Pollination biology of cantharophilous and melittophilous Annonaceae and Cyclanthaceae in French Guiana Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades Dr. rer. nat. Fakultät der Naturwissenschaften der Universität Ulm vorgelegt von Holger Teichert aus Aalen 2008 Amtierender Dekan: Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Spindler Erstgutachter: Prof. Dr. Gerhard Gottsberger Zweitgutachter: Prof. Dr. Manfred Ayasse Tag der Promotion: 04.04.2008 Summary...................................................................................................................... 1 Zusammenfassung .................................................................................................... 17 Perfume-collecting male euglossine bees as pollinators of a basal angiosperm: The case of Unonopsis stipitata (Annonaceae) ........................................................ 21 Introduction............................................................................................................... 22 Material and Methods .............................................................................................. 24 Observations and plant characteristics............................................................... 24 Odor sampling and identification........................................................................ 25 Electrophysiological recordings........................................................................... 26 Breeding system .................................................................................................... 27 Statistics ................................................................................................................. 27 Results........................................................................................................................ 27 Plant material........................................................................................................ 27 Observations on flower visitors ........................................................................... 28 Morphological and histochemical studies of the scent-producing area........... 31 Scent ....................................................................................................................... 32 Perception of U. stipitata volatiles by male bees................................................. 33 Breeding system .................................................................................................... 34 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 34 Literature................................................................................................................... 38 Heterodichogamy within a population of Anaxagorea prinoides (Annoaceae) pollinated by nitdulid beetles………………..……………………………………..43 Introduction............................................................................................................... 44 Material and Methods .............................................................................................. 46 Plant characteristics and observation of flower visitors ................................... 46 Odor sampling and identification........................................................................ 46 Breeding system .................................................................................................... 47 Y-tube experiments............................................................................................... 47 Results........................................................................................................................ 48 Plant material and floral biology......................................................................... 48 Population phenology ........................................................................................... 50 Floral anthesis and floral visitors........................................................................ 51 Scent ....................................................................................................................... 54 Y-tube experiments............................................................................................... 55 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 56 Literature................................................................................................................... 62 A novel pollination mode: mushroom-like floral characteristics in Duguetia cadaverica (Annonaceae) attract mycetophagous nitidulid beetles.….67 Introduction............................................................................................................... 68 Material and methods............................................................................................... 69 Study site and analyses......................................................................................... 69 Scent ....................................................................................................................... 70 Results........................................................................................................................ 71 Plant analysis......................................................................................................... 71 Phenology of individuals and the population ..................................................... 73 Flower scent........................................................................................................... 74 Pollinators.............................................................................................................. 75 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 76 Literature................................................................................................................... 78 Ecological relationships of Evodianthus funifer and other Cylanthaceae with their associated derelomine (Curculionidae) beetles……………………….81 Introduction............................................................................................................... 82 Material and Methods .............................................................................................. 83 Species investigated, their characteristics and phenology ................................ 83 Odor sampling and identification........................................................................ 84 Nutritional chemistry of inflorescences and sterile plant parts........................ 85 Results........................................................................................................................ 85 Plant material and floral biology......................................................................... 85 Scent analyses........................................................................................................ 88 Morphological and histochemical studies of the staminodes............................ 90 Nutritional chemistry ........................................................................................... 91 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 94 Literature................................................................................................................... 98 Curriculum vitae..................................................................................................... 100 Danksagung ................................................................................................................. 102 Summary Summary Pollination biology of cantharophilous and melittophilous Annonaceae and Cyclanthaceae in French Guiana Thesis topic Due to human impact tropical forests become fragmented and their preservation and sustainable management receive more attention. Functioning plant-animal interaction are crucial for long-term preservation of biodiversity in every rainforest. Therefore, understanding the plant-animal interactions is the key to sustainable management of this ecosystem. In undisturbed ecosystems, these interactions exist in their most preserved state and provide the true account on the ecology of the species concerned. The relationship between plants and their insect pollinators is one of the most important interactions in the evolutionary history of angiosperms. Most tropical plants are pollinated by insects, but only a fraction has been investigated and information is completely missing for many evolutionary important taxonomical groups. The aim of the present study was to estimate pollination mechanisms of selected species belonging to the families Annonaceae and Cyclanthaceae in their original and undisturbed habitat. Annonaceae is an evolutionary old family, and their members form an important component of tropical rainforests because of their species richness and high abundance. The Cyclanthaceae occur only in the Neotropics. Their live form include mostly terrestrial herbs or (hemi)-epiphytes. The following questions were addressed: 1) How do the plant-pollinator relationships function in the selected Annonaceae and Cyclanthaceae? What is the pollinator spectrum during anthesis? How is cross-pollination ensured? What is the timing of individual floral events during the pollination process? 2) What are the morphological and ecological traits that the plants have evolved which improve