Pollination by nectar-foraging thynnine wasps in the endangered Caladenia arenaria and Caladenia concolor (Orchidaceae)
Noushka Reiter
A B I , Björn Bohman B C , Marc Freestone A B , Graham R. Brown D E F and Ryan D. Phillips B G H
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Corner of Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne, Vic. 3977, Australia.
B Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
C School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
D Natural Sciences, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, GPO Box 4646, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia.
E CSIRO Land and Water, Private Mail Bag 44, Winnellie, NT 0822, Australia.
F Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia.
G Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic. 3086, Australia.
H Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA 6005, Australia.
I Corresponding author. Email: noushka.reiter@rbg.vic.gov.au
Australian Journal of Botany 67(7) 490-500 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT19033
Submitted: 27 February 2019 Accepted: 17 September 2019 Published: 18 November 2019
Abstract
Prior to undertaking conservation translocations of plants with specialised pollination systems, it is important to ensure the presence of pollinators at recipient sites. Here, for two threatened species, Caladenia concolor Fitzg. and Caladenia arenaria Fitzg. (Orchidaceae), we determine (i) the pollination strategy used, (ii) which floral visitors are involved in pollination, and (iii) whether the pollinator species are present at potential translocation sites. For both orchid species, pollination was primarily achieved by nectar-foraging thynnine wasps, with a single species responsible for pollination in C. concolor, whereas C. arenaria utilised at least two species to achieve pollination. Both orchid species secreted meagre quantities of sucrose on the upper surface of the labellum. Visits to C. concolor occurred primarily in the late afternoon, with some wasps perching on the flowers overnight. Surveys revealed that pollinators were present at all extant populations and most potential translocation sites for both orchids. The specialisation on one pollinator species in C. concolor means that the distribution of the pollinator needs to be considered for conservation translocations. With C. arenaria, the risk of hybridisation with other Caladenia that are known to share one of its pollinator species needs to be taken into account when selecting translocation sites.
Additional keywords: Caladenia, conservation, nectar, Orchidaceae, pollination, rarity, reintroduction, translocation.
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