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Aim: To investigate the role of alien plants in mutualistic plant-hummingbird networks, assessing the importance of species traits, floral abundance and insularity on alien plant integration. Location: Mainland and insular Americas. Methods: We used species-level network indices to assess the role of alien plants in 21 quantitative plant-hummingbird networks where alien plants occur. We then evaluated whether plant traits, including previous adaptations to bird pollination, and insularity predict these network roles. Additionally, for a subset of networks for which floral abundance data were available, we tested whether this relates to network roles. Finally, we tested the association between hummingbird traits and the probability of interaction with alien plants across the networks. Results: Within the 21 networks, we identified 32 alien plant species and 352 native plant species. On average, alien plant species attracted more hummingbird species (i.e. aliens had a higher degree) and had a higher proportion of interactions across their hummingbird visitors than native plants (i.e. aliens had a higher species strength). At the same time, an average alien plant was visited more exclusively by certain hummingbird species (i.e. had a higher level of complementary specialization). Large alien plants and those occurring on islands had more evenly distributed interactions, thereby acting as connectors. Other evaluated plant traits and floral abundance were unimportant predictors of network roles. Short-billed hummingbirds had higher probability of including alien plants in their interactions than long-billed species. Main conclusions: Once incorporated into plant-hummingbird networks, alien plants appear strongly integrated and, thus, may have a large influence on network dynamics. Plant traits and floral abundance were generally poor predictors of how well alien species are integrated. Short-billed hummingbirds, often characterized as functionally generalized pollinators, facilitate the integration of alien plants. Our results show that plant-hummingbird networks are open for invasion. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ocotea porosa has been extensively exploited over the past few decades because of the quality of its wood. Today, populations are reduced and the species is now included in the Red List of threatened species by the International Union for Nature Conservation. For conservation and management purposes, it is extremely important that we understand its reproductive ecology. Floral morphology was described based on field and scanning electron microscopic examination. The reproductive system was determined through experimentally controlled pollination along with observations of pollen tube growth. Pollinators were identified through field observations. Flowers of O. porosa are small, shallow, inconspicuous, asynchronous and grouped in inflorescences. This species presented self-compatibility, but did not reproduce through apomixy and spontaneous self-pollination was very rare (5%). Despite being monoclinal, flowers were protogynic, and the gynoecium was receptive after the first day of anthesis when the anthers were closed. Spontaneous self-pollination was avoided by the extrorse position of the anthers of the internal stamens. Frankliniella gardeniae (Thysanoptera) was the only pollinating species observed and, after visiting several asynchronous flowers in the same inflorescence, favors geitonogamy. Together the small distance supposedly achieved by thrips in flight and the small population density of O. porosa can reduce the chances of cross-pollination in this species. If so, conservation measures must include preservation of the current population and possibly planting to increase population density. This would reduce the distance between individuals and increase genetic variability. Thrips as pollinators must be included in conservation planning for O. porosa.

A atividade dos polinizadores é afetada pela disponibilidade de recursos. Flores que produzem mais néctar podem ser mais visitadas e assim apresentar maior produção de frutos. O efeito da produção de néctar na atividade dos polinizadores foi testado em duas espécies cultivadas de maracujá, Passiflora alata Curtis e Passiflora edulis Sims, em Morretes, Paraná. Botões foram ensacados e o néctar acumulado das flores foi coletado em intervalos de 1 h. Em P. alata o volume e a concentração de solutos no néctar aumentaram durante o período de antese, associados com o aumento da temperatura. Em P. edulis, o volume aumentou durante o período diurno da antese, e decresceu após as 18 horas. A concentração de solutos no néctar permaneceu constante. A taxa média de visitação de Xylocopa frontalis (Olivier) em P. alata foi de 1,7 visitas/100flores/hora e em P. edulis foi de 6,6 visitas/100flores/hora, sendo constante durante a antese. A taxa média de visitação de Bombus morio (Swederus) em P. alata foi de 5,8 visitas/100flores/hora, sendo mais alta no início da antese. A constância das visitas de X. frontalis deve estar associada à produção contínua de néctar em ambas as espécies de maracujazeiros. Como as espécies são xenogâmicas, a manutenção das visitas é importante para propiciar o fluxo de pólen entre indivíduos e assim garantir boa produção de frutos.

Th e concept of pollination syndromes has been widely questioned, since plant – pollinator interactions have proved to be more generalist than was previously thought. We examined whether the network of a tropical high-altitude grassland contained groups of plants and pollinators that interact preferentially with each other. A general binary matrix was created. To assess the robustness of myophily, in all analyses we considered: 1) the whole network, 2) the network after the wasps were removed, and 3) the network after the fl ies were removed. For each network we evaluated whether: 1) the observed interactions were more related to syndromes than expected by chance, compared to an expected matrix; 2) there was a modular structure; 3) the modules found were more related to syndromes than expected by chance, compared to another expected matrix; 4) the syndromes were equally robust. For this analysis, the general matrix was subdivided into smaller matrices that included each pollination syndrome separately. To test the infl uence of the functional groups of pollinators and the phylogeny of plants, in addition to the general matrix, we also considered the fi rst expected matrix, a quantitative functional group and a plant phylogeny matrix. Th e pollination syndromes determined the pattern of interactions in the network: 69% of the total interactions resulted from the functional group of pollinators predicted by the plant syndrome. Th e network showed greater modularity (13 modules) than expected by chance, mostly consisting of the expected functional groups of pollinators and plant syndromes. Th e modules were associated with pollination syndromes more than was predicted by chance. Most of the variation in interactions was explained by functional groups of pollinators or by plant syndromes. Plant phylogeny did not account for a signifi cant amount of variation in the interactions. Our fi ndings support the concept of pollination syndromes. However, the interactions were not equally predicted by diff erent pollination syndromes, and the accuracy of the prediction was strongest for ornithophily and melittophily.

Floral color changes are common among Melastomataceae and have been interpreted as a warning mechanism for bees to avoid old flowers, albeit increasing long-distance flower display. Here the reproductive systems of Tibouchina pulchra and T. sellowiana were investigated by controlled pollinations. Their pollinators were identified, and experiments on floral color and fragrance changes were conduced to verify if those changes affect the floral visitation. Both Tibouchina species are self compatible. The flowers lasted three days or more, and the floral color changed from white in the 1st day to pink in the following days. Pollen deposition on stigma induced floral color change. The effectiveness of the pollination is dependent on bees’ size; only large bees were regarded as effective pollinators. In experimental tests, the bees in T. pulchra preferred the natural white flowers while the visitors of T. sellowiana were attracted by both natural and mimetic 1st-day flowers (2nd-day flowers with experimentally attached 1st-day flower petals). During the experiments on floral fragrance, the bees visited both natural and mimetic 1st-day flowers (2nd-day flowers with 1st-day flower scents). In both experiments, the bees avoided natural 2nd-day flowers, but seldom visited modified 2nd-day flowers. The attractiveness of T. pulchra and T. sellowiana flowers cannot be attributed exclusively to the color or the fragrance separately, both factors seemingly act together.

Anisophylly can be defined as the unequal growth of two leaves in a pair from a single branch node. It occurs in several opposite-leafed taxa, even in those with apparently no phylogenetic proximity. We have intended here to classify and describe the anisophylly found in ten species of Melastomataceae from two genera, Leandra and Miconia, using morphometric data. We developed a method to quantify the level of anisophylly in these species, using a parameter called “Anisophylly Index” (AI), with values ranging from nearly 0 (isophyllous) to 1 (strongly anisophyllous). A comparison between the leaves from the erect and lateral branches of Leandra barbinervis showed that this species has incomplete lateral anisophylly; i.e., only the lateral branches are anisophyllous, and in these only the pairs positioned in a dorso-ventral position are unequal, while pairs positioned in a horizontal position are isophyllous. The lateral branches of all species showed incomplete anisophylly. There is no apparent re...

† Background and Aims Most neotropical Melastomataceae have bee-pollinated flowers with poricidal anthers. However, nectar rewards are known to be produced in about 80 species in eight genera from four different tribes. These nectar-producing species are pollinated by both vertebrates and invertebrates. † Methods The floral morphology and anatomy of 14 species was studied in six genera of nectar-producing Melastomataceae (Blakea, Brachyotum, Charianthus, Huilaea, Meriania and Miconia). Anatomical methods included scanning electron microscopy, and serial sections of paraffin-embedded flowers. † Key Results All vertebrate-pollinated melastome flowers have petals that do not open completely at anthesis, thus forming a pseudo-tubular corolla, while closely related species that are bee pollinated have rotate or reflexed corollas. In most species, nectar secretion is related to stomatal or epidermal nectaries and not filament slits as previously reported. Moreover, the nectar is probably supplied by large vascular bundles near the release area. Blakea and Huilaea have nectary stomata located upon the dorsal anther connective appendages. Brachyotum also has nectary stomata on the anther connectives, but these are distributed lengthwise along most of the connective. Meriania may release nectar through the anther connective, but has additional nectary stomata on the inner walls of the hypanthium. Miconia has nectary stomata on the ovary apex. Charianthus nectaries were not found, but there is circumstantial evidence that nectar release occurs through the epidermis at the apex of the ovary and the lower portions of the inner wall of the hypanthium. † Conclusions Nectar release in Melastomataceae is apparently related to nectary stomata and not filament slits. The presence of nectary stomata on stamens and on ovary apices in different lineages suggests that the acquisition of nectaries is a derived condition. Nectary location also supports a derived condition, because location is strongly consistent within each genus, but differs between genera.

The reciprocal importance of bromeliads and hummingbirds has been proposed for many years, even suggesting coevolution between these two groups. Nevertheless, data are lacking that allow a better test of the relationships involved. Here we investigate the relationship between bromeliads and hummingbirds in an area of secondary Atlantic rain forest in southern Brazil. The study examined the interactions among 12 species of bromeliad and 10 of hummingbird at Reserva Natural Salto Morato, Paraná state. The number of flowering species of bromeliad and the species richness and abundance of hummingbirds were quantified monthly between November 2004 and October 2005. Focal observations on each bromeliad species were made to determine the hummingbird visitors. Neither species richness nor abundance of hummingbirds were related to bromeliad phenology. Together with the monthly variation in visit frequency by a given pollinator to a given plant, these factors indicate a generalization in the use of bromeliads by hummingbirds and argue against tight coevolution. Ramphodon naevius and Thalurania glaucopis were the main pollinators in the community. Aechmea nudicaulis was the most generalist bromeliad species. The generalist species interacted with other generalists or with asymmetric specialists and there was no specialist–specialist interaction. This produced a strongly organized and nested matrix of interactions. This nestedness is similar to other plant-pollinators networks, supporting the hypothesis that the evolutionary relationship between bromeliads and hummingbirds is no stronger than that of other pollination networks.

Most species in Melastomataceae have poricidal anthers related to specialised bee buzz-pollination, while some have anthers with large openings associated to non-bee pollination systems. We tracked the evolution of anther morphology and seed number on the Miconieae phylogenetic tree to understand the evolutionary shifts in such pollination systems. Anther morphometric data and seed number were recorded for 54 taxa. Pollinators (bees, flies, wasps) were recorded for 20 available species. Ancestral state reconstruction was made using Maximum Likelihood from nrITS sequences. We used phylogenetic eigenvector regressions to estimate phylogenetic signal and the adaptive component for these traits. Species pollinated by bees or bees and wasps tend to have smaller pores and fruits with more seeds. Species pollinated by flies or flies and bees and/or wasps tend to have larger pores and fruits with less seeds. Independent evolution occurred three times for anthers with large pores and twice for fruits with few seeds. We detected a phylogenetic signal in both traits, and negative correlated evolution between them. In actinomorphic small-flowered Miconieae, changes in anther morphology can be related to generalisation in the pollination system incorporating flies and wasps as pollinators and lessening the importance of buzzing bees in such process. Differences in pollen removal and deposition may explain differences in anther morphology and seed number in Miconieae.

The abundance and distribution of resources for pollinators modulate the reproduction of plants. This study attempted to determine whether and how the fruiting success of Tibouchina trichopoda flowers varies due to plant size, number of flowers produced, distance between individuals and cardinal orientation of the flowers. From July 2009 to February 2010, we conducted monthly evaluations of 21 plants in an area of regenerating forest within the Atlantic Forest biome, located near the municipality of Antonina, in southern Brazil. Floral density was monitored weekly. During the study period, the species bloomed twice: once during the cool, dry season, showing an extended flowering period with scattered flowering individuals; and once during the hot, rainy season, showing a brief flowering period with a high density of flowering individuals. Plant size was not found to influence fruiting success. There was greater production of flowers and fruits during the brief flowering period. The extent of the floral display positively affected the fruiting success of the flowers, the effect being greater when the density of flowers was low and tending to stabilize at higher densities. The northern-facing portions of tree crowns produced more flowers and therefore had greater fruiting success than did the southern-facing portions. However, the proportion of fruits produced per flower was the same.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar os agentes polinizadores de uma comunidade de bromélias em Floresta Ombrófila Densa e relacionar possíveis associações entre a morfologia de bromélias e seus polinizadores. O estudo foi conduzido no Parque Estadual do Pico do Marumbi em oito espécies de bromélias que ocorrem na área. A comunidade de bromélias apresentou floração agregada entre os meses de novembro e maio. Cinco espécies de bromélias dos gêneros Nidularium Lem., Vriesea Lindl. e Wittrockia Lindm. foram polinizadas por beija-flores, duas espécies de Vriesea foram polinizadas por morcegos e uma espécie de Aechmea Ruiz & Pav., por abelhas. Foram identificadas 12 espécies de polinizadores, das quais oito beija-flores, três morcegos e uma abelha. A alta representatividade do beija-flor Phaethornis eurynome na polinização de bromélias sugere que ele atua como "espécie chave". Tornou-se evidente a influência do tamanho da corola e horário da antese, além da presença de odor e néctar, como determinadores de qual grupo animal atuará como polinizador, com formação de guildas distintas entre o conjunto de espécies de bromélias.

Neste trabalho foram estudados os sistemas reprodutivos de 22 espécies de Asteraceae ocorrentes na região de Curitiba, PR, tendo em vista investigar a ocorrência de apomixia em representantes subtropicais desta família. Testes de campo mostraram sete espécies produzindo frutos nos tratamentos de apomixia (Calea hispida, Taraxacum officinale, Baccharis cylindrica, B. dracunculifolia, Chromolaena ivaefolia, Trixis verbasciformis e Vernonia discolor), mas apenas as duas primeiras com sementes viáveis. As demais 15 espécies não produziram frutos nos tratamentos de apomixia: Bidens pilosa, B. tinctoria, Campovassouria cruciata, Chromolaena laevigata, Erechtites valerianaefolia, Hypochoeris radicata, H. tweediei, Lactuca scariola, Mutisia coccinea, Senecio brasiliensis, Sonchus oleraceus, Sphagneticola trilobata, Vernonia platensis e V. flexuosa apresentaram frutos formados em tratamentos de autopolinização espontânea, em níveis extremamente variáveis. Perezia cubataensis foi a única espécie que não apresentou autopolinização espontânea. Testes de viabilidade de pólen mostraram esterilidade muito baixa em todas as espécies (inclusive cinco apomíticas), à exceção de T. officinale e C. ivaefolia. A freqüência relativamente baixa de casos de apomixia entre Asteraceae de clima subtropical é notável, assim como a partenocarpia (produção e desenvolvimento de frutos sem sementes) encontrada em cinco das espécies estudadas . The breeding systems of 22 species of Asteraceae were studied in Curitiba, Paraná, southern Brazil, in order to investigate the occurrence of spontaneous apomixis in subtropical representatives of this family. Controlled pollination experiments indicated seven species presenting fruits in the apomixis treatment (Calea hispida, Taraxacum officinale, Baccharis cylindrica, B. dracunculifolia, Chromolaena ivaefolia, Trixis verbasciformis, and Vernonia discolor), but only the first two with viable seeds. The remaining 15 species did not show fruits in the apomixis treatment: Bidens pilosa, B. tinctoria, Campovassouria cruciata, Chromolaena laevigata, Erechtites valerianaefolia, Hypochoeris radicata, H. tweediei, Lactuca scariola, Mutisia coccinea, Senecio brasiliensis, Sonchus oleraceus, Sphagneticola trilobata, Vernonia platensis and V. flexuosa showed spontaneous self-pollination, but in highly variable levels. Perezia cubataensis was the only species that did not show spontaneous self-pollination. Pollen viability tests showed very low proportion of sterile grains for all species, except for T. officinale and C. ivaefolia. The relatively small frequency of spontaneous apomixis in this sample of subtropical Asteraceae is remarkable, as it is the parthenocarpy (production and maitenance of seedless fruits) found in five species.

Orientador : Marlies Sazima Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia Resmo: Este estudo teve por objetivo fornecer informações sobre os mecanismos que podem estar atuando na regulação da diversidade de bromélias e de seus polinizadores em uma área de floresta atlântica de encosta à luz dos dados disponíveis para florestas neotropicais. Este estudo foi conduzido na Estação Biológica de Santa Lúcia (EBSL), Santa Teresa, ES, e foi dividido em três capítulos. O capítulo I tratou da variação da distribuição das bromélias em função de variações da complexidade estrutural do habita!. Pela Análise de Redundância (RDA) a altitude, a exposição ao vento, a presença de clareiras, o perímetro das árvores e o número de plantas herbáceas explicaram a distribuição de espécies epífitas, enquanto que o declive, a exposição ao vento e a quantidade de folhagem explicaram a distribuição de espécies terrícolas. A abundância e/ou o número de bromélias epífitas foram correlacionadas com o perímetro do tronco (P AP) das plantas arbóreas, altitude, com o número e a altura das árvores. A abundância de bromélias terrícolas foi correlacionada negativamente com o declive da parcela e positivamente com a quantidade de folhagem. A complexidade estrutural do habitat influenciou a diversidade de bromélias epífitas, possivelmente tanto em função do aumento de nichos disponíveis, mas também em função da composição diferencial de bromélias entre manchas ambientais. Foi discutido, no capítulo II, a seleção de habitat das bromélias por árvores hospedeiras e por zonas das árvores. As bromélias não colonizaram especialmente nenhuma espécie, gênero ou família de árvore hospedeira, apenas Euterpe edu/is foi pouco utilizada como hospedeira. O número de árvores ocupadas por bromélias em diversos táxons foi relacionado à sua abundância. As bromélias epífitas ocuparam preferencialmente o fuste, sendo bromélias raras ou ausentes na base do fuste. Os gêneros de bromélias, Aechmea, Tillandsia e Vriesea, e as espécies mais abundantes de bromélias apresentaram seleção por determinadas zonas das árvores. A5 espécies mais abundantes apresentaram uma zonação vertical que parece associada às condições de luminosidade As espécies com menor sobreposição de nicho devem necessitar condições ambientais especiais e isto parece refletir-se nas diferenças de distribuição geográfica destas espécies. No capítulo III foram abordados alguns mecanismos que podem estar envolvidos na relação entre a diversidade de polinizadores e bromélias. A maioria das espécies apresentou floração anuaL Não houve sazonal idade marcada na floração das bromélias, que parece ser seqüencial. A disponibilidade de flores de bromélias ao longo do ano toma possível a pennanência de espécies residentes de beijaflores, como Phaethornis eurynome, P. squalidus e Ramphodon naevius. Foram registrados os polinizadores de 23 espécies de bromélias que ocorrem na EBSL. Beija-flores foram polinizadores de 84% das espécies de bromélias, com algumas sobreposiçâes com abelhas e borboletas. Parte das espécies ornitófilas foi polinizada por beija-flores de bico longo enquanto que outra parte, por beija-flores de bico curto. Na RDA. Phaethomis ewynome, P. squalidus, Ramphodon naevius, Thalurania glaucopis e as borboletas He/iconiU8 erato e fi. nattereri tiveram sua ocorrência relacionada a alguns fatores ambientais, entre eles a abundância de bromélias, abundância de árvores e diversidade horizontal em cada parcela. Os beija-flores residentes, Phaethornis eurynome, P. squalidus e Rarpphodon naevius, foram considerados espécies - chave na polinização das bromélias na EBSL Abstract: In this study the mechanisms that can be acting li the regulation of bromeliad diversity were ínvestigated in an atlantic forest. This study was carried out at Estação Biológica de Santa Lúcia (EBSL), Santa Teresa, ES. Chapter I dealt with the effect ofthe variation ofthe habitat structuraI complexity on the distribution of bromeliad species. Redundancy Analysís (RDA) showed that altitude, exposition to Doutorado Doutor em Ecologia

Breeding systems of Melastomataceae in Serra do Japi, Jundiai, Sao Paulo, Brazil). The breeding systems of some Melastomataceae species were investigated in populations from forests on the Serra do Japi, southeastern Brazil. This study was based on controlled pollinations and analysis of pollen viability and pollen-tube growth. Among populations of the 13 species studied, seven showed apomictic fruits (Leandra australis, L. melastomoides, L. purpurascens, Miconia latecrenata, M. petropolitana, Ossaea amygdaloides e O. confertiflora). Among the six non-apomictic species only one showed self- incompatibility (Miconia pusilliflora), whereas the others showed self-compatibility (Leandra dasytricha, L. regnellii, Tibouchina cerastifolia, T. sellowiana e T. semidecandra). Pollen analysis showed that the apomictic species have significantly lower viability levels than the non-apomictic species. RESUMO - (Sistemas reprodutivos de especies de Melastomataceae da Serra do Japi, Jundiai, Sao Paulo, Brasil). Neste trabalho foram investigados os sistemas reprodutivos de especies de Melastomataceae ocorrentes em formacoes florestais da Serra do Japi. Esta investigacao foi baseada em polinizacoes controladas e em analises de viabilidade de polen e de crescimento de tubo polinico. Entre as populacoes de 13 especies estudadas, sete mostraram producao de frutos apomiticos (Leandra australis, L. melastomoides, L. purpurascens, Miconia latecrenata, M. petropolitana, Ossaea amygdaloides e O. confertiflora). Entre as seis especies nao apomiticas, apenas uma apresentou mecanismo de auto-incompatibilidade (Miconia pusilliflora), enquanto que as demais se mostraram auto-compativeis (Leandra dasytricha, L. regnellii, Tibouchina cerastifolia, T. sellowiana e T. semidecandra). A analise de polen mostrou que as especies apomiticas produzem uma proporcao de graos viaveis significativamente menor do que aquelas que nao sao apomiticas.

RESUMO A polinização de Passiflora alata Dryander decorre da atividade de coleta de néctar ou pólen por abelhas Anthophoridae e Apidae de grande porte durante todo o período de floração entre março e setembro. O vôo, possivelmente seguindo rotas de visitas, permite a polinização cruzada, favorecida pela deflexão dos órgãos reprodutivos. Há flores que não apresentam deflexão dos estiletes e podem ser consideradas como funcionalmente masculinas, o que pode interferir na alocação total de recursos para a produção de sementes.

Orientadores: Marlies Sazima, Jose Roberto Trigo Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia Resumo: Foram estudadas quatro espécies de Passíflora. P. alata, P. galbana (Parque Estadual de Setiba, Guarapari, ES) e P. mucronata (Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Núcleo Picinguaba, Ubatuba, SP), que pertencem ao subgênero Passíflora e ocorrem em vegetação de restinga. P. speciosa Gardn. , subgênero Distephana, ocorre em mata atlântica de tabuleiro da Reserva Florestal da CVRD (RFCVRD), Unhares, ES. Foi analisado qualitativa - e quantitativamente o recurso alimentar e foram identificados os constituintes químicos que compõe as unidades de atração visual e olfativa nestas espécies de Passiflora. Foi observado que as espécies de Passiflora estudadas dependem de vetores de pólen para a produção de frutos. P. alata é melitófila, P. galbana e P. mucronata são quiropterófilas e P. speciosa é ornitófila. A polinização é favorecida pela deflexão dos órgãos reprodutivos, que permite que os animais os toquem. O néctar é o recurso alimentar procurado pelos visitantes florais, sendo que o comportamento dos polinizadores vertebrados parece refletir a disponibilidade do recurso, forrageando quando há mais volume de néctar e quando a previsibilidade da quantidade de recurso é maior. A dinâmica de secreção de néctar das espécies estudadas está relacionada com a hidrólise de amido armazenado no nectário. Parece haver uma relação entre o tipo de polinizador e a composição do néctar, inclusive a quantidade de lipídios presentes e a razão Na+/K+. O espectro de absorção nas faixas UV-VIS encontrado nestas flores se adequa à sensibilidade espectral da visão dos polinizadores, com presença de antocianidinas em P. a/ata e P. speciosa. As espécies quiropterófilas possuem pigmentos que refletem na região do visível, e devem ter uma função menos importante na localização das flores por morcegos. Nas espécies polinizadas por animais cujo olfato é bastante desenvolvido, há maior abundância de classes de compostos voláteis. Compostos aromáticos hidroxilados e monoterpenos são provavelmente os responsáveis pelo perfume adocicado das flores de P. alata. Em P. galbana, estes compostos tem participação expressiva no seu perfil de odores. P. speciosa tem leve odor acre, provavelmente conferido por hidrocarbonetos. Sinais olfativos devem estar permitindo a localização do recurso a longa distância, enquanto que a localização do recurso a curta distância seria possível através de orientação visuail ou acústica. Vários compostos que formam as fragrâncias destas espécies de Passiflora ocorrem em outras espécies de plantas; alguns destes também ocorrem em secreções exócrinas de abelhas Abstract: Four species of Passiflora were studied. P. alata, P. galbana (Parque Estadual de Setiba, Guarapari, ES) and P. mucronata (Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Núcleo Picinguaba, Ubatuba, SP), belong to the Passiflora subgenus, and occur in restinga vegetation. P. speciosa Gardn., Distephana subgenus occurs in Atlantic forest in the Reserva Florestal da CVRD (RFCVRD), Unhares. The central aims of this study were to analise qualitative and quantitative aspects of the food resources, and to identify visual and olfactory chemical constituents of the units of attraction in these species of Passiflora, to verify their role in pollinator selection, since they have distinct pollination syndromes. Those Passiflora species depend on pollen vectors to produce fruits. P. alata is mellitophylous, P. galbana and P. mucronata are chiropterophylous and P. speciosa is an ornithophylous species. Pollination is facilitated due to the deflection of the reproductive organs. Floral visitors search for nectar as a food resource; the vertebrate pollinator behavior seems to reflect resource availability, as they forage when large amounts of nectar are found and when quantitative resource predictability is greater. The dynamics of nectar secretion is related to nectary starch hydrolysis. There seems to be a relationship between pollinator type and the nectar composition, such as amounts of lipids and Na+/K+ ratio. The UV-VIS spectral absortion of flowers is adjusted to the pollinators' visual spectral sensitivity, with anthocyanidins present in P. alata and P. speciosa. Pigments of the chiropterophylous species reflect in the visible spectra, and might have a little importance in flower location. There is a higher class diversity among the volatiles compounds in the species pollinated by animais with an acute olfactory sense. Hydroxylated aromatic compounds and monoterpenes are probably responsible for the sweet scent of P. alata. In P. galbana, they are also important compounds in the scent profile. P. speciosa has a very faint acrid smell, probably from hydrocarbons. Long distance resource location is probably accomplished by olfactive signals, although visual or acoustic signals could be responsible for short distance orientation. Fragrance compositions of these Passiflora species show compounds also present in other species and in the exocrine secretions of bees Mestrado Ecologia Mestre em Ciências Biológicas

Niche and neutral processes shape community assembly with a possible shift of niche and neutral importance in communities undergoing temporal changes during succession. Functional diversity helps to discriminate assembly processes since trait distribution is dependent on those processes. We evaluated the changes in reproductive traits related to pollination and seed dispersal in a successional gradient in an Atlantic Forest area, Southern Brazil. We surveyed forests undergoing regeneration varying in age from 2 to 80 years after pasture abandonment. We expected an increase in functional diversity of reproductive traits and a greater role of limiting similarity across succession. Abiotic and mixed pollination systems, dioecious sexual system, biotic dispersed, many-seeded and small-seeded species decreased as the forest got older. Conversely, bee-pollinated, bell-shaped, small and androgynous flowers increased across forest succession as well biotic dispersed and large-seeded species. Functional richness and functional dispersion were higher in older forests. Changes in functional diversity were positively related to species richness, indicating that species enrichment in older forests added new sets of reproductive traits. These changes in trait distribution and functional diversity across succession in the Atlantic Forest suggest an increased role of biotic interactions and limiting similarity process structuring plant assemblages of second-growth tropical forests. Resumo As florestas apresentam um enriquecimento gradual de espécies e um aumento em complexidade estrutural e funcional durante a sucessão. Este trabalho caracterizou os traços reprodutivos de plantas relacionados à polinização e à dispersão em um gradiente sucessional, em uma área de Mata Atlântica, Sul do Brasil. O levantamento das espécies foi realizado em áreas florestais sucessionais oriundas de regeneração natural, em idades variando entre 2 e 80 anos após o abandono da pastagem. Houve predominância de flores polinizadas por abelhas, abertas, hermafroditas e que disponibilizam o pólen como em todos estádios sucessionais. Os sistemas de polinização abiótico e misto, sistema sexual dióico, espécies com dispersão abiótica, com muitas sementes e sementes pequenas diminuíram com a idade das florestas. Espécies polinizadas por abelhas, flores com corola funil/sino, como de corola pequena e andróginas assim como espécies dispersas bioticamente e com sementes grandes aumentaram no gradiente sucessional. A riqueza funcional e a dispersão funcional aumentaram no gradiente sucessional. As mudanças da diversidade funcional foram relacionadas com o aumento da riqueza de espécies indicando que o enriquecimento de espécies em florestas mais velhas adicionou novos conjuntos de traços reprodutivos. Estas mudanças de distribuição de traços e de diversidade funcional no gradiente sucessional sugerem um incremento do papel de interações bióticas na estruturação de assembleias de plantas de florestas tropicais secundárias.

Resumo O genero Tibouchina e comum no Brasil e encontrado principalmente na Floresta Atlântica, em especial na regiao Sudeste. No presente estudo foi avaliada a viabilidade polinica de cinco especies de Floresta Atlântica, T. cerastifolia, T. clinopodifolia, T. gracilis, T. pulchra e T. sellowiana, utilizando-se tres solucoes histoquimicas: carmim acetico, Alexander e cloreto de 2,3,5-trifenil-tetrazolio. Foi avaliada a variacao de viabilidade entre as anteras dimorficas, entre as solucoes histoquimicas e entre os individuos. Em T. pulchra e T. sellowiana tambem foi avaliada a variacao entre os dois primeiros dias a partir da abertura da flor. Nenhuma especie apresentou variacao relacionada ao dimorfismo das anteras. Nas duas especies que apresentam maior longevidade floral, a viabilidade foi semelhante no primeiro e segundo dias em T. pulchra, enquanto que em T. sellowiana as flores de segundo dia apresentaram polen menos viavel. As solucoes histoquimicas empregadas revelaram taxas de viabilidade polinica distintas. Houve variacao na viabilidade polinica entre os individuos em todas as especies. A solucao de cloreto de 2,3,5-trifenil-tetrazolio revelou a menor taxa de viabilidade em todos os individuos. As solucoes histoquimicas empregadas, a amostragem e a longevidade floral foram fatores relacionados a variacao da viabilidade polinica. Palavras-chave: polen, polinizacao, reproducao, solucoes histoquimicas. Abstract The genus Tibouchina is common in Brazil, mainly found in Atlantic Forest, in Southeast region. In this study the pollen viability was evaluated in five species of Atlantic Forest, T. cerastifolia, T. clinopodifolia, T. gracilis, T. pulchra and T. sellowiana, using three histochemical solutions: acetocarmine, Alexander and 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. The variation of pollen viability was evaluated among the dimorphics anthers and among individuals. In T. pulchra and T. sellowiana it was also evaluated the variation among the two first days after flower openning. There was no variation related to anther dimorphism. Considering the two species with the longest flower longevity, the viability was similar in the first and second day in T. pulchra, but in T. sellowiana the pollen from the second day was less viable. The histochemical tests employed showed distinct rates of pollen viability. Rates of pollen viability were distinct among individuals in each species. The stain 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride showed the smaller viability. The results show that the treatments employed, sampling and flower longevity were factors related to pollen viability. Key words: histochemical solutions, pollen, pollination, reproduction.

A restauração ecológica, ao buscar a manutenção de processos ecológicos e serviços ecossistêmicos, vem exercendo um importante papel na recuperação de ecossistemas degradados e conservação da biodiversidade. Restabelecer as interações entre organismos pode, contudo, ser uma tarefa mais árdua em ambientes de alta diversidade com complexas relações ecológicas como as florestas tropicais. Neste trabalho, investigamos a resposta dos insetos visitantes florais à restauração por plantio de mudas de espécies de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, uma vez que o restabelecimento do processo de polinização é imprescindível para a perpetuação da floresta implantada. Para isso, foram examinados diferentes aspectos das comunidades de plantas e visitantes florais em seis áreas em processo de restauração. Primeiramente, buscouse analisar a estrutura da comunidade de visitantes florais e seus padrões de visita às flores, avaliandose também se a proximidade de fragmentos de vegetação nativa é importante na determinação da estrutura destas comunidades. Além disso, investigamos as espécies vegetais que florescem nos estágios iniciais de restauração para verificarmos se a comunidade de plantas se restabelecendo em cada local é importante na determinação da comunidade de visitantes. Por fim, avaliamos o restabelecimento do processo de polinização ao averiguar o transporte de pólen ocorrendo nas áreas restauradas e ao examinar a robustez das redes formadas frente à extinção simulada de espécies. Todas as áreas analisadas apresentaram redes de interação plantavisitante floral com estrutura e atributos comuns a outras redes mutualísticas de polinização, indicando que o processo deve estar se restabelecendo. A diferença na composição de espécies de visitantes não resultou em diferenças nos atributos das redes e a distância das áreas restauradas a fragmentos de vegetação nativa não influenciou a composição da comunidade de visitantes. Por outro lado, a vegetação regenerante composta por espécies ruderais aumentou a diversidade de visitantes e também a complexidade das redes de interação planta visitante floral, afetando a composição e provavelmente o funcionamento das comunidades. Embora tanto as redes de visitação quanto as de transporte de pólen revelem comunidades funcionalmente complexas com um número relativamente diverso de interações entre plantas e potenciais polinizadores, os dados de visitação demonstraram que nem todas as áreas possuem o mesmo padrão de resposta à extinção simulada de espécies. A presença massiva de gramíneas é provavelmente um fator determinante da robustez destas redes já que ela dificulta a regeneração natural das espécies ruderais que contribuem para o maior aporte de recursos florais para os insetos visitantes. Este trabalho demonstra a importância de se avaliar a recuperação dos aspectos funcionais de ecossistemas restaurados e tem implicações práticas para o manejo de áreas restauradas onde houver preocupação particular com a recuperação das interações plantapolinizador. Enfatizamos a importância do monitoramento constante de áreas restauradas para melhor entendermos as trajetórias de recuperação das florestas tropicais e recomendamos estudos multidisciplinares que integrem diversas áreas de conhecimento para aperfeiçoarmos as ações de restauração. Ecological restoration plays an essential role in recovering degraded ecosystems and maintaining biodiversity. Restoration initiatives aiming to restore ecological processes and ecosystem services are increasing rapidly worldwide. However, the high diversity and complexity of interactions among organisms in tropical ecosystems make their restoration a challenge. Since pollination is one ecosystem process that must be reinstated in order to perpetuate restored forests, we investigated flower visitors response to habitat restoration. In six areas of Atlantic Semideciduous Forest undergoing restoration, blooming plants (introduced and spontaneously regenerated), flower visitors and their interactions were recorded bimonthly during one year. We used the data to analyze the patterns of insect visitation in each area and to evaluate whether remnant habitat proximity is important in determining the structure of flowervisitor communities. We also examined the role of earlysuccessional plant community in determining richness and composition of flowervisitor communities. To decide whether pollination has been successfully reinstated, we evaluated the patterns of pollen movement and the robustness of interaction networks to species loss. Our results suggest that plantpollinator communities were equally established on all restored sites. There were no differences in the metrics of flowervisitor networks between forest categories, showing that habitat proximity had no effect on visitation webs. On the other hand, spontaneously regenerated plants (mostly weeds) were responsible to increase the diversity of flowervisiting insects as well as the complexity of visitation webs, hence having a crucial role on ecosystem functioning during early stages of forest restoration. We also found that despite having a relatively complex network structure and diverse community of potential pollinators, not all areas show the same resilience to species extinction. Still, the removal of the most connected plants and pollinators first from the network caused the higher number of secondary extinctions. The robustness of pollination networks to species loss seems to be related to the occurrence of alien grasses in some of the restored areas. As alien grass invasion inhibits natural regeneration of weeds, it also decreases the availability of floral resources to insects foraging in those areas. Our findings have practical implications for the management of restored forests, mainly those with specific targets such as recovering pollinatorfriendly environments. Additionally, this study demonstrates the importance of evaluating functional aspects of biodiversity in restored areas. We highlight the relevance of monitoring restored communities at different successional stages to improve our understanding of restoration trajectories. We further recommend future research to be more integrative, so that the information produced will help to better planning restoration activities.