The relative importance of olfactory signaling to fly-moss spore dispersal network structure of two sympatric moss species in Newfoundland, Canada

In Newfoundland, Splachnum ampullaceum (herbivore dung scent mimic) and S. pensylvanicum (omnivore dung scent mimic) grow in bogs on summer moose (Alces alces L.) dung and via olfactory and visual deception have their spores dispersed to dung by flies. In Chapter 2, the addition of carnivore and herbivore-mimicking scent increased the number of visiting flies, and the addition of carnivore scent attracted carrion flies, and this effect was greatest for S. pensylvanicum. In Chapter three consecutive years of fly trapping data for both species of moss were compared using Network analyses. Results showed that both mosses attract a generalized fly fauna (lower network specialization (H₂average) 0.171), most of which are also associated with summer moose dung (average connectance low 0.799). Also, the fly faunas of S. ampullaceum and S. pensylvanicum did not differ from each other in all three years

Species Composition and Visiting Frequencies of Flower Visitors of Chromolaena odorata

Plant-animal interaction has been a major theme in ecology as it has helped ecologists to rule out different patterns they observed in the surrounding environments. Chromolaena odorata is another plant species that is studied extensively as it has become a major troublesome weed in many parts of the tropics. But, handful of studies are available on pollination of this invasive plant species in dry forests and its function as a pollinator sink in these environments. The current study was carried out in a dry zone secondary forest patch in North-Central Sri Lanka to assess the diversity, abundance, and pollination strength of flower visitors associated with the C. odorata. The results suggest that the diversity of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera is higher than the other insect orders that visited C. odorata, but all species exerted equal pollination strength on the plant. The attraction of large numbers of insects is concluded to as one of the factors that contribute to the reproductive success of C. odorata in dry zone forests