Buzz pollination frequency match and pollen release responses in six Solanum (Solanaceae) species along an elevational gradient in Costa Rica
Gorde:
| Egileak: | , , |
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| Egoera: | Versión publicada |
| Argitaratze data: | 2026 |
| Deskribapena: | Introduction: In the buzz-pollination syndrome, bees use vibrations generated by their thoracic muscles to release pollen concealed within poricidal anthers. Flowers adapted to this syndrome have structures that respond to specific vibration frequencies, releasing pollen onto visiting pollinators. Objective: To analyze the match between the vibration frequencies produced by floral visitors and those that trigger pollen release in six Solanum species along an elevational gradient. We hypothesized that Solanum anthers are adapted to release pollen at frequencies that coincide with the thoracic vibrations of multiple pollinator species, thereby promoting a generalist pollination strategy. Methods: Sampling was conducted along the Central Mountain Range of Costa Rica, where flowers from Solanum plants were collected. To measure pollen release as a function of vibration frequency, we designed, and 3D-printed, a rigid device, the "T oscillator", which was connected to a buzzer generating 11 vibration frequencies ranging from 10 to 900 Hz. Our device was aiming to mimic the bee’s behavior during floral visits. Results: We found six Solanum species and collected a total of 86 flowers along a 5.5 km transect (1 600-2 400 m.a.s.l.). Most species exhibited peak pollen release around 500 Hz, although Solanum caripense responded most strongly at 600 Hz. All bee frequencies were within the range of floral response frequencies. We also detected a match between the vibration frequencies that triggered pollen release and those produced by bees during floral visits. Conclusions: We successfully developed a portable system to study flower sonication as a mechanism for pollen release in poricidal anthers. Solanum species exhibit broader frequency responses than the range typically produced by their floral visitors, suggesting a generalist buzz-pollination system. This flexibility likely ensures reproductive success by accommodating pollinators with varying vibration frequencies. Furthermore, variation in pollen release across flower–visitor interactions may reflect functional differentiation in pollination efficiency. |
| Herria: | Portal de Revistas UCR |
| Erakundea: | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| Repositorio: | Portal de Revistas UCR |
| Hizkuntza: | Inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:portal.revistas.ucr.ac.cr:article/3195 |
| Sarrera elektronikoa: | https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rrbt/article/view/3195 |
| Gako-hitza: | anthers vibration buzz vibrations pollination systems plant-insect interactions thoracic pollination generalist species vibración de anteras vibraciones por zumbido sistemas de polinización interacciones planta-insecto polinización torácica especies generalistas |