Breeding systems in Oxypetalum appendiculatum Mart. and Oxypetalum banksii Roem. & Schult. subsp. banksii (Asclepiadaceae)

Studies on the breeding systems of O. appendiculatum and O. banksii subsp. banksii were carried out at Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. Both species are self-compatible and seeds that resulted from self- and cross-pol linatio'ns presented a high viability. The low rate of fruit set in O. banksii subsp. banksii flowers exposed to visitors (open pollination) may be related to the lack of pollination (extrinsic factor). In O. appendiculatum the low rate of fruit set can be related to intrinsic factors, regulated by the plant itself. Interspecific pollinations resulted in viable seeds and the F1 hybrid presented 64% of fertile flowers; this hybrid has not yet been found under natural conditions. Self-pollinations in F1 flowers also yielded viable seeds.Estudos sobre o sistema reprodutivo de O. appendiculatum e O. banksii subsp. banksii foram realizados em Viçosa, MG, sudeste do Brasil. Ambas são autocompatíveis e a viabilidade das sementes, resultantes de autopolinizações e polinizações cruzadas, é alta. A baixa taxa de produção de frutos em flores de O. banksii subsp. banksii expostas aos visitantes (polinizações abertas) deve estar relacionada à falta de polinização (fator extrínseco). Em O. appendiculatum, a baixa taxa de produção de frutos deve estar relacionada a fatores intrínsecos, regulados pela planta. Polinizações interespecíficas resultaram em sementes viáveis e os híbridos F1 apresentaram 64% de flores férteis; esses híbridos não foram encontrados na natureza. Autopolinizações em flores de F1 resultaram em sementes também viáveis.237241Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Biologia do pseudanto de Dalechampia aff. triphylla Lam. (Euphorbiaceae) e sua polinização por abelhas (Apidae, Meliponina)

The main goals of this study were investigate the morphology and biology of Dalechampia aff. triphylla pseudanthium and its potential pollinators. The species occurs in Viçosa, southeastern Brazil and is a ruderal species. The production of flowers and fruits occurred during the whole year of study. Two green involucral bracts and two subinflorescences, one female and other male, constitute the pseudanthium. The male subinflorescence contains staminate flowers and a resiniferous gland. The pseudanthia are protogynous, with an initial female phase, which lasted 1,7 days, followed by a bisexual phase, which lasted 9,1 days. The involucral bracts opened every day by the morning and closed around 19:00h. During the female phase, bract opens between 9:00 and 11:00h, while in the bisexual phase it opens between 6:00 and 7:00h. This anticipates opening of involucral bracts of pseudanthia in bisexual phase seems to favor pollen transference by pollinators, to pseudanthia in female phase. D. aff. triphylla is visited by four species of stingless bees, Friesella schrottkyi, Plebeia droryana, Plebeia sp., Tetragonisca angustula. All of them were potential pollinators of the species, and that is for the first time reported for a Dalechampia species. These bees have their body length as long as stigma-resin gland distance so they are capable of fertilize stigmas during resin collection. Finally, continuous flowering, visiting behavior of pollinators, differential timing of involucral bracts opening according to pseudanthium phase, and extended duration of the bisexual phase are factors that contribute to the reproductive success of D. aff. triphylla.Este estudo objetivou investigar a morfologia e a biologia do pseudanto de Dalechampia aff. triphylla e seus potenciais polinizadores. A espécie ocorre em Viçosa, Minas Gerais, é ruderal e autocompatível. A produção de flores e frutos ocorreu durante todo o ano de estudo. O pseudanto é constituído por duas brácteas involucrais e sub-inflorescências, feminina e masculina. A sub-inflorescência masculina é composta por flores estaminadas e uma glândula de resina. O pseudanto é protogínico. A fase feminina perdura 1,7 dias, seguida por uma fase bissexuada que perdura por 9,1 dias. As brácteas involucrais se abrem todos os dias pela manhã e se fecham por volta das 19h00min. Na fase feminina, as brácteas se abrem entre as 09h00min e 11h00min, enquanto que na fase bissexuada das 06h00min, 07h00min. Esta abertura antecipada das brácteas involucrais durante a fase bissexuada indica um favorecimento da transferência de pólen por polinizadores, para pseudantos na fase feminina. D. aff. triphylla é visitada por quatro espécies de abelhas sem ferrão: Friesella schrottkyi, Plebeia droryana, Plebeia sp., Tetragonisca angustula e pela primeira vez estas espécies são relatadas como polinizadores de uma espécie de Dalechampia. O comprimento do corpo destas abelhas é suficiente para fertilizar o estigma durante a coleta de resina. Além disto, a floração contínua, o comportamento das abelhas na visita às flores, a diferenciação da hora de abertura das brácteas involucrais de acordo com a fase do pseudanto, e a longa duração da fase bissexuada são fatores que contribuem para o sucesso reprodutivo de D. aff. triphylla

Morfologia floral e mecanismos de polinização em espécies de Oxypetalum R. Br. (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae)

Morphoanatomical and histochemical studies were carried out to better understand the floral morphology of Asclepiadoideae species and associate it to their reproductive strategies. This study, was analyzed the functional morphology of the flowers of seven Oxypetalum species in order to describe its pollination mechanisms. Floral structure was studied with fixed flowers following classical techniques. Besides, were observed the pollen tubes pathways in hand-pollinated flowers. The number of elements in each floral whorl and fusions of the elements follow the pattern observed in other Asclepiadoideae. Each pollination unit is delimited by a petal located oppositely to the anther slit, two adjacent corona elements and the gynostegium. The anther slit, formed by adjacent anther wings, represents a structure adapted to guide the pollinator mouthparts (guide rail), resulting in removal or insertion of pollinia. The nectar accumulates at the base of each petal and thus increases the chances of the mouthparts being “caught” by the anther slit during its retraction. The pollinium is inserted into the stigmatic chamber (hyperstigma), located behind the anther slit and formed by interstaminal tissue; each chamber is lined by secretory tissue (glandular epithelium, nectary). In the chamber, the pollen germinates and pollen tubes grow, following the glandular epithelium, towards the gynoecium. In the gynoecium of six species, the pollen tubes penetrate and obliterate the transmitting tissue of the solid style. Then obliterate the transmitting tissue of the hollow style corresponding to the solid style and reach the glandular epidermis of the placenta of the ovary corresponding; one follicle is produced per flower.Estudos têm abordado aspectos morfoanatômicos e histoquímicos para melhor compreender a morfologia floral de Asclepiadoideae e associá-la às suas estratégias reprodutivas. Objetivou-se analisar a morfologia funcional das flores de sete espécies de Oxypetalum para descrever seus mecanismos de polinização. A estrutura floral foi estudada com flores fixadas, seguindo técnicas clássicas. Adicionalmente, foram observados os percursos de tubos polínicos em flores polinizadas manualmente. O número de elementos de cada verticilo floral e as fusões dos elementos seguem o padrão observado em outras Asclepiadoideae. Cada unidade de polinização é delimitada por uma pétala, oposta à fenda anteral, dois elementos adjacentes de corona e o ginostégio. A fenda anteral, formada pelas alas de anteras adjacentes, representa uma estrutura adaptada para guiar o aparelho bucal do polinizador (trilho), resultando em remoção ou inserção de polínias. O néctar acumula-se na base de cada pétala e, assim posicionado, aumenta as chances do aparelho bucal ser “capturado” pela fenda estaminal durante a sua retração. A polínia é inserida em câmara estigmática (hiperestigma), localizada atrás da fenda anteral e formada por tecido interestaminal; cada câmara é forrada por tecido secretor (epitélio glandular, nectário). Na câmara, os grãos de pólen germinam e os tubos polínicos crescem, acompanhando o epitélio glandular, em direção ao gineceu. No gineceu de seis das espécies, os tubos penetram e obliteram o tecido transmissor de um dos estiletes sólidos. Em seguida, obliteram o tecido transmissor do estilete oco correspondente ao estilete sólido, até alcançar a epiderme glandular da placenta do ovário correspondente; há produção de um folículo por flor

The diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large plant clades: Apocynaceae as a case study

Large clades of angiosperms are often characterized by diverse interactions with pollinators, but how these pollination systems are structured phylogenetically and biogeographically is still uncertain for most families. Apocynaceae is a clade of >5300 species with a worldwide distribution. A database representing >10 % of species in the family was used to explore the diversity of pollinators and evolutionary shifts in pollination systems across major clades and regions.The database was compiled from published and unpublished reports. Plants were categorized into broad pollination systems and then subdivided to include bimodal systems. These were mapped against the five major divisions of the family, and against the smaller clades. Finally, pollination systems were mapped onto a phylogenetic reconstruction that included those species for which sequence data are available, and transition rates between pollination systems were calculated.Most Apocynaceae are insect pollinated with few records of bird pollination. Almost three-quarters of species are pollinated by a single higher taxon (e.g. flies or moths); 7 % have bimodal pollination systems, whilst the remaining approx. 20 % are insect generalists. The less phenotypically specialized flowers of the Rauvolfioids are pollinated by a more restricted set of pollinators than are more complex flowers within the Apocynoids + Periplocoideae + Secamonoideae + Asclepiadoideae (APSA) clade. Certain combinations of bimodal pollination systems are more common than others. Some pollination systems are missing from particular regions, whilst others are over-represented.Within Apocynaceae, interactions with pollinators are highly structured both phylogenetically and biogeographically. Variation in transition rates between pollination systems suggest constraints on their evolution, whereas regional differences point to environmental effects such as filtering of certain pollinators from habitats. This is the most extensive analysis of its type so far attempted and gives important insights into the diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large clades

The diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large plant clades: Apocynaceae as a case study

Background and Aims Large clades of angiosperms are often characterized by diverse interactions with pollinators, but how these pollination systems are structured phylogenetically and biogeographically is still uncertain for most families. Apocynaceae is a clade of >5300 species with a worldwide distribution. A database representing >10 % of species in the family was used to explore the diversity of pollinators and evolutionary shifts in pollination systems across major clades and regions. Methods The database was compiled from published and unpublished reports. Plants were categorized into broad pollination systems and then subdivided to include bimodal systems. These were mapped against the five major divisions of the family, and against the smaller clades. Finally, pollination systems were mapped onto a phylogenetic reconstruction that included those species for which sequence data are available, and transition rates between pollination systems were calculated. Key Results Most Apocynaceae are insect pollinated with few records of bird pollination. Almost three-quarters of species are pollinated by a single higher taxon (e.g. flies or moths); 7 % have bimodal pollination systems, whilst the remaining approx. 20 % are insect generalists. The less phenotypically specialized flowers of the Rauvolfioids are pollinated by a more restricted set of pollinators than are more complex flowers within the Apocynoids + Periplocoideae + Secamonoideae + Asclepiadoideae (APSA) clade. Certain combinations of bimodal pollination systems are more common than others. Some pollination systems are missing from particular regions, whilst others are over-represented. Conclusions Within Apocynaceae, interactions with pollinators are highly structured both phylogenetically and biogeographically. Variation in transition rates between pollination systems suggest constraints on their evolution, whereas regional differences point to environmental effects such as filtering of certain pollinators from habitats. This is the most extensive analysis of its type so far attempted and gives important insights into the diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large clades

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mammals in Portugal: a data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications