A5032863886- Plant and animal studies
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Nephrotoxicity and Medicinal Plants
- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Phytochemistry and Biological Activities
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Botanical Research and Chemistry
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Botanical Studies and Applications
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
University of Salzburg
2016-2025
University of Bayreuth
2007-2017
Université Libre de Bruxelles
2010
University of Zurich
2010
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2007
• By emitting strong fetid scents, sapromyiophilous flowers mimic brood and food sites of flies to attract them as pollinators. To date, intensive comparative scent analyses have been restricted Araceae. Here, we analysed flower volatiles stapeliads improve our understanding the floral biology fly pollinated species, learn whether mimicry types comparable those found in Araceae exist. Floral 15 species out 11 genera within Asclepiadoideae-Ceropegieae-Stapeliinae were collected via headspace...
• Since the 1970s it has been known that nursery pollinator Hadena bicruris is attracted to flowers of its most important host plant, Silene latifolia, by their scent. Here we identified compounds for attraction this noctuid moth. Gas chromatographic and electroantennographic methods were used detect eliciting signals in antennae Electrophysiologically active tested wind-tunnel bioassays foraging naïve moths, attractivity these was compared with natural scent whole S. latifolia flowers. The...
Abstract The epiphytic bacterial communities colonising roots and leaves have been described for many plant species. In contrast, microbiologists rarely considered flowers of naturally growing plants. We identified bacteria isolated from the surface petals two species, Saponaria officinalis (Caryophyllaceae) Lotus corniculatus (Fabaceae). diversity was much lower on than same Moreover, differed strongly in composition: while Pseudomonadaceae Microbacteriaceae were most abundant families...
Coevolution is thought to be a major factor in shaping plant-pollinator interactions. Alternatively, plants may have evolved traits that fitted pre-existing preferences or morphologies the pollinators. Here, we test these two scenarios plant family of Araceae and scarab beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) as We focused on floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs) production/detection VOCs by beetles. found phylogenetic structure methoxylated aromatics scarabs, but not plants. Within plants,...
Summary Chemical communication is ubiquitous. The identification of conserved structural elements in visual and acoustic well established, but comparable information on chemical displays (CCDs) lacking. We assessed the phenotypic integration CCDs a meta‐analysis to characterize patterns covariation identified functional or biosynthetically constrained modules. Poorly integrated plant (i.e. low between scent compounds) support notion that plants often utilize one few key compounds repel...
Summary 1. Bees use floral cues, such as odour, colour, size and shape, to discriminate recognize flowers. The interplay between visual olfactory cues in social well solitary bee species is poorly understood. 2. In this study we tested the host finding recognition behaviour a specialized (oligolectic) species, Hoplitis adunca (Megachilidae), which collects pollen exclusively on flowers of Echium (Boraginaceae) species. We determined importance (especially colour) vulgare host‐plant...
Oligolectic bees collect pollen from only a few related plant taxa, and our understanding of both the bees' innate learned behavior in host-plant recognition is incomplete. For oligolectic bee Chelostoma rapunculi, whose host plants are within Campanula, we conducted choice tests on foraging-naïve individuals to investigate bee's preference for visual olfactory floral cues its over those nonhost plants. In addition, tested foraging-experienced determine relative importance these 2 sensory...
Abstract The interaction between floral oil secreting plants and oil-collecting bees is one of the most specialized all pollination mutualisms. Yet, specific stimuli used by to locate their host flowers have remained elusive. This study identifies diacetin, a volatile acetylated glycerol, as signal compound shared unrelated from around globe. Electrophysiological measurements antennae behavioural assays identified diacetin key flowers. Furthermore, electrophysiological indicate that only are...
In dioecious, zoophilous plants potential pollinators have to be attracted both sexes and switch between individuals of for pollination occur. It often has been suggested that males females require different numbers visits maximum reproductive success because male fertility is more likely limited by access mates, whereas female rather resource availability. According sexual selection theory, therefore should invest in pollinator attraction (advertisement, reward) than females. However, our...
Summary Pollination of several angiosperms is based on deceit. In such systems, the flowers advertise a reward that ultimately not provided. We report previously unknown pollination/mimicry system discovered in deceptive Aristolochia rotunda (Aristolochiaceae). Pollinators were collected natural habitat and identified. Flower scent volatiles insects (models) potentially mimicked analyzed by chemical analytical techniques. Electrophysiological behavioral tests pollinators identified...
To communicate with animals, plants use signals that are distinct from their surroundings. Animals generally learn to these through associative conditioning; however, most effective when they elicit innate behavioural responses. Many plant species have flowers specialized for pollination by ground-dwelling mammals, but the used attract pollinators not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate chemical basis attraction of mammal dioecious parasitic Cytinus visseri (Cytinaceae). Two aliphatic...