THE POLLINATION ECOLOGY, BREEDING SYSTEMS AND PHENOLOGY OF BLAKEA AND TOPOBEA (MELASTOMATACEAE) IN MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA.
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Title
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THE POLLINATION ECOLOGY, BREEDING SYSTEMS AND PHENOLOGY OF BLAKEA AND TOPOBEA (MELASTOMATACEAE) IN MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA.
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Identifier
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AAI8302529
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identifier
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8302529
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Creator
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LUMER, CECILE R.
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Contributor
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Ghillean T. Prance
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Date
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1982
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Biology, Botany | Biology, Ecology
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Abstract
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The neotropical tribe Blakeae (Melastomataceae) is composed of two genera, Blakea and Topobea. Five species of Blakea and three species of Topobea grow in Monteverde, Costa Rica: six in the cloud forest and two in the lower wet montane forest. Two types of floral morphology were observed, which correlated with two pollination syndromes. Seven species are pollinated by pollencollecting bees which use the vibratile method to eject pollen from the anthers. These species have large showy flowers, sweet scent and lack nectar. One species, Blakea chlorantha, has hidden green flowers, purple anthers, produces copious nectar at night and lacks detectable scent. This species is pollinated nocturnally by at least three species of rodents which visit the flowers for nectar.;All species studied are self-compatible to varying degrees and three are capable of autogamy. Seventeen species of bees were observed on the bee-pollinated plants, ranging from large bees (Xylocopa, Euleama, Bombus queens) to small Trigona and halictid species. On a single visit to a plant the large bees visit 4 to 10 flowers and remain on a flower 3 to 15 seconds, whereas the smaller bees spend up to 30 minutes on an individual plant, often returning to the same flower more than once. Since the plants are self-compatible, bees of all sizes are effective as pollinators. The large bees are probably more effective in cross-pollination and the smaller bees in self-pollination.;Three species of bee-pollinated Blakea are sympatric and share the same pollinators. These species minimize competition for pollinators by their flowering phenologies.;Floral and mature fruit phenology, as well as observations, indicate that together the species studied provide food for their pollinators and dispersal agents throughout most of the year and are an important component of their ecosystem.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Biology
