Investigating pollination strategies in disturbed habitats: the case of the narrow-endemic toadflax Linaria tonzigii (Plantaginaceae) on mountain screes

Author:

Biella PaoloORCID,Akter Asma,Muñoz-Pajares Antonio Jesús,Federici Germano,Galimberti Andrea,Jersáková Jana,Labra Massimo,Mangili Federico,Tommasi Nicola,Mangili Luca

Abstract

AbstractPlant mating systems may reflect an adaptation to a habitat type, with self-pollination being potentially common in unstable and disturbed conditions. We investigated the reproductive ecology of an Alpine, narrow-range toadflax, Linaria tonzigii Lona (Plantaginaceae), occurring in steep and dynamic mountain screes. We explored self-compatibility and spontaneous autogamy, seed viability, daily nectar production, pollinator behaviour and pollen transfer in wild populations, using hand pollination treatments, quantification of nectar volume, viability Tetrazolium assay, active pollinator sampling and video recordings, and UV-bright dust for pollen substitution. After ex novo sequencing of several genetic regions of L. tonzigii, we performed a multi-marker phylogenetic analysis of 140 Linaria species and tracked the occurrence of the self-compatibility trait. Our results showed that this species is self-compatible, pollinated mostly via spontaneous autogamy and pollinator-mediated geitonogamy, and self-pollinated seeds are as viable as cross-pollinated ones. Selfing could be due to pollinator rarity because, despite the studied species providing a high nectar volume, wild bees, moths and small beetles infrequently visited its flowers in the sparsely vegetated scree slopes. In addition, a preliminary survey showed a low genetic haplotype diversity in the study plant. Moreover, the phylogeny shows that self-compatibility is scattered in the tree, suggesting the adaptive nature of this reproductive trait in the genus Linaria. This study supports for theories that high prevalence of selfing is an adaptation to environments unfavourable for cross-pollination, and particularly where pollinators are rare, such as in perturbed, poorly vegetated high-elevation habitats.

Funder

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

Plant Science,Ecology

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3