HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Knudsen, J. T. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Knudsen, J. T. Agricola Articles by Knudsen, J. T.

Variation in floral scent composition within and between populations of Geonoma macrostachys (Arecaceae) in the western Amazon¹

Botanical Institute, Göteborg University, Box 461, SE 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden

In geonomoid palms floral scent is both an important pollinator attractant and an important factor in reproductive isolation. However, little is known about intraspecific variation in floral scent composition in these as well as in other plants. In this study the level of variation in floral scent composition found within and among five populations of Geonoma macrostachys var. macrostachys in the western Amazon is documented. Floral scent samples were collected using head-space adsorption and were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Most of the 108 compounds recorded were of isoprenoid origin, but only 28 of the compounds were found in all 62 samples analyzed. No differentiation was found between the studied populations, confirming that G. macrostachys var. macrostachys is outbreeding and indicating that the individual populations are part of a metapopulation linked by sufficient gene flow to avoid local differentiation. However, a negative correlation between distance and similarity of floral scent chemistry indicates a case of clinal variation within the distribution area of G. macrostachys. Male euglossine bees are infrequent visitors to G. macrostachys, while other groups of insects are abundant. However, the level of variation and the chemical composition lend support to a suggested importance of male euglossine bees in long-distance pollen flow in G. macrostachys. Other insect groups are probably important in securing pollination of most flowers with pollen from nearby sources.

Key Words: Arecaceae • clinal variation • floral scent • Geonoma macrostachys var. macrostachys • metapopulation • pollination • speciation • variation

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. P. Svensson, M. O. Hickman Jr, S. Bartram, W. Boland, O. Pellmyr, and R. A. Raguso Chemistry and geographic variation of floral scent in Yucca filamentosa (Agavaceae) Am. J. Botany, October 1, 2005; 92(10): 1624 - 1631. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]