The predictive power of pollination syndromes: Passerine pollination in heterantherous Meriania macrophylla (Benth.) Triana (Melastomataceae).

The cloud forest species Meriania macrophylla (Benth.) Triana has pseudocampanulate flowers with bulbous stamen appendages, typical for the passerine pollination syndrome found in the Melastomataceae tribe Merianieae. The species is further characterized by strong stamen dimorphism (heteranthery), a condition otherwise associated with pollen-rewarding bee-pollinated species (both in Melastomataceae and beyond). In passerine-pollinated Merianieae, however, flowers usually only show weak stamen dimorphism. Here, we conducted field and laboratory investigations to determine the pollinators of M. macrophylla and assess the potential role of strong heteranthery in this species. Our field observations in Costa Rica confirmed syndrome predictions and indeed proved pollination by passerine birds in M. macrophylla. The large bulbous set of stamens functions as a food-body reward to the pollinating birds, and as trigger for pollen release (bellows mechanism) as typical for the passerine syndrome in Merianieae. In contrast to other passerine-pollinated Merianieae, the second set of stamens has seemingly lost its rewarding and pollination function, however. Our results demonstrate the utility of the pollination syndrome concept even in light of potentially misleading traits such as strong heteranthery.

La especie de bosque nuboso Meriania macrophylla (Benth.) Triana presenta flores pseudocampanuladas con estambres con un apéndice bulboso, una morfología típica de las flores polinizadas por aves paserinas en Merianieae. Además, la especie se caracteriza por tener dos verticilos diferentes de estambres (heteroanteria), una condición que generalmente se asocia a especies polinizadas por abejas con polen como recompensa. En las especies de Merianieae polinizadas por aves la heteroantería es leve, si presente. Para este estudio determinamos los polinizadores de M. macrophylla y evaluamos posibles explicaciones de la presencia de estambres heteroantéricos Nuestras observaciones de campo en Costa Rica confimaron nuestras predicciones de que la polinización de esta especie se da por aves. Los conectivos engrosados funcionan como recompensa para las aves, que al removerlos de la flor activan el mecanismo de expulsión de polen. En contraste, el segundo verticilo de estambres aparentemente perdió tanto la función de recompensa como su función reproductiva. Nuestros resultados demuestran la utilidad de los síndromes de polinización incluso en presencia de caracteres confusos como la presencia de heteroanteria muy marcada.

Micromorfología de los foliolos de pejibaye Bactris gasipaes (Arecaceae) var. Diamantes-10 / Micromorphology of pejibaye leaflets Bactris gasipaes (Arecaceae) var. diamonds-10

ResumenBactris gasipaes se cultiva ampliamente para el aprovechamiento del palmito y el consumo de los frutos En este trabajo se realizó una descripción de las características micro morfológicas de los foliolos de plantas adultas de la variedad sin espinas Diamantes-10 de B. gasipaes, recolectadas en la Estación Experimental Diamantes en Guápiles, Costa Rica. Se utilizó microscopía de luz, electrónica de barrido y de transmisión. Para el estudio se recolectaron 25 foliolos y se evidenció abundante cera epicuticular en la superficie adaxial y abaxial. La epidermis está compuesta de células isodiamétricas y las células de la hipodermis tienen forma rectangular y son de mayor tamaño que las de la epidermis, también se observaron células buliformes. Los foliolos son anfiestomáticos en las áreas intercostales y alternan con bandas de células epidérmicas. El mayor número de estomas se encuentra en la superficie abaxial. Estos foliolos presentan tres tipos de tricomas. El parénquima presenta varios estratos no muy bien definidos con presencia de astroesclereidas. También se observan haces de fibras entre el parénquima que forman grupos de células muy compactas. La vena central presenta varios haces vasculares, algunos dispuestos de forma continua y todos ellos se encuentran rodeados de una vaina de tejido esclerotizado, algunas de estas fibras presentaron protoplastos vivos. Todas las venas menores presentan la misma anatomía de los haces vasculares de la vena central. Los vasos del protoxilema y metaxilema tienen paredes laterales con ornamentaciones escalariformes. El floema se ubica hacia la superficie adaxial de la vena y en el corte se observaron las células cribosas y células compañeras rodeadas de células de parénquima y fibras. Las células compañeras presentaron plasmodesmatas ramificados unidos a un elemento criboso y en ellos se evidenció cuerpos de proteína, llamada proteína-P. La diferencia principal en la anatomía de los foliolos de la var. Diamantes-10 radica en la ausencia de espinas, pero en el resto de la morfología no parece presentar cambios morfológicos con el resto de las variedades de B. gasipaes K.

Abstract:Bactris gasipaes is widely cultivated for the consumption of palm hearts and fruits. The present work describes the micro morphological characteristics of leaflets from adult plants of B. gasipaes, thornless variety Diamantes-10, collected in the Diamantes Experimental Station in Guápiles, Costa Rica. We collected 25 leaflets and analyses were performed with a combination of microscopy techniques: light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to study their structure. Our results showed that leaflets have abundant epicuticular wax on adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Analyses from the epidermis indicated that it is composed of isodiametric cells, and it is also evident that hypodermis cells have rectangular shape and are larger than the other epidermal cells. We observed stomata on both surfaces, but they were more abundant in the abaxial surface. On the other hand, the epidermis showed the presence of trichomes with three different morphologies. In the parenchyma, cells are large and not well defined, and we observed the presence of astroesclereids, and compact groups of fiber bundles between parenchyma cells. The central vein has several vascular bundles, arranged in a continuous manner, and they are surrounded by sclerotic tissue; some of these fibers presented live protoplasts. All minor veins showed the same anatomy as the central vein. In these veins, the vessel elements of protoxylem and metaxylem showed scalariform ornaments on their walls. Phloem is located towards the adaxial surface of the vein and we observed sieve and companion cells surrounded by fibers and parenchyma cells. The companion cells presented branched plasmodesmata attached to a sieve element, and in these elements we found protein bodies called P-protein. The main anatomical difference in the leaflets of the var. Diamantes-10, compared to the other varieties of B. gasipaes K, is the lack of thorns; the other morphological features seem to be conserved. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (3): 1273-1285. Epub 2016 September 01.

[Micromorphology of pejibaye leaflets Bactris gasipaes (Arecaceae) var. diamonds-10]. / Micromorfología de los foliolos de pejibaye Bactris gasipaes (Arecaceae) var. Diamantes-10.

Bactris gasipaes is widely cultivated for the consumption of palm hearts and fruits. The present work describes the micro morphological characteristics of leaflets from adult plants of B. gasipaes, thornless variety Diamantes-10, collected in the Diamantes Experimental Station in Guápiles, Costa Rica. We collected 25 leaflets and analyses were performed with a combination of microscopy techniques: light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to study their structure. Our results showed that leaflets have abundant epicuticular wax on adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Analyses from the epidermis indicated that it is composed of isodiametric cells, and it is also evident that hypodermis cells have rectangular shape and are larger than the other epidermal cells. We observed stomata on both surfaces, but they were more abundant in the abaxial surface. On the other hand, the epidermis showed the presence of trichomes with three different morphologies. In the parenchyma, cells are large and not well defined, and we observed the presence of astroesclereids, and compact groups of fiber bundles between parenchyma cells. The central vein has several vascular bundles, arranged in a continuous manner, and they are surrounded by sclerotic tissue; some of these fibers presented live protoplasts. All minor veins showed the same anatomy as the central vein. In these veins, the vessel elements of protoxylem and metaxylem showed scalariform ornaments on their walls. Phloem is located towards the adaxial surface of the vein and we observed sieve and companion cells surrounded by fibers and parenchyma cells. The companion cells presented branched plasmodesmata attached to a sieve element, and in these elements we found protein bodies called P-protein. The main anatomical difference in the leaflets of the var. Diamantes-10, compared to the other varieties of B. gasipaes K, is the lack of thorns; the other morphological features seem to be conserved.

The oribatid mite genus Benoibates (Acari, Oribatida, Oripodidae).

Two species of oribatid mites of the genus Benoibates (Oribatida, Oripodidae), i.e., Benoibatesbolivianus Balogh & Mahunka, 1969(a) and Benoibatesminimus Mahunka, 1985, are recorded for the first time in Costa Rica. Both are redescribed in details, using drawings, images and SEM micrographs, on the basis of Costa Rican specimens. An identification key to the known species of Benoibates is given.

Two new species of Pergalumna (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae) from Costa Rica, including a key to all species of the genus from the Neotropical region.

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Pergalumna (Oribatida, Galumnidae), P. elongatiporosa sp. n. and P. striatiprodorsum sp. n., are described from leaf litter of a secondary forest in Costa Rica. Pergalumna elongatiporosa sp. n. is most similar morphologically to P. horvathorum P. Balogh, 1997 and P. sura P. Balogh, 1997, however, it differs from both by the body size, body surface ornamentation and morphology of notogastral porose areas A1 and A3. Pergalumna striatiprodorsum sp. n. is most similar morphologically to P. hawaiiensis hawaiiensis (Jacot, 1934) and P. strigulata Mahunka, 1978, however, it differs from P. hawaiiensis by the length of interlamellar setae and surface ornamentation of the prodorsum; from P. strigulata by the surface of ornamentation of the notogaster, length of interlamellar setae and morphology of bothridial setae. An identification key to known species of Pergalumna from the Neotropical region is given.