| Johnson, S D; Burgoyne, PM; Harder, LD; Dötterl, S: Mammal pollinators lured by the scent of a parasitic plant, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 278, 2303-2310 (2011), doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.2175 [Link] | |
| Abstract: To communicate with animals, plants use signals that are distinct from their surroundings. Animals generally learn to use these signals through associative conditioning; however, signals are most effective when they elicit innate behavioural responses. Many plant species have flowers specialized for pollination by ground-dwelling mammals, but the signals used to attract these pollinators have not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate the chemical basis for attraction of mammal pollinators to flowers of the dioecious parasitic plant Cytinus visseri (Cytinaceae). Two aliphatic ketones dominate the scent of this species; 3-hexanone, which elicits strong innate attraction in rodents, and 1-hexen-3-one, which repels them in isolation, but not in combination with 3-hexanone. The aliphatic ketone-dominated scent of C. visseri contrasts with those of insect-pollinated plants, which are typically dominated by terpenoids, aromatic or non-ketone aliphatic compounds. 3-hexanone is also known from some bat-pollinated species, suggesting independent evolution of plant signals in derived, highly specialized mammal-pollination systems. |
Aktuelle Termine
Aktuelle Termine
| BayCEER Short Courses: |
|---|
| Fr. 26.04.2024 aktuell Mobile Film Making Workshop (for students of BayCEER) |
| Ökologisch-Botanischer Garten: |
| Fr. 26.04.2024 aktuell Aktion | Kräuterreich & regional: Backkunst im ÖBG (zus. mit HWK) |
| Fr. 26.04.2024 aktuell Führung | Erdbeer-Minze und Zimmerknoblauch: Gewürzkräuter |
| So. 28.04.2024 Führung | Den Sängern auf der Spur: Vogelstimmen im ÖBG (zus. mit LBV) |
| So. 05.05.2024 Führung | Faszination Englische Gärten: Gestaltung und Pflanzen |