012, floral biology of J. bracteosa was investigated as well as the flower visit frequency, behavior, and morphology of floral visitors. The flowers of J. bracteosa are white, showy and open early in the morning, lasting less than 12 hours, with fruiting occurring both by selfing and outcrossing fecundation. A total of 337 specimens insects were collected on J. bracteosa flowers during the field observations. The Neotropical bee, Ancyloscelis apiformis, was considered the most efficient pollinator of J. bracteosa. This bee showed appropriate behavior, high frequency (64% of the total sample), and was constant on the flowers. Furthermore, they arrived soon when the flowers began to open and presented 90% of efficiency in tests of flower pollination of J. bracteosa. Other native bee species also visited the flowers of J. bracteosa and may be considered potential pollinators because they presented behavior and morphology compatible with the flowers. This study suggests that maintenance of weeds or ruderal plants, especially those that also have ornamental potential in anthropic area, may be an option for the preservation of local native pollinators, which are threatened by environmental degradation.(AU)

The efficiency of bees in pollinating ephemeral flowers of Jacquemontia bracteosa (Convolvulaceae)

The family Convolvulaceae is widely distributed in tropical regions, mainly in open areas. Convolvulaceae flowers are characterized mainly by being beautiful and ephemeral, attracting many flower visitors that belong to different taxonomic groups. This work aimed to investigate the interactions between insects and flowers of Jacquemontia bracteosa (Convolvulaceae), focusing on the pollination efficiency, in an area in the Brazilian semiarid. From November 2011 to October 2012, floral biology of J. bracteosa was investigated as well as the flower visit frequency, behavior, and morphology of floral visitors. The flowers of J. bracteosa are white, showy and open early in the morning, lasting less than 12 hours, with fruiting occurring both by selfing and outcrossing fecundation. A total of 337 specimens insects were collected on J. bracteosa flowers during the field observations. The Neotropical bee, Ancyloscelis apiformis, was considered the most efficient pollinator of J. bracteosa. This bee showed appropriate behavior, high frequency (64% of the total sample), and was constant on the flowers. Furthermore, they arrived soon when the flowers began to open and presented 90% of efficiency in tests of flower pollination of J. bracteosa. Other native bee species also visited the flowers of J. bracteosa and may be considered potential pollinators because they presented behavior and morphology compatible with the flowers. This study suggests that maintenance of weeds or ruderal plants, especially those that also have ornamental potential in anthropic area, may be an option for the preservation of local native pollinators, which are threatened by environmental degradation.

The efficiency of bees in pollinating ephemeral flowers of Jacquemontia bracteosa (Convolvulaceae)

ABSTRACT The family Convolvulaceae is widely distributed in tropical regions, mainly in open areas. Convolvulaceae flowers are characterized mainly by being beautiful and ephemeral, attracting many flower visitors that belong to different taxonomic groups. This work aimed to investigate the interactions between insects and flowers of Jacquemontia bracteosa (Convolvulaceae), focusing on the pollination efficiency, in an area in the Brazilian semiarid. From November 2011 to October 2012, floral biology of J. bracteosa was investigated as well as the flower visit frequency, behavior, and morphology of floral visitors. The flowers of J. bracteosa are white, showy and open early in the morning, lasting less than 12 hours, with fruiting occurring both by selfing and outcrossing fecundation. A total of 337 specimens insects were collected on J. bracteosa flowers during the field observations. The Neotropical bee, Ancyloscelis apiformis, was considered the most efficient pollinator of J. bracteosa. This bee showed appropriate behavior, high frequency (64% of the total sample), and was constant on the flowers. Furthermore, they arrived soon when the flowers began to open and presented 90% of efficiency in tests of flower pollination of J. bracteosa. Other native bee species also visited the flowers of J. bracteosa and may be considered potential pollinators because they presented behavior and morphology compatible with the flowers. This study suggests that maintenance of weeds or ruderal plants, especially those that also have ornamental potential in anthropic area, may be an option for the preservation of local native pollinators, which are threatened by environmental degradation.