Restoring a critically endangered grassland orchid by co-planting to improve pollination and selecting sites based on pollinator availability
In many geographic regions grasslands have been heavily cleared and degraded, which represents a challenge for translocating threatened flora back into these landscapes. As most plant species require animals for pollination, pollinators are potentially a key limitation for re-establishing population...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1566543/full |
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| author | Noushka Reiter Noushka Reiter Noushka Reiter Richard Dimon Richard Dimon Björn Bohman Björn Bohman Michael Batley Alex McLachlan John Woodward Ryan D. Phillips Ryan D. Phillips |
| author_facet | Noushka Reiter Noushka Reiter Noushka Reiter Richard Dimon Richard Dimon Björn Bohman Björn Bohman Michael Batley Alex McLachlan John Woodward Ryan D. Phillips Ryan D. Phillips |
| author_sort | Noushka Reiter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In many geographic regions grasslands have been heavily cleared and degraded, which represents a challenge for translocating threatened flora back into these landscapes. As most plant species require animals for pollination, pollinators are potentially a key limitation for re-establishing populations. For the Critically Endangered orchid Diuris fragrantissima, we identify the pollinator(s), survey for pollinators at candidate translocation sites, test if remnant size affects bee species richness, and test if pollination rates can be enhanced through co-planting with rewarding plant species. We found that D. fragrantissima is visited by ten species of bee but is only effectively pollinated by two native species, Lipotriches (Austronomia) sp. (Halictidae) and Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) orbatum (Halictidae), and the introduced honeybee Apis mellifera (Apidae). Interestingly, A. mellifera was responsible for the greatest number of pollinia removals and depositions. Pollinators of D. fragrantissima were not detected at some candidate translocation sites, with bee species richness and overall abundance significantly increasing with grassland remnant size. The pollination of D. fragrantissima was significantly enhanced through the presence of Wahlenbergia stricta (Campanulaceae) within 30 cm of plants, but not Arthropodium strictum (Asparagaceae) or Dianella reflexa (Asphodelaceae). We recommend that prior to conservation translocations of Diuris that pollinator surveys are undertaken, with preference given to larger grassland remnants. Apis mellifera may serve to buffer D. fragrantissima against loss of native pollinators from remnant grassland but could have adverse effects on other native species. We show that co-planting with rewarding species may be an effective approach for improving pollination success of threatened orchids. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4dadddb9c7c4d568ad125a0b9756b5b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-e4dadddb9c7c4d568ad125a0b9756b5b2025-08-20T01:53:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-05-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15665431566543Restoring a critically endangered grassland orchid by co-planting to improve pollination and selecting sites based on pollinator availabilityNoushka Reiter0Noushka Reiter1Noushka Reiter2Richard Dimon3Richard Dimon4Björn Bohman5Björn Bohman6Michael Batley7Alex McLachlan8John Woodward9Ryan D. Phillips10Ryan D. Phillips11Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Science Division, Cranbourne, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Ecological, Plant and Animal Sciences, and Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaEcology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaResearch Centre for Ecosystem Resilience, Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaQueensland Alliance of Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Molecular Sciences, the University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, AustraliaDepartment of Plant Protection Biology, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lomma, SwedenAustralian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaRoyal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Science Division, Cranbourne, VIC, AustraliaRoyal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Science Division, Cranbourne, VIC, AustraliaRoyal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Science Division, Cranbourne, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Ecological, Plant and Animal Sciences, and Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaIn many geographic regions grasslands have been heavily cleared and degraded, which represents a challenge for translocating threatened flora back into these landscapes. As most plant species require animals for pollination, pollinators are potentially a key limitation for re-establishing populations. For the Critically Endangered orchid Diuris fragrantissima, we identify the pollinator(s), survey for pollinators at candidate translocation sites, test if remnant size affects bee species richness, and test if pollination rates can be enhanced through co-planting with rewarding plant species. We found that D. fragrantissima is visited by ten species of bee but is only effectively pollinated by two native species, Lipotriches (Austronomia) sp. (Halictidae) and Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) orbatum (Halictidae), and the introduced honeybee Apis mellifera (Apidae). Interestingly, A. mellifera was responsible for the greatest number of pollinia removals and depositions. Pollinators of D. fragrantissima were not detected at some candidate translocation sites, with bee species richness and overall abundance significantly increasing with grassland remnant size. The pollination of D. fragrantissima was significantly enhanced through the presence of Wahlenbergia stricta (Campanulaceae) within 30 cm of plants, but not Arthropodium strictum (Asparagaceae) or Dianella reflexa (Asphodelaceae). We recommend that prior to conservation translocations of Diuris that pollinator surveys are undertaken, with preference given to larger grassland remnants. Apis mellifera may serve to buffer D. fragrantissima against loss of native pollinators from remnant grassland but could have adverse effects on other native species. We show that co-planting with rewarding species may be an effective approach for improving pollination success of threatened orchids.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1566543/fullpollinatorbeeorchidDiurisrestorationreproduction |
| spellingShingle | Noushka Reiter Noushka Reiter Noushka Reiter Richard Dimon Richard Dimon Björn Bohman Björn Bohman Michael Batley Alex McLachlan John Woodward Ryan D. Phillips Ryan D. Phillips Restoring a critically endangered grassland orchid by co-planting to improve pollination and selecting sites based on pollinator availability Frontiers in Plant Science pollinator bee orchid Diuris restoration reproduction |
| title | Restoring a critically endangered grassland orchid by co-planting to improve pollination and selecting sites based on pollinator availability |
| title_full | Restoring a critically endangered grassland orchid by co-planting to improve pollination and selecting sites based on pollinator availability |
| title_fullStr | Restoring a critically endangered grassland orchid by co-planting to improve pollination and selecting sites based on pollinator availability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Restoring a critically endangered grassland orchid by co-planting to improve pollination and selecting sites based on pollinator availability |
| title_short | Restoring a critically endangered grassland orchid by co-planting to improve pollination and selecting sites based on pollinator availability |
| title_sort | restoring a critically endangered grassland orchid by co planting to improve pollination and selecting sites based on pollinator availability |
| topic | pollinator bee orchid Diuris restoration reproduction |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1566543/full |
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