摘要
蚂蚁和被子植物之间存在广泛、普遍和多样的关系,但蚂蚁为被子植物传粉的现象却比较少见。在中国四川省黄龙寺自然保护区黄龙沟内发现了一个蚂蚁传粉现象。蚂蚁(包括细胸蚁Leptothorassp.和立毛蚁Paratrechinasp.)是黄龙沟内高山鸟巢兰Neottialisteroides最主要的传粉者,其单花访问次数、携粉次数以及授粉次数在所有的访问昆虫中是最高的。黄龙沟内高山鸟巢兰居群水平的花期可持续40天,大量开花期(～60%)在7月中下旬。该植物具暴露的花蜜,花蜜位于唇瓣中央不明显的蜜槽内,但花蜜量很小。蚂蚁沿唇瓣蜜槽取食花蜜,到达唇瓣基部后,一般情况下蚂蚁头部不能接触到蕊喙先端,只有当蚂蚁头部向上抬起,才能触碰到蕊喙,花粉团通过蕊喙先端释放的黏滴粘在蚂蚁头部最顶端。蕊喙先端被触碰后,立即向下运动盖住柱头,17-24h后重新抬起至药帽位置。蕊喙的这种运动可以避免蚂蚁重复访问引起自花授粉。繁育系统实验表明,高山鸟巢兰是自交亲和的,但必须依靠昆虫进行传粉。自然条件下,高山鸟巢兰的自然结实率为19.77%。由细胸蚁和立毛蚁作为主要传粉者形成的高山鸟巢兰传粉系统传粉效率不高,可能是由于高山鸟巢兰与细胸蚁和立毛蚁之间形态上的不完全适应造成的。虽然2007年两种蚂蚁是高山鸟巢兰最有效的传粉者,但与这两种蚂蚁之间的相互关系也可能只是在特定时间,在黄龙这样一个独特生态环境中形成发展的,在其他时间、其他地区高山鸟巢兰是否同样主要由蚂蚁传粉还需要进一步研究。
Ant-plant interaction is widespread, common and diverse in terrestrial ecosystems, but ants acting as pollinators are uncommon. Here we present a study conducted in Huanglong Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China, showing that ants of Formicidae, Leptothoras sp. and Paratrechina sp., are principle pollinators ofNeottia listeroides （Orchidaceae）. The two ant species accounted for dominant floral visitors and transferred most pollinia in the orchid, compared to the role of other insect visitors. The flowering period ofN. listeroides in the studied population lasted about 40 days, and most flowers were open from 15th to 26th July. The flower has an open nectariferous furrow on the surface of the labellum which ran down the centre to the bifurcation of the labellum, and produced the minute amount of nectar. While an ant arrived at the base of the labellum following the nectariferous furrow, it could not touch the crest of the rostellum and withdraw the pollinia until it raised its head upwards. Pollinia were often attached to the top of the ant head by the viscid fluid exuded from the touched crest of the rostellum. After being touched the rostellum bent down instantly and blocked the stigma, and then slowly recovered to its original position. The backward movement of the rostellum lasted 17-24 h （21.4±2.1 h, n=42）. The temporary inaccessi- bility of the stigma decreased self-pollination resulting from revisiting of ants. Breeding system experiments showed that this orchid is self-compatible but not autogamous, and that pollination success was dependent on pollinators. The fruit set was 19.77% under natural conditions, indicating that the efficiency of this ant-pollination system is low relative to the high frequency of visitation of ants. The low pollination success of N. listeroides was considered as a result of poor match in morphology between flowers and ants. Moreover, the interaction between N. listeroides and these two ants in Huanglong Valley was suggested as a casual case in a specific period.
出处
《植物分类学报》
CSCD
北大核心
2008年第6期836-846,共11页
Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica
基金
中国科学院植物研究所-黄龙国家级风景名胜区管理局合作研究博士工作站的大力支持
关键词
蚂蚁传粉
花蜜
高山鸟巢兰
蕊喙运动
传粉效率
ant pollination, nectar, Neottia listeroides, movement of the rostellum, pollination efficiency.
