Botanical Sciences 99(4): 771-790. 2021 Received: November 4, 2020, Accepted: February 24, 2021 DOI: 10.17129/botsci.2785Miranda-Molina et al. / BotanicalOn line Sciencesfirst: August 99(4): 5, 2021 771-790. 2021 Ecology / Ecología POLLINATION SUCCESS IN THREE TROPICAL DRY FOREST ORCHID SPECIES FROM MEXICO: INSIGHTS FROM FLORAL DISPLAY, VISITATION RATES, AND FLOWER MICROMORPHOLOGY ÉXITO DE LA POLINIZACIÓN EN TRES ORQUÍDEAS DEL BOSQUE TROPICAL CADUCIFOLIO DE MÉXICO: APRECIACIONES A PARTIR DEL DESPLIEGUE FLORAL, TASAS DE VISITAS Y MICROMORFOLOGÍA FLORAL 1 1 2 1 YAZMÍN M. MIRANDA-MOLINA , EDGAR J. GONZÁLEZ , JUDITH MÁRQUEZ-GUZMÁN , JORGE A. MEAVE 1 AND EDUARDO A. PÉREZ-GARCÍA * 1 Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico. 2 Departamento de Biología Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico. *Author for correspondence:
[email protected] Abstract Background: Despite long-lasting efforts to disentangle the drivers of orchid pollination, pollination success in tropical dry forest orchids remains largely unknown. Questions and hypothesis: How successful are pollination in three tropical dry forest orchids? How is pollination influenced by floral display and floral rewards (as suggested by floral micromorphology)? We hypothesized a positive effect of floral display on pollinia removal and deposition rates. Studied species: Barkeria whartoniana (C. Schweinf.) Soto Arenas, Clowesia dodsoniana E. Aguirre, and Cyrtopodium macrobulbon (La Llave & Lex.) G.A. Romero & Carnevali. Study site and dates: Nizanda (Oaxaca), Mexico; flowering periods of 2013 and 2014. Methods: We calculated pollinia removal and deposition rates, identified floral visitors and analyzed flower microstructure to search for structures potentially producing rewards.