INVESTIGADORES
COCUCCI Andrea Aristides
artículos
Título:
Pollination ecology of the invasive tree tobacco nicotiana glauca: comparisons across native and non-native ranges
Autor/es:
OLLERTON, J.; WATTS, S.; CONNERTY, S.; LOCK, J.; PARKER, L.; WILSON, I,; SCHUELLER, S.; NATTERO J.; COCUCCI, A. A.; IZHAKI, I.; GEERTS, S.; PAUW, A.; STOUT, J. C.
Revista:
Journal of Pollination Ecology
Editorial:
Public Knowledge Project
Referencias:
Año: 2012 vol. 9 p. 85 - 95
ISSN:
1920-7603
Resumen:
Abstract?Interactions with
pollinators are thought to play a significant role in determining
whether plant species become invasive, and ecologically generalised
species are predicted to be more likely to invade than more
specialised species. Using published and unpublished data we assessed
the floral biology and pollination ecology of the South American
native Nicotiana glauca (Solanaceae) which has become a significant
invasive of semi-arid parts of the world. In regions where
specialised bird pollinators are available, for example hummingbirds
in California and
sunbirds in South Africa and Israel, N.
glauca interacts with these local pollinators and sets seed by both
out-crossing and selfing. In areas where there are no such birds,
such as the Canary Islands and Greece, abundant viable seed is set by
selfing, facilitated by the shorter stigma-anther distance compared
to plants in native populations. Surprisingly, in these areas without
pollinating birds, the considerable nectar resources are only rarely
exploited by other flower visitors such as bees or butterflies,
either legitimately or by nectar robbing. We conclude that Nicotiana
glauca is a successful invasive species outside of its native range,
despite its functionally specialised hummingbird pollination system,
because it has evolved to become more frequently self pollinating in
areas where it is introduced. Its invasion success is not predictable
from what is known of its interactions with pollinators in its home
range.