Reproductive ecology of Psychotria poeppigiana (RUBIACEAE): a comparative analysis between long-styled and short-styled plants

Abstract

We investigate morph-specific patterns in flower morphology, nectar concentration, and foraging behavior of flower visitors in a population of Psychotria poeppigiana (Rubiaceae), a distylous species of secondary forests in the Chocó, Colombia. The studied population had 1:1 ratio between morphs. We did not observe strict reciprocity in the position of stigma and anthers between short-styled and long-styled flowers, since the space separation between anther and stigma was greater in long-styled flowers. We did not observe differences between floral morphs in flowering and fruiting patterns. Nectar concentration was not different between floral morphs throughout the day. The relation between nectar concentration and floral visits experienced by plants of both morphs was evident. Trigona spinipes (bees) was the most frequent floral visitor of P. poeppigiana. However, Phaethornis striigularis (hummingbird) and Heliconius erato venus (butterfly) probably are more effectives as pollinators. Our results suggest that floral morphs of P. poeppigiana don’t presented reproductive conflicts or functional gender specialization based on the manifestation of reproductive phenology, patterns of nectar concentration, and floral visits.