Spatiotemporal variation in the pollination systems of a supergeneralist plant: is Angelica sylvestris (Apiaceae) locally adapted to its most effective pollinators?

Background and Aims: In terms of pollination systems, umbellifers (plants of the carrot family, Apiaceae) are regarded as generalists, since their (usually dichogamous) flowers are visited by a wide range of insects representing several taxonomic orders. However, recent analyses of insect effectiveness revealed that these plants may be pollinated effectively by a narrow assemblage of insect visitors. Of particular interest was whether populations of an umbellifer species varied in pollinator assemblages and whether this could lead to local specialization of the pollination system. We also explored whether variation in pollinator assemblages was associated with variation in floral traits, and whether this variation influences reproductive output. Methods: The focus was on Angelica sylvestris, a common European species visited by a taxonomically diverse insect assemblage. In three populations, located along an ~700-km transect, over three growth seasons insect visitors were identified, their effectiveness was assessed by surveying pollen loads present on the insect body, insect activity on umbels, nectar and scent composition was studied, and transplantation experiments were performed. Key Results: The populations investigated in this study differed in their nectar and scent profiles and, despite the similar taxonomic composition of insect visitor assemblages, were effectively pollinated by disparate pollinator morphogroups, i.e. flies and beetles. Although this suggested local adaptations to the most effective pollinators, analyses of body pollen loads and behaviour on umbels demonstrated functional equivalency of the visitor morphogroups, which is probably related to the fact that A. sylvestris bears few ovules per flower. The transplantation experiments confirmed that reproductive success was not related to the source of experimental plants and that the insects do not exhibit preferences towards local genotypes. Conclusions: Angelica sylvestris is morphologically well adapted to ecological generalization, and there is little evidence that the surveyed populations represent distinct pollination ecotypes. Most likely, the observed variation in floral characters can be interpreted as 'adaptive wandering'. Specialization in this family seems possible only under very special circumstances, for example when the pollinator community comprises insect visitor groups that clearly differ in their pollination capacity (e.g. due to differences in their functional morphology) and/or have different perceptional biases (e.g. for colour or scent). However, the barrier to the evolution of morphological adaptations resulting in the fine-tuning of the flower towards particular pollinator types may arise from the architectural constraints on the floral bauplan that make umbellifers so uniform in their floral displays and so successful in attracting large numbers of pollinators

Dojrzałość histologiczna raka błony śluzowej trzonu macicy. Analiza kliniczna i patomorfologiczna

Objective: Retrospective clinical and pathomorphological analysis of patients undergoing surgery due to endometrial carcinoma; analysis of the correlation between histological grading of endometrial cancer and selected pathomorphological results. Material and methods: Statistical analysis was based on the pathomorphological results in a group of 353 patients operated because of endometrial carcinoma at the Clinical Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, between 2003 and 2013. A possible correlation between histological grading, clinical staging, myometrial infiltration, parametrial invasion and nodal metastases to ilio-obturator lymph nodes was investigated. Results: Among poorly differentiated carcinomas G3, myometrial infiltration above half of its thickness was observed in 67.44% of the cases, whereas in the G2 and G1 groups it was detected in 60.82% and 39.33% of the affected individuals, respectively. Parametrial invasion was found in 24.39% of G3 cases, i.e. 4.23 times more often than in G2 (5.76%) and 10.65 times more often than in G1 (2.29%). Nodal metastases to ilio-obturator lymph nodes were present in 27.50% of poorly, 10.86% of moderately, and 8.11% of well-differentiated carcinomas. Uterine appendages were infiltrated in 23.25% of G3 cases – 3.45 times more than in G2 (6.73%) and 6.82 times more than in G1 (3.41%). Conclusions: Histologic grading for carcinoma at the time of diagnosis is significantly related to clinical staging. No correlation between patient age and carcinoma grading or its clinical staging was observed. Risk of lymph node invasion for well-differentiated carcinomas is similar to the risk for moderately differentiated carcinomas, and should also be an indication for lymphadenectomy in that group of patients.Cel pracy: Retrospektywna analiza kliniczno-patomorfologiczna pacjentek operowanych z powodu raka błony śluzowej trzonu macicy. Badanie dojrzałości histologicznej raka błony śluzowej trzonu macicy wobec wybranych parametrów wyników badań histopatologicznych. Materiał i metody: Analizę statystyczną przeprowadzono na podstawie wyników badań histopatologicznych w grupie 353 pacjentek operowanych z powodu raka endometrium w latach 2003-2013 w Oddziale Klinicznym Ginekologii Onkologicznej Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi Zbadano zależności zróżnicowania histologicznego nowotworu z jego stopniem zaawansowania klinicznego, głębokością naciekania błony mięśniowej macicy, naciekaniem przymacicz, obecnością przerzutów do biodrowo – zasłonowych węzłów chłonnych. Wyniki: Wśród nowotworów niskozróżnicowanych G3 naciek błony mięśniowej ponad połowę grubości stwierdzono w 67,44% przypadków, podczas gdy wśród G2 w 60,82% przypadków, a wśród G1 w 39,33% przypadków. Naciek na przymacicza obecny był wśród nowotworów G3 w 24,39% przypadków tj. 4,23 razy więcej niż wśród G2 (5,76%) i 10,65 razy więcej niż wśród G1(2,29%). Przerzuty do węzłów chłonnych wśród nowotworów niskozróżnicowanych występowały w 27,50% przypadków, wśród nowotworów średniozróżnicowanych w 10,86% przypadków, podczas gdy wśród wysokozróżnicowanych niewiele mniej, bo w 8,11% przypadków. Natomiast naciek na przydatki wśród nowotworów G3 dotyczył 23,25% przypadków tj. 3,45 razy więcej niż wśród G2 (6,73%) i 6,82 razy więcej niż wśród G1 (3,41%) Wnioski: Stopień zaawansowania klinicznego nowotworu w chwili rozpoznania jest zależny od jego zróżnicowania komórkowego. Nie wykazano związku między wiekiem pacjentek operowanych a dojrzałością histologiczną nowotworu ani stopniem zaawansowania. Ryzyko zajęcia układu chłonnego w nowotworach wysokozróżnicowanych jest porównywalne z ryzykiem nowotworów średniozróżnicowanych i powinno stanowić wskazanie do limfadenektomii również w tej grupie chorych

Opportunity makes a thief: on the floral dilemmas of plants

Zapylanie jest jedną z najważniejszych usług ekosystemowych. Powszechnie uważa się, że relacje z zapylaczami to jeden z ważnych czynników w ewolucji roślin. Dokładna analiza zależności roślina-zapylacz wskazuje jednak, że interakcja ta jest bardzo dynamiczna i łatwo dochodzić może do oszustw i "nadużyć" którejś ze stron. Przykładem takiego zjawiska może być kradzież pyłku lub nagrody kwiatowej przeznaczonej dla zapylaczy, ponieważ cechy kwiatów stanowiące kluczowy element komunikacji z zapylaczami są także atrakcyjne dla antagonistów odżywiający się tkankami roślin. Plan budowy i sposób działania kwiatu musi być więc kompromisową odpowiedzią roślin na korzyści płynące z odwiedzin zapylaczy oraz zagrożenia związane z pojawieniem się pasożytów czy roślinożerców, a wiele cech kwiatów lub całych roślin spełnia rolę podwójnego filtra: z jednej strony funkcjonują jako powabnia, z drugiej mają zniechęcać niepożądanych gości. Mimo iż zjawisko okradania kwiatów jest znane od dawna, wciąż brakuje wielu istotnych informacji, które pozwalałyby lepiej zrozumieć ewolucję cech kwiatów, interakcje między nimi i ich mutualistami oraz antagonistami, a tym samym ogromną różnorodność świata roślin i zwierząt.Pollination is one of the most important ecosystem services. It is believed to have a significant influence on the plants evolution. However, detailed analysis of plant-animal interactions shows that this relation is dynamic and may involve also cheating and floral theft. Floral characters attractive to pollinators appeal also to herbivores. Therefore, flower construction and functionality must be an evolutionary compromise between benefits from pollinators' visits and risks associated with parasites and herbivores. As a result, some floral characters serve double function at the same time supporting the attraction of pollinators and filtering out plant antagonists. Although the phenomenon of floral larceny is long studied there are still many essential information that are missing. Studies of the above mentioned processes would bring us to better understanding of the evolution of flowers, interactions of flowers with animal mutualists and antagonists and, in result, the anormous biodiversity of plant and animal kingdoms

Intraspecific Variation in Nectar Chemistry and Its Implications for Insect Visitors: The Case of the Medicinal Plant, Polemonium Caeruleum L.

Floral nectar, being a primary reward for insect visitors, is a key factor in shaping plant–pollinator interactions. However, little is known about the variability in nectar traits, which could potentially affect pollinators and the reproduction of the species. We investigated intraspecific variation in nectar traits in 14 populations of a Red-listed plant, Polemonium caeruleum. Populations varied in terms of the proportion of self-compatible and self-incompatible individuals, and insect communities visiting flowers. Using HPLC, we determined the nectar sugar and amino acid (AA) composition and concentration. We also recorded some basic habitat parameters, which could influence nectar chemistry. In seven selected populations, we investigated the taxonomic composition of the insects visiting flowers. Our observations revealed significant intraspecific variability in nectar chemistry in P. caeruleum. Nectar production was male-biased, with male-phase flowers secreting sucrose- and AA-rich nectar. An analysis revealed that variability in P. caeruleum nectar may be slightly shaped by environmental factors. The studied nectar characters, especially sugars, had little effect on insects visiting flowers. We argue that variation in nectar traits in this generalist plant is a matter of random genetic drift or “adaptive wandering” rather than directional specialization and adaptation in the most effective and abundant group of pollinators

Functional Diversity of Nectary Structure and Nectar Composition in the Genus Fritillaria (Liliaceae)

Fritillaria is a genus consisting of 130 to 140 species of bulbous plants, native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Generally viewed as an insect pollinated genus with the exception of two North American species, Fritillaria gentneri and F. recurva, which are described as hummingbird-pollinated and the Asian species, F. imperialis, described as passerine-pollinated. These pollinator shifts are possibly the result of adaptive changes to the structure and morphology of the nectary, as well as a change in the nectar concentration and composition. A study was conducted in a target group of 56 Fritillaria species, based on the morphology of their nectaries and nectar composition to assess the significance of pollination mode as well as its predisposition for the evolution of bird pollination. All species studied had nectaries located at their tepal base and produced nectar, but their size, shape, color, and composition all varied. Most fritillaries had hexose-rich nectar, in easily accessible and unprotected nectaries. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that the surface of the nectaries of most Fritillaria species was flat and clearly distinct from that of the surrounding tissues, which might be regarded as an adaptation for insect-pollination. Nectaries of F. imperialis were considerably larger and had dilute nectar without sucrose, which was produced profusely, thereby fulfilling the criteria characteristic of ornithophilous flowers. The copious nectar of presumed hummingbird-pollinated species was rather balanced and of medium sugar concentration. Their large lanceolate nectaries contrasted sharply with the tessellated background of their tepals. These characters might indicate a mixed pollination system that engages both birds and insects. Floral anatomy and microstructure and nectar composition for Fritillaria species in subgenera Korolkowia and Liliorhiza are studied for the first time

Breeding system variability, pollination biology, and reproductive success of rare Polemonium caeruleum L. in NE Poland

Polemonium caeruleum (Polemoniaceae) represents a very interesting system of compatibility transition. Studies of its biological and ecological properties in the context of the breeding system of various populations may help to understand the evolutionary mechanism of this process. We investigated some aspects of the breeding system, diversity and foraging behavior of the visitors, and relationship between population properties and fruit set in three populations from NE Poland. We found distinct compatibility systems in two studied populations and showed that if a population is self-compatible (SC), selfing is mediated by insects via geitonogamous pollen transfer. Despite the population properties (compatibility, visitor diversity and activity, population size, density, or floral display), P. caeruleum is not pollen limited and pollinators are highly important as a key factor determining the high reproductive success. Visitor assemblages (including key pollinators, bumblebees, and honey bees) and their foraging behavior on inflorescences vary between the populations, which may influence differences in the breeding system. The self-incompatible population was visited by a more diverse group of insects from Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Heteroptera, and Coeloptera, which may favor effective cross-pollen transfer, whereas the SC population was pollinated mainly by Apis mellifera, which may promote mixed-mating. Studies on a wider range of P. caeruleum populations are needed to determine selective factors responsible for compatibility transition

Functional Diversity of Nectary Structure and Nectar Composition in the Genus Fritillaria (Liliaceae)

Fritillaria is a genus consisting of 130 to 140 species of bulbous plants, native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Generally viewed as an insect pollinated genus with the exception of two North American species, Fritillaria gentneri and F. recurva, which are described as hummingbird-pollinated and the Asian species, F. imperialis, described as passerine-pollinated. These pollinator shifts are possibly the result of adaptive changes to the structure and morphology of the nectary, as well as a change in the nectar concentration and composition. A study was conducted in a target group of 56 Fritillaria species, based on the morphology of their nectaries and nectar composition to assess the significance of pollination mode as well as its predisposition for the evolution of bird pollination. All species studied had nectaries located at their tepal base and produced nectar, but their size, shape, color, and composition all varied. Most fritillaries had hexose-rich nectar, in easily accessible and unprotected nectaries. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that the surface of the nectaries of most Fritillaria species was flat and clearly distinct from that of the surrounding tissues, which might be regarded as an adaptation for insect-pollination. Nectaries of F. imperialis were considerably larger and had dilute nectar without sucrose, which was produced profusely, thereby fulfilling the criteria characteristic of ornithophilous flowers. The copious nectar of presumed hummingbird-pollinated species was rather balanced and of medium sugar concentration. Their large lanceolate nectaries contrasted sharply with the tessellated background of their tepals. These characters might indicate a mixed pollination system that engages both birds and insects. Floral anatomy and microstructure and nectar composition for Fritillaria species in subgenera Korolkowia and Liliorhiza are studied for the first time.© 2018 Roguz, Bajguz, Gołębiewska, Chmur, Hill, Kalinowski, Schönenberger, Stpiczyńska and Zyc