A5090909350- Plant and animal studies
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
University of Stirling
2020-2022
Stellenbosch University
2016-2021
A global dataset shows that animal pollinators are crucial for reproduction in half of wild flowering plants.
Globally plant species richness is a significant predictor of insect richness. Whether this the result diversity responding directly to diversity, or both groups in similar ways extrinsic factors, has been much debated. Here we assess relationship Cape Floristic Region (CFR), biodiversity hotspot. The CFR higher than expected from latitude (i.e., abiotic conditions), but very little known about insects residing region. We first quantify relationships at multiple spatial scales for one...
As most plants rely on pollination for persistence in communities, interactions should be important determinants of plant community assembly. Here, trait and phylogenetic null modelling approaches were combined with pollinator interaction networks to elucidate the processes structuring flower colour assembly patterns Asteraceae communities Namaqualand, South Africa.Plant species assigned pattern categories (CPCs) that incorporate complexity bulls-eye pattern, using vision models. Null models...
Recent work has suggested that emergent ecological network structure exhibits very little spatial or temporal variance despite changes in community composition. However, the interactions associated with turnover composition have seldom been assessed. Here we examine whether networks are best detected by standard metrics assessing internal (i.e. interaction and turnover). To eliminate possible phylogenetic effects, large‐scale studies may obscure mechanisms structuring interactions, sampled...
Abstract Aim Insect distribution patterns can result from historical contingency (biogeography and dispersal limitation), abiotic filtering biotic factors (ecological interactions evolutionary associations). Here, we analyse turnover of plant insect herbivore community composition at multiple spatial scales to tease apart these influences. While positive associations between across broad could arise through any influences, strong association very local is only likely if distributions are...
Premise Plants can mitigate the fitness costs associated with pollen consumption by floral visitors optimizing release rates. In buzz‐pollinated plants, bees apply vibrations to remove from anthers small pores. These poricidal potentially function as mechanism staggering release, but this has rarely been tested across plant species differing in anther morphology. Methods Solanum Section Androceras , three pairs of have undergone independent evolutionary shifts between large‐ and...
Abstract Floral apparency is shaped by both mutualistic and antagonistic interactions that can act in opposing ways. Pollinators are expected to select for more visually apparent flowers, but this likely trades off against the potentially severe fitness costs of damage flowers floral herbivores. One way which close during parts day might circumvent trade‐off evolving less visible lower petal surfaces inconspicuous herbivores when closed. Here, we used visual system modelling herbivory...
The striking variation in flower color across and within Angiosperm species is often attributed to divergent selection resulting from geographic mosaics of pollinators with different preferences. Despite the importance pollinator driving floral divergence, distributions their preferences are seldom quantified. extensive mass-flowering displays annual daisy Namaqualand, South Africa, characterized by convergence communities, but also turnover genera large scales. We aimed determine whether...
Abstract Many plant species have floral morphologies that restrict access to resources, such as pollen or nectar, and only a subset of visitors can perform the handling behaviors required extract restricted resources. Due time energy resources from morphologically complex flowers, these potentially compete for pollinators with co‐flowering plants more easily accessible A widespread mechanism restricting is presence tubular anthers open through small pores slits (poricidal anthers). Some bees...
Abstract In buzz-pollinated plants, bees apply vibrations to remove pollen from anthers that have small apical pores or slits. These poricidal potentially function as mechanism stagger release, but this has rarely been tested across plant species differing in anther morphology. Solanum section Androceras , three pairs of undergone independent evolutionary shifts between large- and small-flowered taxa. flower size are accompanied by replicate changes morphology, we used these morphology...
Abstract Many plant species have floral morphologies that restrict access to resources, such as pollen or nectar, and only a subset of visitors can perform the complex handling behaviours required extract restricted resources. Due time energy resources from morphologically flowers, these potentially compete for pollinators with co-flowering plants more easily accessible A widespread mechanism restricting is presence tubular anthers open through small pores slits (poricidal anthers). Some...