Vertebrate pollination of the endemic Trochetia granulata (Malvaceae) on Réunion. (24th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Le Péchon, Timothée; Sanchez, Mickaël; Humeau, Laurence; Gigord, Luc D.B.; Zhang, Li-Bing
• Is Part Of: Journal of tropical ecology. Volume 29:Part 4(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 353
• Page End: 356
• Publication Date: 2013-05-24
• Subjects: Apis, -- gecko, -- island, -- plant–animal interactions, -- Phelsuma, -- Zosterops; Ecology -- Tropics -- Periodicals; 577.0913
• DOI: 10.1017/S0266467413000278
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-4674

Abstract

Abstract: The pollination ecology and breeding system of Trochetia granulata (Malvaceae), an endemic tree species from Réunion were studied. In 2010–2011, compatibility studies were conducted on a total of 154 flowers from 35 different individuals using three different hand pollination treatments: (a) autofertility, (b) self-pollination and (c) cross-pollination. During the period, we also studied the pollination ecology of T. granulata . During 48 h of video recordings, we tracked flower visits to T. granulata in six different sites and studied the behaviour of the visitors. The results from the hand-cross experiments show that T. granulata is self-compatible (60.8% fruit set) but cannot produce fruit (5.4% fruit set) without the visit of a pollen vector. During surveys, four different visitors were reported: the introduced honey bee ( Apis mellifera ), two endemic species of white-eye ( Zosterops borbonicus borbonicus and Z. olivaceus ) and the endemic Réunion day gecko ( Phelsuma borbonica ). This study documented a new case of vertebrate-pollination by lizard and birds in an insular context. These interactions might be linked to several uncommon floral traits of Trochetia species.