@article {22011, title = {The long and the short of it: a global analysis of hawkmoth pollination niches and interaction networks}, journal = {Functional Ecology}, volume = {31}, year = {2017}, pages = {101-115}, chapter = {101}, abstract = {

\"1. Proboscis length has been proposed as a key dimension of plant pollination niches, but this niche space has not previously been explored at regional and global scales for any pollination system. Hawkmoths are ideal organisms for exploring pollinator niches as they are important pollinators in most of the biodiverse regions of the earth and vary greatly in proboscis length, with some species having the longest proboscides of all insects.
2. Using data sets for nine biogeographical regions spanning the Old and New World, we ask whether it is possible to identify distinct hawkmoth pollination niches based on the frequency distribution of proboscis length, and whether these niches are reflected in the depths of flowers that are pollinated by hawkmoths. We also investigate the levels of specialization in hawkmoth pollination systems at the regional and community level using data from interaction network studies.
3. We found that most regional hawkmoth assemblages have bimodal or multimodal distributions of proboscis length and that these are matched by similar distributions of floral tube lengths. Hawkmoths, particularly those with longer proboscides, are polyphagous and at the network level show foraging specialization equivalent to or less than that of bees and hummingbirds. In the case of plants, shorter-tubed flowers are usually visited by numerous hawkmoth
species, while those that are longer-tubed tend to exclude shorter-proboscid hawkmoths and thus become ecologically specialized on longer-proboscid hawkmoth species. Longer-tubed flowers tend to have greater nectar rewards, and this promotes short-term constancy by longproboscid hawkmoths.
4. Our results show that pollinator proboscis length is a key niche axis for plants and can account for the patterns of evolution in functional traits such as floral tube length and nectar volume. We also highlight a paradoxical trend for nectar resource niche breadth to increase according to proboscis length of pollinators, while pollinator niche breadth decreases according to the tube length of flowers.\"

}, keywords = {ADAPTATION, ADAPTIVE RADATION, BIOGEOGRAPHY, COEVOLUTION, COMMUNITY STRUCTURE, ECOLOGY, NECTAR SOURCES, POLLINATION, POLLINATOR SHIFT, POLLINATOR SPECIFICITY, SPHINGIDAE}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2435.12753}, author = {Johnson, S.D. and Mor{\'e}, M. and Amorim, F.W. and Haber, W.A. and Frankie, G.W. and Stanley, D.A. and Cocucci, A.A. and Raguso, R.A.} } @article {21426, title = {Specialized use of pollen vectors by Caesalpinia gilliesii, a legume species with brush-type flowers}, journal = {Biological Journal of the Linnean Society}, volume = {88}, year = {2006}, pages = {579-592}, chapter = {579}, keywords = {AGRIUS, ARGENTINA, CAESALPINIA, CALLIONIMA, FABACEAE, HYLES, LINTNERIA, MANDUCA, POLLINATION, POLLINATOR SPECIFICITY, PROBOSCIS, SPHINGIDAE, WORLDMAP1, XYLOPHANES}, author = {Mor{\'e}, M. and S{\'e}rsic, A.N. and Cocucci, A.A.} } @article {21094, title = {Beyond neutral and forbidden links: morphological matches and the assembly of mutualistic hawkmoth-plant networks}, journal = {Journal of Animal Ecology}, volume = {85}, year = {2016}, month = {10/2016}, pages = {1586-1594}, chapter = {1586}, abstract = {

\"1. A major challenge in evolutionary ecology is to understand how co-evolutionary processes
shape patterns of interactions between species at community level. Pollination of flowers with
long corolla tubes by long-tongued hawkmoths has been invoked as a showcase model of
co-evolution. Recently, optimal foraging models have predicted that there might be a close
association between mouthparts\’ length and the corolla depth of the visited flowers, thus
favouring trait convergence and specialization at community level.
2. Here, we assessed whether hawkmoths more frequently pollinate plants with floral tube
lengths similar to their proboscis lengths (morphological match hypothesis) against abundance-
based processes (neutral hypothesis) and ecological trait mismatches constraints (forbidden
links hypothesis), and how these processes structure hawkmoth\–plant mutualistic
networks from five communities in four biogeographical regions of South America.
3. We found convergence in morphological traits across the five communities and that the
distribution of morphological differences between hawkmoths and plants is consistent with
expectations under the morphological match hypothesis in three of the five communities. In
the two remaining communities, which are ecotones between two distinct biogeographical
areas, interactions are better predicted by the neutral hypothesis.
4. Our findings are consistent with the idea that diffuse co-evolution drives the evolution of
extremely long proboscises and flower tubes, and highlight the importance of morphological
traits, beyond the forbidden links hypothesis, in structuring interactions between mutualistic
partners, revealing that the role of niche-based processes can be much more complex than
previously known.\"

}, keywords = {ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, COEVOLUTION, COMMUNITY STRUCTURE, ECOLOGY, FORAGING, MORPHOLOGICAL FORBIDDEN LINKS HYPOTHESIS, MORPHOLOGICAL MATCH HYPOTHESIS, NEUTRAL HYPOTHESIS, PLANT-POLLINATOR NETWORKS, POLLINATION, PROBOSCIS, RAREFACTION, SPHINGIDAE, WORLDMAP1}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.12509}, author = {Sazatornil, F.D. and Mor{\'e}, M. and Benitez-Vieyra, S. and Cocucci, A.A. and Kitching, I.J. and Schlumpberger, B.O. and Oliveira, P.E. and Sazima, M. and Amorim, F.W.} } @inbook {20849, title = {Sphingidae}, booktitle = {Biodiversidad de Artr{\'o}podos Argentinos}, volume = {4}, year = {2014}, pages = {281-295}, publisher = {INSUE - UNT Ediciones}, organization = {INSUE - UNT Ediciones}, address = {San Miguel de Tucum{\'a}n, Argentina}, keywords = {ADULT MORPHOLOGY, ARGENTINA, BIOGEOGRAPHY, DIVERSITY, KEY, PROBOSCIS, SPHINGIDAE}, isbn = {978-950-554-905-4}, author = {Mor{\'e}, M. and Kitching, I.J. and Cocucci, A.A.}, editor = {Roig-Ju{\~n}ent, S and Claps, L.E. and Morrone, J.J.} } @article {19363, title = {Possible tobacco progenitors share long-tongued hawkmoths as pollen vectors}, journal = {Plant Systematics and Evolution}, volume = {241}, year = {2003}, month = {2003}, pages = {47-54}, chapter = {47}, abstract = {

\"The putative ancestors of the allopolyploid hybrid Nicotiana tabacum have distinct flower features, apparently suited either for hawkmoth or bat pollination. This suggests that progenitors were reproductively isolated by mechanical and ethological barriers. However, the present data show that in natural populations pollen vectors could be shared by two of the possible progenitors. Pollen vectors of one of the possible male progenitors (N. otophora) were short- and long-tongued hawkmoths and a nectar-feeding bat, while those of the female ancestor (N. sylvestris) were only long-tongued hawkmoths. The latter are then the most likely vectors responsible for the presumed spontaneous hybridization. These data also suggest that interspecific pollen transfer occurred more likely in one direction.\"

}, keywords = {AGRIUS, BATS, HYBRIDS, MANDUCA, NICOTIANA, POLLINATION, POLLINATOR SPECIFICITY, SOLANACEAE, SPHINGIDAE}, doi = {10.1007/s00606-003-0027-9}, author = {Nattero, J. and Mor{\'e}, M. and S{\'e}rsic, A.N. and Cocucci, A.A.} } @article {19284, title = {Armament imbalances: match and mismatch in plant-pollinator traits of highly specialized long-spurred orchids}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {7}, year = {2012}, month = {2012}, pages = {e41878}, keywords = {ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, HABENARIA, MANDUCA, ORCHIDACEAE, POLLINATION, POLLINATOR SHIFT, POLLINATOR SPECIFICITY, PROBOSCIS, SELECTION, SPHINGIDAE, WORLDMAP1}, author = {Mor{\'e}, M. and Amorim, F. W. and Benitez-Vieyra, S. and Medina, A. M. and Sazima, M. and Cocucci, A. A.} } @book {19285, title = {Sphingidae. Esf{\'\i}ngidos de Argentina. Hawkmoths of Argentina}, year = {2005}, month = {2005}, pages = {166}, publisher = {L.O.L.A.}, organization = {L.O.L.A.}, address = {Buenos Aires}, keywords = {ARGENTINA, CHECKLIST, FOODPLANT, MANDUCA, SPHINGIDAE, WORLDMAP1}, issn = {950-9725-64-1}, author = {Mor{\'e}, M. and Kitching, I.J. and Cocucci, A.A.} } @article {19283, title = {Restriction of pollinator assemblage through flower length and width in three long-tongued hawkmoth-pollinated Apocynaceae}, journal = {Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden}, volume = {94}, year = {2007}, month = {07/2007}, pages = {485-504}, chapter = {485}, abstract = {

\"Apocynaceae have a precise pollination mechanism. However, broad pollinator assemblages, including several insect orders, have often been recorded. We test how the corolla tube length and operative width required for effective release of the pollination mechanism could restrict the pollinator assemblage in putatively hawkmoth-pollinated Apocynaceae that differ in flower depth. If corolla tube length were effective in filtering pollinators, a broader pollen vector assemblage would be expected in short-flowered species. For this to occur, the operative width of the pollinating apparatus would be additionally expected not to be specific to any particular pollinator. Alternatively, if the pollination mechanism were to have any effect in the exclusion of pollinators, access to short flowers would be expected to be limited by proboscis width rather than length. Pollination of three species in the Apocynaceae was studied in seven populations through direct observations and palynological analysis of hawkmoths. Proboscis widths of hawkmoths carrying and not carrying pollen were compared with operative floral width as measured by proboscis analogues of different diameters that could successfully release the pollination mechanism. Species studied were exclusively hawkmoth pollinated. Pollen was always attached to pollinator proboscides, either near the base or on the apical half. The long-tongued hawkmoth species Manduca sexta (L.) was the major pollinator of Mandevilla longiflora (Desf.) Pichon and Mandevilla petraea (A. St.-Hil.) Pichon. Surprisingly, another long-tongued species, Manduca tucumana (Rothschild \& Jordan), was the main pollinator of the short-flowered Mandevilla laxa (Ruiz \& Pav.) Woodson. Here, the operative flower width was a decisive factor restricting the pollinator spectrum to hawkmoths with proboscides narrow enough to release the pollination apparatus. Short-tongued hawkmoths, which also have wider proboscides, cannot release the pollination mechanism. In M. petraea, the operative length, and not the operative width, restricts the pollinator assemblage. Thus, two different plant strategies were observed to restrict the pollinator spectrum: floral tube length and the operative width of the pollination mechanism.

}, keywords = {APOCYNACEAE, ARGENTINA, INCOMPLETE, POLLINATION, POLLINATOR SPECIFICITY, SPHINGIDAE, WORLDMAP1}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3417/0026-6493(2007)94[485:ROPATF]2.0.CO;2}, author = {Mor{\'e}, M. and S{\'e}rsic, A.N. and Cocucci, A.A.} }