Polinização e dispersão de sementes em Myrtaceae do Brasil
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Data
2006-12-01
Autores
Gressler, Eliana [UNESP]
Pizo, Marco A. [UNESP]
Morellato, L. Patrícia C. [UNESP]
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Editor
Sociedade Botânica de São Paulo
Resumo
Myrtaceae é uma das famílias de plantas mais importantes em várias formações vegetais brasileiras, especialmente nas florestas. Suas flores hermafroditas, de cor geralmente clara e com numerosos estames e os frutos carnosos são procurados por diversas espécies de animais. Esta revisão teve como objetivo sumarizar o conhecimento da ecologia reprodutiva das mirtáceas brasileiras, reunindo informações sobre os polinizadores e os dispersores de sementes do maior número de espécies. Os dados foram levantados da literatura, complementados com dados não publicados dos autores e outros pesquisadores. A maioria dos estudos de polinização foi desenvolvida no cerrado e os de dispersão na floresta atlântica. As flores de Myrtaceae são visitadas principalmente por abelhas, que coletam pólen e são os polinizadores da maioria das espécies. O maior número de visitas é de abelhas das subfamílias Meliponinae e Bombinae (Apidae). Outros insetos como moscas e vespas também visitam as flores das mirtáceas, poucas vezes atuando como polinizadores. A polinização por aves foi relatada em Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret e Myrrhinium atropurpureum Schott, cujo recurso floral principal são as pétalas carnosas e doces. As aves e os macacos são os principais dispersores de sementes das mirtáceas brasileiras, sendo que outros mamíferos, répteis, peixes e formigas interagem de forma eventual, podendo contribuir para a dispersão de sementes. As informações sobre os agentes polinizadores e dispersores de sementes de Myrtaceae no Brasil ainda são escassas, sendo que seu conhecimento é essencial para a conservação das espécies e florestas brasileiras.
Myrtaceae is one of the most important plant families in Brazilian vegetation, especially forests. Its white, hermaphrodite flowers, with numerous stamens, and the fleshy fruits are exploited by a variety of animal species. This revision aimed to summarize the knowledge of the reproductive ecology of Brazilian Myrtaceae, bringing together information about the pollinators and seed dispersers of a great number of species. Data were compiled from the literature, complemented with unpublished information from the authors and other researchers. The majority of the pollination studies were carried out in Cerrado vegetation, whereas seed dispersal studies were conducted mainly on Atlantic forest. Pollen is the major resource offered by Myrtaceae flowers. The flowers are visited mainly by bees, the pollinators of almost all species studied until now. The greatest number of visits to flowers is from Meliponinae and Bombinae bees (Apidae). Other insects such as flies and wasps also visit myrtaceous flowers, occasionally acting as pollinators. Bird pollination was reported for Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret and Myrrhinium atropurpureum Schott, in which the main floral resource are the fleshy and sweet petals. Birds and monkeys are the main seed dispersers of Brazilian Myrtaceae, although other mammals, reptiles, fish and ants may interact and casually disperse seeds. Information on the pollination and seed dispersal agents of Myrtaceae in Brazil are still scarce, and its knowledge is essential to species preservation and the conservation of the Brazilian forests.
Myrtaceae is one of the most important plant families in Brazilian vegetation, especially forests. Its white, hermaphrodite flowers, with numerous stamens, and the fleshy fruits are exploited by a variety of animal species. This revision aimed to summarize the knowledge of the reproductive ecology of Brazilian Myrtaceae, bringing together information about the pollinators and seed dispersers of a great number of species. Data were compiled from the literature, complemented with unpublished information from the authors and other researchers. The majority of the pollination studies were carried out in Cerrado vegetation, whereas seed dispersal studies were conducted mainly on Atlantic forest. Pollen is the major resource offered by Myrtaceae flowers. The flowers are visited mainly by bees, the pollinators of almost all species studied until now. The greatest number of visits to flowers is from Meliponinae and Bombinae bees (Apidae). Other insects such as flies and wasps also visit myrtaceous flowers, occasionally acting as pollinators. Bird pollination was reported for Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret and Myrrhinium atropurpureum Schott, in which the main floral resource are the fleshy and sweet petals. Birds and monkeys are the main seed dispersers of Brazilian Myrtaceae, although other mammals, reptiles, fish and ants may interact and casually disperse seeds. Information on the pollination and seed dispersal agents of Myrtaceae in Brazil are still scarce, and its knowledge is essential to species preservation and the conservation of the Brazilian forests.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Myrtaceae, polinização, dispersão de sementes, ecologia reprodutiva, floresta tropical, Myrtaceae, pollination, seed dispersal, reproductive ecology, tropical forest
Como citar
Brazilian Journal of Botany. Sociedade Botânica de São Paulo, v. 29, n. 4, p. 509-530, 2006.