Beyond the various contrivances by which orchids are pollinated: global patterns in orchid pollination biology

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. 202, pp. 295–324

Abstract

Abstract Orchidaceae show remarkable diversity in pollination strategies, but how these strategies vary globally is not entirely clear. To identify regions and taxa that are data-rich and lend themselves to rigorous analyses or are data-poor and need attention, we introduce a global database of orchid reproductive biology. Our database contains > 2900 species representing all orchid subfamilies and 23 of 24 tribes. We tabulated information on habit, breeding systems, means of pollinator attraction and the identity of pollinators. Patterns of reproductive biology by habit, geography and taxonomy are presented graphically and analysed statistically. On the basis of our database, most orchid species sampled are pollinator dependent (76%) and self-compatible (88%). Pollinator attraction based on rewards occurs in 54% of the species, whereas 46% use some means of deceit. Orchids generally have highly specific pollinator interactions (median number of pollinator species = 1). Nonetheless, on average, specificity is lower for species offering rewards, occurring in multiple continental regions or Northern America (as defined by the Taxonomic Database Working Group Level 1 regions). Although our database reveals impressive knowledge gains, extensive gaps in basic observations of orchid reproductive biology exist, particularly in tropical regions and diverse lineages of fly-pollinated species. The database is expected to facilitate targeted studies, further elucidating the ecological and evolutionary drivers of orchid diversity.

Authors 9

1. James D. Ackerman corresponding

   University of Puerto Rico System

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico , San Juan, Puerto Rico , USA

2. Ryan D. Phillips

   Australian National University · La Trobe University · Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University , Melbourne, Victoria , Australia

   Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University , Canberra, ACT , Australia

   Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria , Cranbourne, Victoria , Australia

3. Raymond L. Tremblay

   University of Puerto Rico System

   Affiliation as printed

   Intercampus PhD Program, University of Puerto Rico , San Juan, Puerto Rico , USA

4. Adam P. Karremans Aachen Evolutionary Ecology Group Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center · Universidad de Costa Rica

   Affiliation as printed

   Evolutionary Ecology Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center , Leiden , The Netherlands

   Jardín Botánico Lankester, Universidad de Costa Rica , Cartago , Costa Rica

5. Noushka Reiter

   Australian National University · Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

   Affiliation as printed

   Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University , Canberra, ACT , Australia

   Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria , Cranbourne, Victoria , Australia

6. Craig I. Peter

   Rhodes University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Botany, Rhodes University , Grahamstown , South Africa

7. Diego Bogarín

   Universidad de Costa Rica

   Affiliation as printed

   Jardín Botánico Lankester, Universidad de Costa Rica , Cartago , Costa Rica

8. Oscar Alejandro Pérez-Escobar

   Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

   Affiliation as printed

   Royal Botanic Gardens , Kew, Richmond, Surrey , UK

9. Hong Dong Liu

   Florida International University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University , Miami, Florida , USA