Bees? Please. These plants are putting ants to work

Date:
June 10, 2020
Source:
Edith Cowan University
Summary:
This is the first plant species in the world found to have adapted
traits that enables a mutually beneficial relationship with ants.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
In a world first, Edith Cowan University (ECU) researchers have discovered
a plant that has successfully evolved to use ants -- as well as native
bees -- as pollinating agents by overcoming their antimicrobial defences.


==========================================================================
ECU PhD student Nicola Delnevo discovered the trait in a group of shrubs
found the Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia.

Mr Delnevo said ant pollination of plants was incredibly rare.

"Ants secrete an antimicrobial fluid that kills pollen grain," he said.

"So ants have traditionally been considered to be a menace -- nectar
thieves whose aggression keeps other potential pollinating insects at bay.

"However this group of plants in WA, commonly known as the Smokebush
family (Conospermum), has evolved a way to use ants to their advantage."
Mr Delnevo tested the effect of the antimicrobial secretion from three
ant species found locally on the flowers of six WA plant species, with startling results.



==========================================================================
"We found evidence that Conospermum plants have adapted the biochemistry
of their pollen grains to cope with the antimicrobial properties of
the ants.

"This is the first plant species found to have adapted traits that
enables a mutually beneficial relationship with ants," Mr Delnevo said.

"About 46 examples of ant pollination have been documented around the
world, but these have been due to the ants producing less toxic secretions
that allow them to pollinate." No help from honeybees Mr Delnevo said
the pollination by ants was particularly good news for these plants as
they were unable to rely on honeybees.



========================================================================== "Conospermum plants have unscented tubular flowers that are too narrow
for honeybees wriggle inside to pollinate," Mr Delnevo explained.

"They rely on native insects carrying a suitable pollen load from visiting other flowers for pollination to occur.

"They have co-evolved with a native bee (Leioproctus conospermi) that
has evolved as a specialist feeder of these flowers.

"This relationship is mutually beneficial, but it would be risky in an evolutionary sense for the plant to rely solely on the native bee for pollination." Future research will explore how common ant pollination
is amongst the flora of south-western Australia and exactly how this
trait of overcoming ant defences has evolved.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Edith_Cowan_University. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. William D Stock, Margaret Byrne, Evelina Pavarani, Luna Fogu, Nicola
Clemente, Eddie J van Etten, Nicola Delnevo. Pollen adaptation
to ant pollination: a case study from the Proteaceae. Annals of
Botany, 2020; DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcaa058 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200610093549.htm

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