CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The ecology of the Euterpe palm has been studied extensivelybecause several of its species are considered "key species". Butdespite the vast literature published on Euterpe edulis, there are still gapsor fragmented information on the reproductive ecology of this species. Theresults on pollination treatments analyzed show a high variability in fruitproduction and the effort to know the diversity of floral visitors has beengenerating a skewed view of their interactions and potential pollinators of E.edulis. The objectives of this study are reviewing the pollination system ofEuterpe edulis and compare our results with those available for the species andthe genus Euterpe in the literature. Contrary to previously reported we findthat E. edulis is a palm with a predominantly anemophilic syndrome but that inturn is combined with entomophilic strategies and can even resort to self-pollinationin the absence of exogamous pollen. Also, our study is convincing in show thatE. edulis is a generalist species that attracts a large number and diversity ofinsects, where Hymenoptera and Diptera stand out in richness and frequency ofvisits. That is, the trophic resources are apparently more important for bees(and the others insect visitants) than bees for the palm. The greater or lesserdependence of E. edulis on the pollinators? insects could indicate strategiesof genetic diversification to guarantee the reproductive success in differentecological context. We argued that the pollen transported by the wind would beeven more efficient than the insects inside a dense Palmitales like our studysite, but insect mediated pollination could be a key strategy to ensureoutcrossing in isolated palms or when little dense. Compared with otherecologically similar palm trees of the genus Euterpe (E. spiritosantensis, Eprecatoria and E. oleracea) divergent and similar patters regarding insect?svisits to floral phases and in reproductive strategies are observed at the sametime. While the amount and content of nectar is similar between species, adifferent pattern of insect visits is observed. Insect visits are markedlyhigher in female flowers in E. edulis and markedly higher in male flowers in E.precatoria and E. oleracea. Also we make contributions to genetic studies inlight of new findings over wind pollination system of E. edulis. Finally wesuggest some research topics and elements to be taken into account in futureresearch on E. edulis populations.