Nectar characteristics and pollination ecology of Camellia perpetua in South China

IF 1.7 4区生物学 Q3 ECOLOGY

Flora Pub Date : 2025-04-04 DOI:10.1016/j.flora.2025.152727

Hai-du Jiang , Dan-juan Zeng , Hui-zhen Qin , Li-hui Peng , Yi-shan Yang , Zong-you Chen , Rong Zou , Jian-min Tang , Yun-sheng Jiang , Zhong-chen Xiong , Xiao Wei , Sheng-feng Chai

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Temporal variation in floral nectar properties and their effects on reproductive success in plants that flower from winter to summer remain poorly understood. Camellia perpetua (Theaceae) blooms almost year-round in the karst regions of Guangxi, South China. Nectar characteristics and pollinator visits were observed in two populations: in the Guilin Botanical Garden (GBG) and PaiRu Village, Chongzuo White-Headed Langur National Reserve (PRV). Nectar is secreted in the buds of C. perpetua approximately 4–5 h before opening. The total nectar volume per flower was higher in winter (453.66 ± 4.67 μL) than in summer (129.14 ± 4.48 μL). Nectar secretion decreased during the day but increased in the evening. The amount of sucrose /(fructose + glucose) ratio was significantly higher in winter (49.69 ± 2.56) than in summer (6.99 ± 0.42). The glutamic acid content was higher in summer than in winter. During the summer and winter flowering seasons, birds (Aethopyga christinae [the fork-tailed sunbird] in the GBG and PRV) and three bee species (in the GBG: Apis cerana, Apis mellifera ligustica, and Nomia chalybeata) were the primary visitors. The frequency of birds visiting flowers, fruit and seed set was significantly higher in winter than in summer in both populations. Furthermore, the seed set was significantly higher in PRV than in the GBG. The higher floral visitation rates by birds during winter compared to summer were associated with a larger volume and higher proportion of sucrose in the nectar during that season. This seasonal differentiation in floral nectar traits seemed to be associated with different pollinator functional groups. However, further studies are needed to determine whether factors other than the variation in nectar traits, such as temperature, play a role.

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中国南方永久山茶的花蜜特征及传粉生态学

花蜜特性的时间变化及其对冬夏开花植物繁殖成功的影响尚不清楚。永久山茶（山茶科）开花几乎全年在广西喀斯特地区，中国南方。对桂林植物园（GBG）和崇左白头叶猴自然保护区（PRV）对如村两个种群的花蜜特征和传粉者访花情况进行了观察。花蜜是在花蕾开放前大约4-5小时分泌的。单花总花蜜量冬季（453.66±4.67 μL）高于夏季（129.14±4.48 μL）。花蜜分泌在白天减少，但在晚上增加。蔗糖/（果糖+葡萄糖）比冬季（49.69±2.56）显著高于夏季（6.99±0.42）。谷氨酸含量夏季高于冬季。在夏季和冬季花期，鸟类（绿尾太阳鸟）和3种蜜蜂（绿尾太阳鸟）是主要的访问者（绿尾太阳鸟）。鸟类访花、访果、访种频率在冬季均显著高于夏季。此外，PRV处理的结实率显著高于GBG处理。与夏季相比，冬季鸟类访花率较高，这与该季节花蜜中蔗糖的体积和比例较高有关。这种花蜜性状的季节分化似乎与不同的传粉者功能群有关。然而，需要进一步的研究来确定除了花蜜性状的变化之外的其他因素，如温度，是否也起作用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Flora 生物-植物科学

CiteScore

3.30

自引率

10.50%

发文量

130

审稿时长

54 days

期刊介绍： FLORA publishes original contributions and review articles on plant structure (morphology and anatomy), plant distribution (incl. phylogeography) and plant functional ecology (ecophysiology, population ecology and population genetics, organismic interactions, community ecology, ecosystem ecology). Manuscripts (both original and review articles) on a single topic can be compiled in Special Issues, for which suggestions are welcome. FLORA, the scientific botanical journal with the longest uninterrupted publication sequence (since 1818), considers manuscripts in the above areas which appeal a broad scientific and international readership. Manuscripts focused on floristics and vegetation science will only be considered if they exceed the pure descriptive approach and have relevance for interpreting plant morphology, distribution or ecology. Manuscripts whose content is restricted to purely systematic and nomenclature matters, to geobotanical aspects of only local interest, to pure applications in agri-, horti- or silviculture and pharmacology, and experimental studies dealing exclusively with investigations at the cellular and subcellular level will not be accepted. Manuscripts dealing with comparative and evolutionary aspects of morphology, anatomy and development are welcome.