Degraded pollinator habitat may have far-reaching consequences for recovery of imperiled flowering plant populations. Studies indicate that broad-spectrum insecticides used in mosquito abatement are detrimental to non-target invertebrates, including pollinators. A decline in efficient pollinators can reduce plant fitness by decreasing reproductive output and constraining genetic diversity, a challenge for rare plants. In 2015, I monitored flower visitation and fruit set of three imperiled plant species throughout protected areas on three islands in The Lower Florida Keys. These islands consist of conservation land fragmented by intermittently dispersed residential neighborhoods that seasonally spray insecticides for mosquito control. Flowers open at treatment sites had decreased flower visitor activity following insecticide applications, but only species that require invertebrate agents for pollen transfer had significantly reduced fruit set. Implications of mosquito insecticides near conservation lands may pose immediate threats to invertebrate pollinators and flowering plants that require pollinators for reproduction, although long-term threats to genetic diversity are unknown for automatic self-pollinating species.

© 2019 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2019 New Phytologist Trust The role of pollination in the success of invasive plants needs to be understood because invasives have substantial effects on species interactions and ecosystem functions. Previous research has shown both that reproduction of invasive plants is often pollen limited and that invasive plants can have high seed production, motivating the questions: How do invasive populations maintain reproductive success in spite of pollen limitation? What species traits moderate pollen limitation for invaders? We conducted a phylogenetic meta-analysis with 68 invasive, 50 introduced noninvasive and 1931 native plant populations, across 1249 species. We found that invasive populations with generalist pollination or pollinator dependence were less pollen limited than natives, but invasives and introduced noninvasives did not differ. Invasive species produced 3× fewer ovules/flower and >250× more flowers per plant, compared with their native relatives. While these traits were negatively correlated, consistent with a tradeoff, this did not differ with invasion status. Invasive plants that produce many flowers and have floral generalisation are able to compensate for or avoid pollen limitation, potentially helping to explain the invaders’ reproductive successes.

No description available.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第23743号 / 理博第4833号 / 新制||理||1691(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 酒井 章子, 准教授 本庄 三恵, 教授 松下 智直 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a fenologia, o potencial germinativo e a taxa de cruzamento de uma população de Chorisia speciosa St. Hil - Bombacaceae (paineira), de uma área ciliar implantada, no município de Iracemápolis (SP). A área de estudo possui 20 ha, e situa-se no entorno da represa de abastecimento público deste município, nas coordenadas 22O 36'S e 47O 33'W. O plantio desta área ocorreu no ano de 1988 e 1989, com 120 espécies. Para o estudo da fenologia, foram marcados aleatoriamente 10 indivíduos, os quais foram visitados quinzenalmente, durante 12 meses. Foram observados os eventos floração, frutificação, queda e brotamento foliar, do início até o final de cada um. Para o estudo do potencial germinativo, foram utilizadas 4 repetições de 25 sementes cada, para cada árvore analisada, sendo ao todo 10 árvores de paineira. Para a determinação da taxa de cruzamento, foram amostradas aleatoriamente progênies de polinização aberta em 10 árvores, sendo amostradas 10 sementes, as quais foram avaliadas por eletroforese de isoenzimas. A população de C. speciosa estudada apresentou os eventos floração e frutificação, demonstrando que já alcançou maturidade reprodutiva. O evento floração ocorreu de março a junho, e o evento frutificação, de julho a outubro. A queda foliar ocorreu entre os meses de abril a setembro, e o brotamento foliar, de julho a outubro. A porcentagem de germinação para a população foi de 85,8%, demonstrando bom potencial germinativo, a porcentagem de plântulas anormais foi de 5,5% e o índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) médio para a população foi 3.8713. A taxa de cruzamento foi alta para a população (0,975 ± 0,033), indicando a espécie como alógama. Apesar disso, a análise de correlação de paternidade (rp) foi alta (0,334), dando a entender que os cruzamentos não ocorreram de forma aleatória, sendo que 33,4% das progênies foram originadas por cruzamentos preferenciais. Também foram detectados cruzamentos entre aparentados (0,055 ± 0,028). A composição do índice de fixação das árvores maternas (0,002) e das progênies (0,129), dá a entender que existe algum tipo de seleção contra homozigotos, entre a fase de plântula com a fase adulta. De modo geral, os resultados foram promissores para a capacidade reprodutiva da espécie, mostrando alta taxa de cruzamento. Por outro lado, a falta de informações sobre a procedência das árvores que deram origem ao plantio, a constatação de que existe parentesco entre estes indivíduos, e as altas taxas de cruzamentos preferenciais que estão ocorrendo, reduzem a probabilidade da regeneração da população ao longo prazo. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenology, germination potential and mating rate of a population of Chorisia speciosa St. Hil - Bombacaceae (paineira) of a riparian area set up in the municipality of Iracemápolis (SP). The study area is a 20ha one, located in the surroundings of the public water supply of the municipality, at 22º 36’S and 47º 33’W. The area was planted in 1988 and 1989, with 120 species. To study the phenology, 10 individuals were randomly planted and visited fortnightly for 12 months. Flowering, fruiting, fall and leaf shooting were observed from beginning to end of each one. To study the germination potential, 4 replications of 25 seeds for each analyzed tree were used, in a total of 10 Chorisia speciosa trees. To determine the mating rate, open pollinated progenies were randomly sampled in 10 trees, with 10 seeds sampled, analyzed through isoenzyme electrophoresis. The population of C. speciosa studied presented the events of flowering and fruiting, showing that the reproductive maturity had been reached. The event of flowering occurred from March through June and fruiting from July through October. Leaf fall occurred between the months of April and September and leaf shooting between July and October. The percentage of germination for the population was 85.8%, a good germination potential, the percentage of abnormal seedlings was 5.5% and the mean germination rate for the population was 3,8713. The mating rate was high for that population (0.975 ± 0.033), indicating that the species is allogamous. In spite of that, the paternity correlation analysis (rp) was high (0.334), implying that the crossings did not occur randomly, with 33.4% of progenies originated by assortative mating. Also related mating (0.055 ± 0.028) was detected. The composition of the fixation indices of the maternal trees (0.002) and progenies (0.129) implies that there is some sort of selection against homozygotes between the seedling and adult stages. Overall, the results were promising for the reproductive capacity of the species, showing a high mating rate. On the other hand, the scarce information on the provenance of the trees originating the planting, the fact that there is parentage between these individuals, and the high assortative mating rates reduce the probability of a long term population regeneration.

Global climate models predict that the current trend of warming in the Arctic will continue over the next century. The productivity of arctic plants is often limited by short growing seasons with relatively low temperatures such that a warmer climate could have large impacts on plants and plant communities. This study characterised alpine plant responses to changes in temperature at an alpine tundra site near Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. I examined relationships between plant productivity and natural temperature variations and assessed responses of plants exposed to an experimental warming treatment. Non-destructive measurements of reproductive and growth characteristics of four target species (Dryas octopetala, Lupinus arcticus, Polygonum viviparum, and Salix arctica) were taken annually from 1999 to 2008. There was no significant effect of the warming treatment (OTCs) on average daily mean temperatures as midday warming of up to 1.4 °C was largely offset by night time cooling in the OTCs. Vegetative measurements of target species showed no significant responses to OTC treatments. However, peduncles of D. octopetala and sections of P. viviparum inflorescences that produced bulbils were an average of 34.6 % and 64.7 % longer in OTCs than in controls, respectively. These treatment responses were likely due to plants responding to a factor other than temperature that was modified by the chamber. One vegetative and five reproductive characteristics were significantly related to annual variation in temperature. The summer of 2004 was exceptionally hot, and some species that did not respond to smaller fluctuations in temperature showed large changes in growth or reproduction in this year, perhaps indicating a non-linear response to temperature. Among the larger responses to the warm summer of 2004 was a shift in P. viviparum allocation from predominantly asexual to sexual means of reproduction. Measurements of plant community composition assessed at five-year intervals showed no differences in community composition between experimental plots and controls, and changes in composition over the study period were not uni-directional. In general, both individual plants and community composition were highly resilient to observed variation in summer temperatures. Other factors, such as nutrient availability, may be more important in determining plant responses to environmental change at this site than the direct effects of summer temperature variation.

Global climate models predict that the current trend of warming in the Arctic will continue over the next century. The productivity of arctic plants is often limited by short growing seasons with relatively low temperatures such that a warmer climate could have large impacts on plants and plant communities. This study characterised alpine plant responses to changes in temperature at an alpine tundra site near Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. I examined relationships between plant productivity and natural temperature variations and assessed responses of plants exposed to an experimental warming treatment. Non-destructive measurements of reproductive and growth characteristics of four target species (Dryas octopetala, Lupinus arcticus, Polygonum viviparum, and Salix arctica) were taken annually from 1999 to 2008. There was no significant effect of the warming treatment (OTCs) on average daily mean temperatures as midday warming of up to 1.4 °C was largely offset by night time cooling in the OTCs. Vegetative measurements of target species showed no significant responses to OTC treatments. However, peduncles of D. octopetala and sections of P. viviparum inflorescences that produced bulbils were an average of 34.6 % and 64.7 % longer in OTCs than in controls, respectively. These treatment responses were likely due to plants responding to a factor other than temperature that was modified by the chamber. One vegetative and five reproductive characteristics were significantly related to annual variation in temperature. The summer of 2004 was exceptionally hot, and some species that did not respond to smaller fluctuations in temperature showed large changes in growth or reproduction in this year, perhaps indicating a non-linear response to temperature. Among the larger responses to the warm summer of 2004 was a shift in P. viviparum allocation from predominantly asexual to sexual means of reproduction. Measurements of plant community composition assessed at five-year intervals showed no differences in community composition between experimental plots and controls, and changes in composition over the study period were not uni-directional. In general, both individual plants and community composition were highly resilient to observed variation in summer temperatures. Other factors, such as nutrient availability, may be more important in determining plant responses to environmental change at this site than the direct effects of summer temperature variation.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a fenologia, o potencial germinativo e a taxa de cruzamento de uma população de Chorisia speciosa St. Hil – Bombacaceae (paineira), de uma área ciliar implantada, no município de Iracemápolis (SP). A área de estudo possui 20 ha, e situa-se no entorno da represa de abastecimento público deste município, nas coordenadas 22O 36'S e 47O 33'W. O plantio desta área ocorreu no ano de 1988 e 1989, com 120 espécies. Para o estudo da fenologia, foram marcados aleatoriamente 10 indivíduos, os quais foram visitados quinzenalmente, durante 12 meses. Foram observados os eventos floração, frutificação, queda e brotamento foliar, do início até o final de cada um. Para o estudo do potencial germinativo, foram utilizadas 4 repetições de 25 sementes cada, para cada árvore analisada, sendo ao todo 10 árvores de paineira. Para a determinação da taxa de cruzamento, foram amostradas aleatoriamente progênies de polinização aberta em 10 árvores, sendo amostradas 10 sementes, as quais foram avaliadas por eletroforese de isoenzimas. A população de C. speciosa estudada apresentou os eventos floração e frutificação, demonstrando que já alcançou maturidade reprodutiva. O evento floração ocorreu de março a junho, e o evento frutificação, de julho a outubro. A queda foliar ocorreu entre os meses de abril a setembro, e o brotamento foliar, de julho a outubro. A porcentagem de germinação para a população foi de 85,8%, demonstrando bom potencial germinativo, a porcentagem de plântulas anormais foi de 5,5% e o índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) médio para a população foi 3.8713. A taxa de cruzamento foi alta para a população (0,975 ± 0,033), indicando a espécie como alógama. Apesar disso, a análise de correlação de paternidade (rp) foi alta (0,334), dando a entender que os cruzamentos não ocorreram de forma aleatória, sendo que 33,4% das progênies foram originadas por cruzamentos preferenciais. Também foram detectados cruzamentos entre aparentados (0,055 ± 0,028). A composição do índice de fixação das árvores maternas (0,002) e das progênies (0,129), dá a entender que existe algum tipo de seleção contra homozigotos, entre a fase de plântula com a fase adulta. De modo geral, os resultados foram promissores para a capacidade reprodutiva da espécie, mostrando alta taxa de cruzamento. Por outro lado, a falta de informações sobre a procedência das árvores que deram origem ao plantio, a constatação de que existe parentesco entre estes indivíduos, e as altas taxas de cruzamentos preferenciais que estão ocorrendo, reduzem a probabilidade da regeneração da população ao longo prazo. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenology, germination potential and mating rate of a population of Chorisia speciosa St. Hil – Bombacaceae (paineira) of a riparian area set up in the municipality of Iracemápolis (SP). The study area is a 20ha one, located in the surroundings of the public water supply of the municipality, at 22º 36’S and 47º 33’W. The area was planted in 1988 and 1989, with 120 species. To study the phenology, 10 individuals were randomly planted and visited fortnightly for 12 months. Flowering, fruiting, fall and leaf shooting were observed from beginning to end of each one. To study the germination potential, 4 replications of 25 seeds for each analyzed tree were used, in a total of 10 Chorisia speciosa trees. To determine the mating rate, open pollinated progenies were randomly sampled in 10 trees, with 10 seeds sampled, analyzed through isoenzyme electrophoresis. The population of C. speciosa studied presented the events of flowering and fruiting, showing that the reproductive maturity had been reached. The event of flowering occurred from March through June and fruiting from July through October. Leaf fall occurred between the months of April and September and leaf shooting between July and October. The percentage of germination for the population was 85.8%, a good germination potential, the percentage of abnormal seedlings was 5.5% and the mean germination rate for the population was 3,8713. The mating rate was high for that population (0.975 ± 0.033), indicating that the species is allogamous. In spite of that, the paternity correlation analysis (rp) was high (0.334), implying that the crossings did not occur randomly, with 33.4% of progenies originated by assortative mating. Also related mating (0.055 ± 0.028) was detected. The composition of the fixation indices of the maternal trees (0.002) and progenies (0.129) implies that there is some sort of selection against homozygotes between the seedling and adult stages. Overall, the results were promising for the reproductive capacity of the species, showing a high mating rate. On the other hand, the scarce information on the provenance of the trees originating the planting, the fact that there is parentage between these individuals, and the high assortative mating rates reduce the probability of a long term population regeneration.

Receptor kinases (RKs) are transmembrane proteins that have been shown to regulate an array of important processes in A. thaliana, including polar cell growth, plant reproduction, and many other plant growth processes. In this thesis, I examine RECEPTOR KINASE 7 (RK7) and FERONIA (FER), two closely related transmembrane RKs, and their effects on plant reproduction. The RK7 gene when knocked out (rk7) in conjunction with FER resulted in delayed plant growth, decreased seed yield, and a lower percentage of the seeds germinating as compared to the single FER knockout. Transgenic plants with GUS reporter driven by RK7 promoter and RK7 promoter expressed GFP-tagged RK7 (RK7-GFP) were generated to study, respectively, the expression property of the RK7 gene and characterize the location of the RK7 protein. RK7 expression increased in the papillary cells as a direct result of pollination. Transgenic plants with RK7-GFP showed that RK7 protein localizes to the plasma membrane of stigma cells and pollination induces prominent internalization of this protein. RK7 is also expressed during seedling growth. rk7 mutant seedlings had a much weaker physiological response to brassinosteroids than wild type plants, implicating an involvement of RK7 in brassinosteroid signaling. Taken together this data point to the importance of RK7 in plant growth and reproduction through its ability to receive and transduce signals.

<p>I combined comparative and experimental studies in the field and in the greenhouse to examine factors influencing reproductive success in two insect-pollinated herbs, the tristylous, selfincompatible perennial <i>Lythrum salicaria</i> and the self-compatible, biennial <i>Pedicularis palustris</i>. More specifically, I explored (i) the effects of plant population characteristics on the intensity and outcome of interactions with pollinators and seed predators, (ii) whether flower morphology affects duration of stigma receptivity, and (iii) whether damage-induced reduction in floral display reduces pollinator visitation and increases pollen limitation.</p><p>As predicted, the rate of pollinator visitation tended to increase and the number of flowers probed per plant tended to decrease with increasing population size in <i>L. salicaria</i>, but these relationships only approached statistical significance. By taking advantage of the pollen size polymorphism that is typical of many heterostylous plants, I could show that the number of compatible pollen grains received increased with population size, and that this was associated with a reduction in pollen limitation and increased seed output per flower. The deposition of high numbers of incompatible conspecific and heterospecific pollen grains did not appear to reduce seed set.</p><p>In <i>P. palustris</i>, fruit set and seed predation varied markedly among populations and years, but this variation could only partly be explained by variation in population size. Fruit set was positively related to population size, and seed predation was negatively related to population size, in one of three years. Similarly, the level of pollen limitation, which was quantified in two years, varied among populations, but was not related to population size, density or isolation.</p><p>In <i>L. salicaria</i>, both the duration of stigma receptivity and the effect of prior self-pollination on seed output varied among style morphs. These differences may contribute to morph-specific differences in pollen limitation and seed production documented in the field.</p><p>The results of a field experiment demonstrated that damage to the shoot apex may markedly reduce fruit production in <i>L. salicaria</i>, and suggested that this is mainly because damage reduces flower number. I found no evidence that a reduced floral display increased the severity of pollen limitation.</p><p>Taken together, the results show that interactions with both pollinators and herbivores may markedly affect reproductive output in the two plant species, and that the intensity of both mutualistic and antagonistic interactions vary considerably in space and time. Moreover, they are consistent with the hypothesis that pollination success should depend less on population size in selfcompatible than in self-incompatible plants.</p>