Pollination of Zamia incognita A. Lindstr. & Idárraga on a natural population in the

Magdalena Medio, Colombia

Trabajo de grado para el cumplimiento parcial de los requisitos para obtener el grado de

Bióloga de la Universidad CES

Estudiante:

Wendy A. Valencia-Montoya

Asesores:

Dino Tuberquia y Juliana Cardona-Duque

Programa de Biología

Facultad de Ciencias y Biotecnología

Universidad CES

2015

Al Magdalena Medio, para que la magia de sus bosques

sobreviva a la indiferencia, y siga contando historias

Agradecimientos

Deseo agradecer a mis padres por todo el apoyo y aliento que desde muy temprano me dieron

en este camino de estudiar formalmente los seres vivos. Especialmente a mi mamá Gloria

Montoya, por su colaboración desde el procesamiento de datos hasta aportes económicos

para el trabajo de campo; y principalmente porque es la síntesis de la capacidad de asombro,

que para mí es el legado clave para estudiar biología. A mi papá Gedwin Valencia por su

enorme apoyo y entusiasmo hablando de las zamias a todas las personas que conoce. A mis

asesores Dino Tuberquia y Juliana Cardona porque además de todo el apoyo académico

durante estos años han sido un apoyo emocional muy importante, porque ellos son maestros

que forman personas éticas y apasionadas. A Dino gracias por enseñarme a cerrar los ojos

para ver los seres vivos y a Juliana porque es la personificación de la nobleza. A Arturo

Aristizábal, amante de las zamias, porque de alguna manera él fue quién nos introdujo en la

apreciación de éstas plantas. También quisiera agradecer a todos mis profesores

especialmente a Maria José Sanín, por su sensibilidad, brillantez y apoyo durante la

formulación del proyecto. También de manera muy especial a Cristina López-Gallego, gran

estudiosa de las cícadas, por los consejos, la literatura, los insectos y las invitaciones a sus

salidas de campo de zamias. Agradezco a todas las personas que me acompañaron durante el

trabajo de campo: Cornelio Bota, Yeyson Montoya, Miguel González, Laura Isabel Marín,

Laura Gómez Mesa, Eliana, Héctor Manuel Arango, Edwin Hurtado, Camilo Flórez y

Sebastián Cifuentes. Especialmente quiero agradecer a Cornelio Bota y Yeyson Montoya

quienes estuvieron en la mayor parte del trabajo de campo en el zamial, por la alegría y la

música; que enmarcados en ese hermoso bosque tropical constituyen de los momentos más

preciados en este trabajo de grado. A Henry Arenas-Castro, Cristina López-Gallego, Maria

José Sanín, Edwin Hurtado, Alejandra Duque y Nicolás González-Castro por sus sugerencias

al manuscrito. Agradezco muy especialmente a Gustavo Londoño y a Juan Luis Parra por el

préstamo desinteresado de los equipos para registrar termogénesis. A la Beca Colombia

Biodiversa de la Fundación Manuel Ángel Escobar por la financiación parcial de este estudio.

A Cornelio Bota y Camilo Flórez, mis dos naturalistas favoritos, porque para mí son el

ejemplo vívido de la pasión por los insectos y el monte. A Sergio A. Muñoz-Gómez por su

incondicional acompañamiento intelectual y emocional. A Henry Arenas-Castro, por todas

las conversaciones y porque ojalá sigan siempre instaladas en lo que me es imprescindible.

A Edwin Hurtado por todo su apoyo durante el tiempo de campo y escritura, y principalmente

por sus matices de profundidad y ternura. A Yeyson Posada, la ceiba, por entender las zamias

y regalármelas en cada ojo dibujado. A Michael Castaño, el Sol, por toda la alegría

desprendida de su elocuente sensibilidad. A Duberney Chaverra por introducirme con

paciencia en el maravilloso mundo de los insectos. A todos mis compañeros de la carrera:

Vanessa Correa, Norman Echavarría, Elisa Lotero, Laura Gómez, Alejandra Duque, Natalia

Duque, Valeria Zapata, Juan Diego Ospina, Lina Bolívar, Camila García, Tomás Vallejo,

Pedro Gómez, Esteban Urrea, Hana Londoño y Paula Saravia por el acompañamiento tan

importante durante el pregrado.

A mis amigos Yenny Correa, Isabel Restrepo, Laura Muñoz, Camila Londoño, Lorena

Quintero, Carolina Torres, Eliana Pineda, Juliana Herrera, Juliana Cerón, Sheela Turbek,

Nancy Chen, Matt Dickinson, Héctor Arango, Yeyson Posada, David Taborda, Daniel

Monsalve, Alejandra Clavijo, Blanca Arbeláez, Sebastián Cifuentes, Laura Sierra, Manuel

Sánchez, Alejandro Ospina, Giovanny Pérez, Mauricio Zapata, Alejandro Ríos, Juan

Guillermo Mesa, Juan David Sánchez, Alejandra Barrada, Liliana Palacio, Samuel Monsalve

y David Mechas. También a Javier Cardona, David Cardona, Dolly Montoya, Alejandra

Cardona, Rosario Giraldo, Celia Ramos, Carlos Montoya, Eliana Moyano, Paulina Valencia,

Sandra Ortiz, Gloria Quintero, Juan Cardona y Margarita Cardona y todos los tíos y primos

que se me escapan. A Juanita mi gata, lo más querido, porque este trabajo de grado fue escrito

en compañía de ella y de Pala.

A todos los integrantes del Grupo Abarco, Tejuntas y al Colectivo Bidikay por soñar

conjuntamente con un país que tenga una mirada más sensible de su rica diversidad biológica

y cultural.

Finalmente deseo agradecer a los habitantes de la vereda Santa Bárbara, especialmente a

Doña Alba y sus hijas Darsy y Yireth, por recibirnos siempre con tanto cariño. A Don Arturo

quién nos transportó hasta la vereda, y muy especialmente a Miguel González por ser un

apasionado de la diversidad y la conservación.

Medellín, 1-VI-2015

Manuscript for Submission to Arthropod-Plant Interactions (Original Version)

Research Article

Pollination of Zamia incognita A. Lindstr. & Idárraga on a natural population in the

Magdalena Medio, Colombia

WENDY A. VALENCIA-MONTOYA1, DINO TUBERQUIA1, 2 & JULIANA CARDONA-

DUQUE1, 2

1Programa de Biología, Universidad CES-EIA, Medellín, Colombia

Calle 10 A No. 22 - 04

2 Grupo Biología CES-EIA

Correspondence to: Wendy A. Valencia-Montoya.

E-mail: valenaturaa@gmail.com

Telephone number: (+57) (4) 444 0555 Ext. 1240

Fax number: (+57) (4) 3113505

Abstract: The genus Zamia (Zamiaceae: Cycadales) holds its greatest diversity in Colombia and

most of its species are highly threatened by different factors. One of the most relevant and frequently

ignored aspects for the establishment of effective conservation programs, is its highly specialized

reproductive biology. Despite the importance of pollination for the viability of the Zamia populations,

there are no studies about the pollination process for these cycads in Colombia. Herein we describe

the pollination process of Zamia incognita A. Lindstr. & Idárraga, in a natural population from the

Magdalena Medio valley in Colombia. We found Pharaxonotha beetles in the male cones where they

complete all phases of their lifecycle. Cones produce heat, which generally follows a circadian pattern

and its magnitude and extent, are positively correlated with the elongation of the cones and pollen

shedding; therefore, the increment in cones temperature seems to play an important role in attracting

the beetles to the cones. By following marked beetles with fluorescent dyes as well as by direct

observations of the beetles on and into female cones, remaining at pollination droplets for a long

period, we confirmed that Pharaxonotha sp. is the effective pollinator of Zamia incognita. We suggest

that the pollination droplets may serve as reward to the pollinators. We also discuss the relationships

of this Zamia species with other insects like Eumaeus butterflies, Atta ants, flies and Meliponinae

bees.

Key words: cycad pollination, Erotylidae, plant thermogenesis, plant-insect interactions.

Introduction

The pollination in Zamiaceae was considered to be anemopholus until the 80’s end. However, this

was a misconception due to a generalization of most Gymnosperms condition, and it has been

reassessed by extensive evidence of insect pollination (e.g. Donaldson 1997, Norstog et al. 1986,

Suinyuy et al. 2009, Tang 1987a, Terry 2001, Terry et al. 2005, Vovides 1991, Vovides et al. 1997,

Wilson 2002). During most of the XX century, entomophilous pollination was thought to be restricted

to Angiosperms, and it has been considered as a key interaction that had played a pivotal role in

promoting the overwhelming diversity of the interacting groups (Gorelick 2001, Norstog 1987).

Pioneering studies in Zamia pollination challenged this paradigm (e.g. Norstog et al. 1986, Tang

1987a) and now we know that pollination in all the Zamiaceae genera relied on highly specialized

relationships with insects, most of them beetles (Donaldson 1997, Norstog et al. 1986, Suinyuy et al.

2009, Tang 1987a, Terry 2001, Terry et al. 2005, Vovides 1991, Wilson 2002) and secondarily thrips

(Terry 2001).

The cycads exhibit an array of complex traits to attract insects: the female and male cones have

differential attractants for feeding preferences; the pollinator life-cycles are coupled with plant

phenology; and they volatilize their odors and have thermogenesis (Donaldson 1997, Norstog and

Fawcett 1989). These features are shared with some beetle-pollinated angiosperm families (e.g.

Cyclanthaceae: Eriksson 1994; Annonaceae: Gottsberger 1999; Arecaceae: Henderson 1986) and

they are considered evolutionary convergences related to cantharophily (Norstog 1987, Terry et al.

2005). Due to the similarity of these cycad-insects interactions across different continents, and

because most of the pollinator species belong to the not related beetle superfamilies Curculionoidea

and Cucujoidea, it is now believed that the insect pollination has been independently evolved in

different Zamiaceae genera (Suinyuy et al. 2009, Terry et al. 2004, 2005, Wilson 2002).

These specialized associations indeed have important implications in cycad species conservation, but

the pollination process has been frequently undervalued in cycad conservation programs, in part due

to the scarcity of information. Both insects and cycads are unable of long-term survival in nature by

themselves (Norstog et al. 1986, Stevenson et al. 1998), and the overall specialists that depend on a

few species are more vulnerable to extinction than generalist species (Bond 1994, Terry et al. 2004,

2005, Vovides et al. 1997). Despite the crucial role that pollination mutualism plays in conservation

and its evolutionary significance, little is known about the pollination systems in cycads. Within the

genus Zamia the pollination process has been only studied in Zamia furfuracea Aiton (i.e. Norstog

and Fawcett 1989, Norstog et al. 1986) and Zamia pumila L. (i.e. Tang 1987a), species pollinated by

beetles of the genera Rhopalotria Chevrolat (Belidae) and Pharaxonotha Reitter (Erotylidae).

The greatest diversity of the genus Zamia is in Colombia (Haynes 2009, and additional recently

described species in Calonje et al. 2010, 2011, Galeano et al. 2005, Lindström and Idárraga 2009),

and most of its species are highly threatened by habitat degradation and destruction (Galeano et al.

2005). In spite of the significance of the tight relationship with insects for the Zamia population’s

viability, there is not any study about the pollination process for the Colombian cycads and their

pollinators are entirely unknown. Herein we describe the pollination process in a wild population of

Zamia incognita A. Lindstr. & Idárraga, a recently described species endemic to Magdalena Medio

valley in Colombia. We present a morphological description of the larva, pupa and adult of the

pollinator, and we included information of the cones thermogenesis, natural history, and interactions

with other insects.

Material and Methods

Study system: Zamia incognita A. Lindstr. & Idárraga occurs in few of the Magdalena Medio valley

rainforests, mainly over karst rocks. The species is diagnosed by the broad, obovate, glossy leaflets,

and short obovate megastrobilus with indistinct peduncle (Lindström and Idárraga 2009). Cones

emergency usually takes place between November and January (Lindström and Idárraga 2009). Its

estimated population size comprises more than 4000 individuals and natural regeneration has been

recorded (Aristizábal et al. 2011). This species is considered threatened (VU) (Lindström and Idárraga

2009), although it has not been officially categorized according to IUCN criteria.

Field studies were carried out on a natural population located at the Distrito de Manejo Integrado de

los Recursos Naturales (DMI) “Cañón del Río Alicante”, which is located in jurisdiction of Maceo,

Puerto Berrío and Yolombó municipalities (Antioquia), approximately at 06°33’51.2’’N;

74°54’38.02’’W, 500 m. The life zone is Tropical wet forest (T-wf), with karstic formations mostly

of limestone, where occur endemic fauna and flora in the forests associated to the caves (Cáceres et

al. 2010). Observations on this Zamia incognita population were conducted between 2010 and 2015,

although systematic experiments and observations were carried out between August 2014 and April

2015.

Cones development: Male and female cones were marked to follow their development. Cones height

and diameter were measured approximately every 30 days in October, November and December of

2014. Descriptions of cones in different developmental stages found in the population were also made,

and photographs were taken. All this information was related with other information about insect

visitors and thermogenesis.

Insect visitors, behavior and pollinator abundance: Insect visitors and their behaviors were

monitored during the morning (08:00- 12:00), afternoon (13:00 – 17:00), and evening (19:30-23:00).

The insects found within the cones, were collected for posterior identification. These insects were

collected in 70% Ethanol, and deposited in the Colecciones Biológicas de la Universidad CES

(CBUCES; national record of collections 209). The kind of cone (male or female), as well as

development stage, were recorded. To address the variation in the abundance of visitors/pollinators

among different developmental stages of male cones, we collect two cones for each microstrobilus

stage: pre-dehiscent (before pollen shedding), dehiscent (pollen release), and post-dehiscent (after

pollen shedding). We dissected the cones and recorded the number of specimens and life-cycle stage

(larva, pupa or adult) of the insects, for each male cone.

Dispersion Experiments: The pollen dispersion distance and the ability of insects to disperse the

pollen were determined by marking pollen-shedding male cones with fluorescent dyes (Fig. 1A,1B)

(Kearns and Inouye 1993). Eleven randomly selected dehiscent male cones in the zamia population

(resource cones) were marked with different colors: two green, one violet, three yellow, two red, one

aqua, one blue, and one orange. Male cones from the same plant or neighbor one (less than 0.2 m)

were marked with the same color. To find the tracks left by dye-coated beetles, female and male cones

in different stages were examined under UV light, looking for the dyes presence during four nights.

When dye traces were found in male or female cones, the straight distance from the resource cone

was measured. The cone developmental stage was also recorded and its height and diameter were

measured.

Thermogenesis: Temperatures of 17 female and male cones were monitored for detecting changes

in temperature during the day. On November, the male cones were selected randomly for taking data

and the developmental stages were not conspicuously distinguishable, then it was not easy to assign

them to any of the pre-dehiscent, dehiscent or post-dehiscent stage. For female cones, only the

receptive ones were measured. On December, the cones were selected at three stages of development:

pre-dehiscent, dehiscent, and post-dehiscent for male cones; and for female cones, pre-receptive (the

cone is relatively small, closed and megasporophylls are slightly marked; in general, for

Gymnosperms this stage is before seminal primordia are completely developed), receptive (female

cone is open, with an upper crack exposing pollination drops), and post receptive (the cone is closed;

in general, for Gymnosperms this stage pollination tube develops, fecundation occurs and seed

complete its development). Temperature sensors were located within the basal third of the central

axis of male cones (Fig. 1C), and above the second line of megasporophylls in female cones (Fig.

1D). The sensors, attached to Onset HOBO U12-006 4-Channel Dataloggers, recorded the

temperature each minute during three days in November and five days in December 2014. The

ambient temperatures (at shade) near to each cone, were also measured. Data were analyzed and

plotted in R package software (R Core Team 2015). Thermogenesis periods were defined as a

persistent rise in cone temperature >1.5°C relative to ambient temperature.

Fig. 1 Methodology. a Male cone marked with green fluorescent dye. b Male cone marked with violet

fluorescent dye. c Male cone showing the position of the temperature sensor. d Female cone showing the

position of the temperature sensor.

Systematics: Collected beetles were identified to genus following the Leschen and Skelley (2002)

and Leschen (2003) taxonomic keys. Observations of external and internal morphology were made

using a Nikon SMZ 745 stereomicroscope (magnification: 5.6x-50x) and Nikon Eclipse E200

compound microscope (magnification: 40-400X); dissections were made to observe internal

characters like genitalia and mouthparts. Because the beetle species seems to be an undescribed

species, its morphological features are being compared with types, original descriptions and it is also

being corroborated by Dr. Paul Skelley. A morphological description is being prepared (Valencia-

Montoya et al. in prep.), following Franz and Skelley (2008) and Chaves and Genaro (2005).

Results

Cones development

Male cone developmental stages in Zamia incognita can be clearly distinguished by single features

associated with the pollination process (Fig. 2A-C). In general, there are more than one male cone

per plant and they mature sequentially (Fig. 3A-C). A single adult plant with several branches can

have until 20 male cones. Pre-dehiscent male cones are pale-yellowish colored and they delayed

approximately 16 weeks to start microsparangia dehiscence (Fig. 2A). When pollen shed begins, male

cones elongated from the base to the apex, opening in the same direction, and microsporophylls are

separated exposing microsporangia. Dehiscent male cones are slightly reddish colored and they take

approximately between 1-2 weeks, since elongation starts until male cone falls (Fig. 2B). Late

dehiscent and post-dehiscent male cones are cream-brownish to grey colored (Fig. 2C).

Fig. 2 Cones developmental stages. Male cones: a Pre-dehiscent. b Dehiscent. c Post-dehiscent. Female

cones: d Pre-receptive. e Receptive. f Post-receptive.

Female plants generally have a single cone, and much less usually two or three. In the pre- receptive

female cones, apical megasporophylls are slightly marked (Fig. 2D). When the female cone became

receptive to pollen, the upper portion of the cone splits leaving a surrounding conspicuous fissure

(Fig. 2E). Female cone receptivity lasts approximately 2-4 days. Because receptivity is a short stage,

may be hard to distinguish between late pre-receptive and early post-receptive stages (Fig. 2F).

Fig. 3 Sequential maturation of male cones in a single plant. a October 2014: cones 1 and 2 are in dehiscent

phase, while cones 3, 4 and 5 are in pre-dehiscent phase, and cones 6 and 7 had not developed yet. b

November 2014: cones 1 and 2 had fallen, cone 3 is in dehiscent phase, and cones 4, 5, 6 and 7 are in pre-

dehiscent phase. c December 2014: cones 3 and 4 had also fallen, cone 5 is in dehiscent phase, and cones 6

and 7 are in pre-dehiscent phase.

Insect visitors, behavior and pollinator abundance

The most common insects found in the Zamia incognita cones during reproductive period are listed

in table 1. These insects include those that feed and breed on the cones, as well as those that apparently

make only brief visits to the cones. Insects were found more frequently in male cones in different

developmental stages. Adults of Eumaeus cf. godartii (Boisduval, 1870) (Fig. 4) visit pre-dehiscent

male cones and oviposit on microsporophylls (Fig. 4A). When the larvae emerge they feed on

microsporophylls tissues and pre-dehiscent male cone central axis making the cone non-viable (Fig.

4B). Beetles remains in male cones until they falls. The last instar larvae are more abundant in fallen

cones where they feed (mainly in cone central axis) and make them hollow. Ants of the genus Atta

were observed on pre-dehiscent and early dehiscent male cones cutting and carrying

microsporophylls (Fig. 5A) and on new leaves (Fig. 5B, 5C); they were also observed on mature

female cones while removing the seed sarcotesta, apparently not touching the megagametophyte (see

discussion below), the parenchyma of the cone central axis and the megasporophyll axis (Fig. 5D,

5E).

An erotylid beetle of Pharaxonotha genus was the most abundant insect found on dehiscent male

cones (Table 1). We found them in every examined mature male cone, and all the life-cycle stages of

Pharaxonotha were found associated with Z. incognita male cones (Fig. 6), excepting the eggs, that

were undistinguishable. Adults and larvae of Pharaxonotha sp. occur when the cones begin the

elongation period, just prior to pollen shedding, and keep onto or inside the cones until the decaying

period, after pollen shedding is completed. Adults feed pollen and they usually hide within the spaces

between the sporophylls of male cones, and they quickly scurry away or drop off when disturbed.

Beetles mated on microsporophylls, and fights between males (presumable for females) were

commonly observed. Larvae feed on microsporophylls and on the parenchyma of the central cone

axis. Pupae were found within microsporophylls and central axis of fallen male cones. Adults are

more abundant in dehiscent male cones, and larvae in post-dehiscent ones (Table 2). Pharaxonotha

sp. was the unique insect found in both male and receptive female cones (Fig. 7A). The number of

Pharaxonotha sp. individuals found in receptive female cones, was fewer than the found in male

cones (Maximum count = 4 individuals). The beetles go into the receptive female cone through the

apical fissure and pass the pollination drops while walking throughout the megasporophylls (Fig. 7B);

we observed beetles staying on a pollination droplet up to approximately 7 minutes.

Table 1 Common insects found on Zamia incognita male and female cones during reproductive time

Insect Male/Female cone

stage

Insect stage

found on

male cone

Insect stage

found on

female

cone

Feeds on

Flight or

movement

period

Maximum

count

Coleoptera: Erotylidae:

Pharaxonotha sp.

Male cone:

Dehiscent

Female cone:

Receptive

Larva,

pupa, adult Adult

Adult: pollen

Larva: male

sporangia tissue,

male cone rachis

Day and Night

974 adults in

a dehiscent

male cone

Lepidoptera:

Lycaenidae: Eumaeus

cf. godartii

Pre-dehiscent male Eggs,

Larva Not found

Larva: male

sporophyll tissue Day and Night

13 larvae in a

pre-dehiscent

cone

Hymenoptera: Apidae:

Meliponinae sp. 1

Post-dehiscent

male cone Adult Not found Pollen Day only

4 adults in

post-dehiscent

cone

Hymenoptera: Apidae:

Meliponinae sp. 2

Post-dehiscent

male cone Adult Not found Pollen Day only

3 adults in

post-dehiscent

cone

Formicidae:

Atta sp. 1

Pre-dehiscent male

Seed shedding

female

Adult Adult

Adult in male

cone: sporophyll

tissue

Adult in female

cone: seed

sarcotesta, female

cone rachis

Day only

13 individuals

in pre-

dehiscent

male cone

Diptera Post-dehiscent

male

Larva,

pupa, adult Not found

Larva: male cone

rachis Unknown Unknown

Fig. 4 Eumaeus cf. godartii. a Eggs on upper part of a male cone. b Larvae eating on male cone. c Larva

eating Zamia leaf. d Pupae under Zamia leaf. e Adult under Zamia leaf.

Fig. 5 Atta sp. ants. a On pre-dehiscent male cone. b and c Cutting young Zamia leaves. d and e Removing

the sarcotesta of the seeds, as well as the parenchyma of the cone central axis and megasporophyll axis.

Fig. 6 Pharaxonotha sp. a Adult habitus, lateral view. b Adult on dorsal and ventral view. c Larva on dorsal

and ventral view. d Pupa, ventral and lateral view.

Table 2 Abundance of Pharaxonotha sp. larvae and adults in different male cone developmental stages

Male cone developmental stage Larvae Adults

Pre-dehiscent 0 0

Early Dehiscent

Dehiscent

Late Dehiscent

54

124

260

974

607

636

Post-dehiscent 307 24

Fig. 7 Key aspects of reproductive process in Zamia incognita. a Pharaxonotha beetle on female cone. b

Pollination drops. c Receptive female cone with dye-color marks. d Dehiscent male cone with dye-color

marks.

Finally, two different bee species (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponinae) were observed on the male

cones: Meliponinae sp. 1 (Fig. 8A, 8C) in November 2014 and Meliponinae sp. 2 (Fig. 8B, 8D) in

December 2014. Bees feed on pollen only in late dehiscent and post-dehiscent male cones, within the

spaces between microsporophylls when no beetles were occupying these spaces. A fly unknown

species (Diptera) was found feeding on decomposing male cones.

Fig. 8 Other insect visitors of Zamia incognita male cones, particularly bees consuming pollen. a and c

Meliponinae sp. 1. b and d Meliponinae sp. 2.

Dispersion experiments

The male cones in pollen-shedding stage that were marked with fluorescent dyes, were full of

Pharaxonotha beetles; these beetles were observed covered with pollen and color-dyes. The beetles

foraging distances, from male source cones, were recovered in eight female cones and 11 male cones.

All the recovered tracks came from dehiscent male cones, marked with yellow, green and aqua color-

dyes. Traces of dyes in female cones were found only in receptive stage cone, independent of cone

size. Marks on female cones were usually in the apical row of megasporophylls, near to the fissure

(Fig. 7C), and were left when the beetles got into the cone (Fig. 7A). The eight female cones had

tracks of dyes from two different male source cones. The maximum dispersion distance to female

cones was 21.76 m and the minimum was 4.66 m. The average dispersal distance was 13.95 ± 6.85

m from dehiscent male cones to receptive female cones. The beetles also moved to other male

dehiscent and late dehiscent cones (Fig. 7D). The maximum dispersion distance to male cones was

21.03 m and the minimum was 1.17 m. The average dispersal distance was 11.13 ± 7.13 m.

Thermogenesis

Data for 12 of 17 cones were included, because five temperature sensors were broken or eaten by

ants. Temperature of male and female cones of Zamia incognita showed a significant elevation above

ambient temperature. Dehiscent male cones and receptive female cones had the highest temperature

peaks above ambient temperature, and they exhibited a similar pattern. Dehiscent male cones showed

higher temperatures than receptive female cones during thermogenesis periods.

Temperature increment in dehiscent male cones generally followed a circadian pattern where both,

cone and ambient temperatures, increased simultaneously (Fig. 9B). The maximum recorded

temperatures coincide with the same day hour even though the measurements were taken in different

months (see maximum temperatures in November – top graph, and December – bottom graph: Fig.

9A). Heat production in dehiscent male cones comprised a consistent rise in cone temperature above

ambient temperature between approximately 10:30 and 15:30 hours, thereafter, male cone

temperatures decrease and became more similar to the ambient (Fig. 9B). All the male cones in

dehiscent developmental stage, had maximum temperatures between 12:30 and 15:30 hours. The

maximum above-ambient temperature (5.35 ± 1.43°C) was observed in a dehiscent male cone

beginning pollen shedding. The pre-dehiscent maximum above-ambient temperature of male cones

was 1.38 ± 0.34°C and the minimum was 1.44 ± 0.34 °C below ambient temperature, generally

showing inverse peaks in relation to dehiscent male cone temperatures (see December bottom graph;

Fig. 9A); during November the observed pattern for early dehiscent, dehiscent and postdehiscent male

cones was more synchronic with a slightly earlier maximums and minimums in dehiscent cones..

Post-dehiscent male cones showed significant heating the first two days and thereafter their

temperatures oscillate around 0°C with regards to ambient temperature. After pollen shedding, post-

dehiscent male cones had a relatively high peak on December 18th of 3.98 ± 0.77°C; the next three

days, the increments were 2.80 ± 0.77°C, 1.15°C ± 0.77°C and 0,79 ± 0.77°C, respectively.

Female cone temperatures generally followed a periodical pattern, but there were clear differences

between temperature patterns of receptive and non-receptive female cones (Fig. 9C). Heat production

in receptive female cones, similar to the dehiscent male cones, increased together with the ambient

temperature (Fig. 9D). Pre-receptive and post-receptive cones had similar patterns, inverse to the

receptive cones behavior, with the minimum temperatures generally coinciding with maximum

temperatures of receptive cones (see December bottom graph; Fig. 9C). The maximum temperature

of the receptive female cone was 4.37 ± 0.78°C above ambient temperature. The pre-receptive female

cones maximum temperature was 2.19 ± 1.03°C and the minimum was 6.14 ± 1.03°C below ambient

temperature. Post-receptive female cones showed similar trends as pre-receptive female temperatures,

with a maximum temperature of 2.87 ± 0.42°C; temperatures usually oscillate around 0°C with a

minimum temperature of 0.79 ± 0.42°C below ambient temperature.

Fig. 9 Thermogenesis graphs. a Difference of male cone temperatures in relation to ambient in November

2015 (top) and December (below). b Male cone temperatures in different developmental stages. c Difference

of female cone temperatures in relation to ambient in November 2015 (top) and December (below). d Female

cone temperatures in different developmental stages.

Discussion

The sequential development of male cones could increase the viability of the pollinator populations

through the entire reproductive season, because it extends the male cone resource availability for all

the life cycle stages. Female cones have slow growth and they persist almost three times the male

cones durability, while seeds develop; therefore, female plants invest more and it could be related

with the low number of female cones per plant in relation to male cones. The short time of female

cones receptivity and the low number of them would be a determinant factor for conservation efforts.

The results of this study, strongly suggest that Pharaxonotha sp. is the main pollinator of Zamia

incognita in natural populations. Behavioral observations of Pharaxonotha sp. individuals going into

female cones and staying at pollination drops (see below), is the strongest evidence of cantarophily

in Z. incognita; in addition, the pollen dispersion experiments showed that the pollen is transported

from male to female cones. Beetles of the genera Pharaxonotha Reitter (Cucujoidea: Erotylidae) and

Rhopalotria Chevrolat (Curculionoidea: Belidae) have been considered the regular visitors and

pollinator of other Zamia species. Insect pollination in cycads was firstly demonstrated in the

Fairchild Botanical Garden in ex situ conditions for Zamia furfuracea, which is pollinated by the

single species Rhopalotria mollis (Norstog and Fawcett 1989, Norstog et al. 1986). Nevertheless in

natural populations of Z. furfuracea in Mexico, Pharaxonotha beetles have also been found together

with R. mollis (Vovides 1991). The interaction with Pharaxonotha beetles has been studied by Tang

(1987a) in Zamia pumila where Pharaxonotha zamiae and Rhopalotria slossoni are co-pollinators.

These findings coincides with other Zamia species, because Pharaxonotha seems to be the principal

beetle genus related with pollination: i.e. 22 species of Zamia have information about insect visitors,

four of them are visited by Rhopalotria and Pharaxonotha beetles (e.g. Calonje 2009, Norstog et al.

1986, Tang 1987a, Taylor et al. 2008, Taylor and Holzman 2012, Vovides 1991); other four species

are apparently visited only by Rhopalotria (e.g. Stevenson 2001); and 14 species seems to be visited

only by Pharaxonotha (e.g. Calonje et al. 2010, 2011, Chávez and Genaro 2005, Franz and Skelley

2008, González 2004, Lindström et al. 2013, Pakaluk 1988, Schutzman and Vovides 1998, Stevenson

et al. 1998, Taylor et al. 2008, Valencia-Montoya et al. in prep.). The genus Pharaxonotha is also

associated with the Zamia sister group, the monotypic genus Microcycas (Chaw et al. 2005,

Nagalingum et al. 2011), where Pharaxonotha esperanzae is considered the unique pollinator of

Microcycas calocoma (Chaves and Genaro 2005, Vovides et al. 1997). The remaining Neotropical

cycad genera Dioon and Ceratozamia, which are not closely related to the Microcycas + Zamia clade

(Nagalingum et al. 2011), are also visited by Pharaxonotha species (Vovides 1991); therefore, the

relationships between these erotylid-beetles and neotropical cycads could be considered as a

convergent interaction.

This study comprises the first description of the pollination process in a zamia species apparently

pollinated only for Pharaxonotha beetles (co-pollination by other beetle genera can be seen in

Norstog et al. 1986, Tang 1987a). The general process and pollinator behavior are similar to those

described by Tang (1987a) about P. zamiae in Zamia pumila. Symbiosis between Pharaxonotha sp.

and Zamia incognita seems to be very specific and highly specialized, because Z. incognita is the

unique known resource for this Pharaxonotha species, and the entire beetle life cycle depends of the

zamia, because it is coupled to the plant phenology. Zamia incognita offers food, protection and

breeding sites for the beetles. This is similar to other pollinator–cycad mutualisms where pollinator

mate and lay eggs on the microsporophylls, where the larvae develop (e.g. Donaldson 1997, Hall et

al. 2004, Norstog and Fawcett 1989, Norstog et al. 1986, Tang 1987a, Terry et al. 2005, Wilson 2002).

High abundance of adults and larvae were found in a single dehiscent male cone (Table 2), compared

with other zamia species like Z. pumila, in which the maximum count was approximately 300 adults

per male cone, including Rhopalotria slossoni beetles (Tang 1987a); or with Z. amblyphyllidia and

Z. portoricensis, with five adults in average per dehiscent male cone (Franz and Skelley 2008).

Although larvae and adults of Pharaxonotha sp. shared the same niche, they have different feeding

preferences and it could be account to the coexistence of large amounts of individuals in the same

male cone.

Dispersion experiments conducted had not been performed in cycads. Suinyuy et al. (2009) and Terry

et al. (2005) also marked insects with dye-colors to estimate the ability of different insect pollinators

to deliver pollen in the micropyle and the pollen loads, but traveled distances for Zamia pollinators

had not been recorded before. However, our data are not conclusive because the number of marked

cones and the time we wait to recover the dyes, were not enough to determine maximum distances;

our aim was to determine whether the fluorescent dyes laid on male cones, can reach the female cones

due to the ability of the insects to disperse the pollen. Dye-color marks left by beetles on the female

cones, reinforces that Pharaxonotha beetles are the pollen vectors in natural conditions for this Zamia

species. Marked insects also visited others dehiscent male cones, suggesting that a single beetle may

carry pollen from different male plants. On the female cones, we always recovered dye-colors from

two different plant sources; this implies that they were visited by beetles coming from various male

cone sources, which indeed increase the genetic variability of the seeds. These observations have

important implications for the population viability (although other threats as habitat lost, will be

discussed below), especially considering that gravity has an important role in seed dispersal and most

of the seeds germinate close to the mother (Hall and Walter 2013, Tang 1989). Average and maximum

traveled distances were similar between male and female cones and the both cones type seem to have

attractants for the beetles. Even though it would be important to obtain additional data from polled

dispersion experiments, the low traveled distance found may have significant consequences in the

Zamia populations connectivity and gene flow.

One of the most significant results of the dispersion experiments is that beetles seems to only visit

receptive female and dehiscent male cones, although there are other available cones in different

developmental stages, even in the same plant, just few centimeters away. This supports the presence

of key signals to attract insects, that are linked to the pollen release and receptivity stages in the cones.

Dehiscent male cones and receptive female cones showed higher temperatures above ambient,

relative to the cones in others developmental stages, bearing that thermogenesis has a valuable role

attracting insects. Thermogenesis is widespread phenomenon in cycads and has been considered to

be an adaptation for insect-pollination (Tang 1987b), because it help to volatilize odors that attract

pollinators such as in flowering plants (Meeuse 1975). Heat production in Z. incognita followed a

circadian pattern, being consistent with the general pattern described for cycads (Tang 1987b). The

maximum temperature (5.35 ± 1.43°C) for a male cone starting elongation and pollen shedding,

coincided with the time when beetles started to arrive. The maximum found in Z. incognita was lower

than the maximum found for Z. furfuracea (6.6°C) and higher than in Z. lodiggesii (3.3°C) and Z.

fischeri (1.2°C), which are the only species with thermogenesis information in situ conditions (Tang

1987b).

The magnitude and extent of heat production generally were higher in male (at least four days) than

in female cones (from two to three days, coinciding with the receptivity period). Lower temperatures

in female cones are a trend for Zamia species and generally the known maximums do not exceed 1°C

above ambient temperature (Tang 1987b). Temperature maximums in receptive female cones were

inverse to pre-receptive and post-receptive cones, and the last two showed temperatures below

ambient at the warmest times of the day. These values below ambient temperature suggest no intrinsic

thermogenesis in pre-receptive and post-receptive female cones.

The higher temperatures in cones, related to the ambient, could be regarded as a reward to pollinators,

especially considering that insects are mainly poikilothermic (Chapman 1998). It is also particularly

important because Pharaxonotha beetles, as well as other heat attracted beetles, have small bodies,

and the insect ability to elevate the temperature depends on the body size, with smaller insects

producing less heat and losing it faster (Chapman 1998). The palatable pollen and the breeding sites,

seems to be the main rewards than male cones offers, and therefore the beetles generally spend more

time on male plants. However, it is not yet clear why insects visit female cones, because it is known

that female cones have a higher toxicity (Stevenson et al. 1998). Norstog and Fawcett (1989) proposed

that beetles entry to female cones looking for sheltering, in response to similarities of shape, color

and perhaps odor of male and female cones. In dioecious plants where only one sex provides a reward

or brood site, chemical similarity between sexes can be considered to reflect mimicry by the sex

which is visited by mistake (Ashman 2009). This has been described to phytelephantoid palms in

which chemical mimicry between sexes, ensures visits of pollinators to both inflorescences (Ervik et

al 1999). We observed beetles remaining long time within the female cones, which could contradict

the idea that the beetles visit female cones only by mistake, because it seems they are staying within

the cones due to possible rewards.

The pollination drop system is a novelty associated to seed evolution (Simpson 2006) and was

widespread during Carboniferous, playing an important role in the diversification of the earliest seed

plants (Nepi et al. 2009, Nepi et al. 2012). This droplet is mostly composed of water, sugar and

aminoacids, and it is formed by the breakdown of cells at the distant end of the nucella (Simpson

2006). This secretion is conserved in some living Spermatophyta and works as the landing site for

the majority of gymnosperm pollen (Jin et al. 2012, Nepi et al. 2009, Nepi et al. 2012, Simpson 2006,

Wagner et al. 2007), except for the Araucariaceae family (Nepi et al. 2012). Insect-pollinated species

in the orders Cycadales and Gnetales only have one type of pollination droplet, although some

gnetophytes additionally possess nectaries on male buds and elsewhere (Nepi et al. 2012). After the

pollen lands, the pollination droplet is withdrawn, thus transporting the pollen onto the surface of the

nucellus, where it germinates (Nepi et al. 2009); therefore, the contact of the pollen grain with the

drop is essential for the pollination process. Although pollination drops and nectar perform different

main functions, they have been related due to similarities in chemical composition, the anatomy of

secretory tissues and the role as attractants to pollinators (Nepi et al. 2012). Insect-pollinated

gymnosperms have been generally split into those offering pollen rewards (cycads) and those offering

sweet pollination drops and nectar (gnetophytes), mostly because sugar concentration in pollination

droplet is lower in Cycadales than in Gnetales and is not considered as a reward (Nepi et al. 2012).

Tang (1987a) analyzed chemical composition of pollination droplet in Zamia pumila and found sugars

like fructose, glucose and sucrose, as well as amino acids (Tang 1987a). Sugar concentration in

pollination drops of Z. pumila was higher than in conifers which are wind-pollinated (Nepi et al.

2012). Although in Z. pumila, the observed feeding behavior of the weevil does not overlap with

pollination droplet, the chemical composition of the secretion led Tang (1987a) to suggested that this

secretion could also be acting as a reward for pollinators, analogous to the flowering plants nectar

(Tang 1987a). Our observations of beetles remaining at pollination drops for a long period, could be

considered as evidence for Tang (1987a) hypothesis, besides confirming the role of Pharaxonotha

sp. beetles as the pollinators of Zamia incognita.

Insect interactions in Zamia incognita were more frequent with male cones and generally occur in

different cone developmental stages: the Eumaeus butterflies oviposited in pre-dehiscent male cones,

Pharaxonotha beetles were found in early-dehiscent and dehiscent cones, and persisted even when

the cones have fallen. Bees visited early post-dehiscent and post-dehiscent cones. The relationships

with beetle pollinators and Eumaeus are the most commonly reported for zamias (Contreras-Medina

et al. 2003, González 2004, Koi 2008), but despite the Tang’s (1987a) reports of ants (Formicidae),

mealy-bugs (Pseudococcidae) and spring-tails (Collembola) occasionally found in Z. pumila cones,

there are no descriptions of other insect-interactions for Zamia species. Meliponinae sp. 1 and

Meliponinae sp. 2 do not occur simultaneously and these relationships seems to be non-random,

because they were found collecting pollen on every late dehiscent and post-dehiscent examined cone.

Meliponinae sp. 1 and Meliponinae sp. 2 have the same feeding behaviors, which are similar to that

described for Trigona sp. in Cycas media, where the bees collected pollen and moved between male

cones and not between male and female cones (Forster et al. 1994). Similarly, the larvae and pupae

of Diptera sp. 1 were found in all the decomposing fallen male cones, even in different months, which

also suggests that this relationship could be not occasional.

The preference of these insect species for feeding on male cones rather than on female cones, may be

due to higher toxicity reported for Zamia female cones. Norstog and Fawcett (1989) suggested for Z.

furfuraceae that the idioblast of male tissues store toxins (reducing the probability of the insect to be

exposed to these toxins) and the equivalent toxins might not be similarly avoidable in

megasporophylls. Pharaxonotha sp. was the unique insect species found within female cones and

they were not observed feeding tissues or ovipositing. Higher toxicity levels in female’s tissues have

been proposed as an adaptation to prevent seed predation (Norstog and Fawcett 1989, Tang 1987a).

One of the most frequently observed interactions was with Atta ants; they were observed on different

structures and some of these events could be considered as merely opportunistic. For example the

observation of the ants cutting microsporopylls of a pre-dehiscent male cone, could be opportunistic

because it was observed in a low proportion of the population’s male cones; in addition, these ants

are highly generalists because they use the cut material to farm the fungi from which they feed

(Fernández 2003). Leaf-cutter ants were also found removing the seed sarcotesta, apparently without

affecting the megagametophyte. Although the ants eventually can cut on megametophytous,

comprising the viability of the seed, they were just observed removing soft tissues of the

megastrobilous and the sarcostesta, this could be occurring because to cut the megagametophyte

could also imply an addition energy waste. However, it is necessary more field observations in order

to clarify whether or not these ants use the megagametophyte. This interaction could be very

important for the seed viability and the germination time, because in ex situ conditions expert growers

emphasize the importance of removing the sarcotesta (which is likely to cause rot because it can easily

acquire fungi) to assure the seed germination (Aristizábal in prep.).

Concerning to the identity of the Zamia incognita pollinator, it is highly probable that it could be an

undescribed species. In spite the little morphological variation of the Neotropical Pharaxonotha

species, this species holds a unique set of attributes that can distinguish it from the other described

species of the genus. Although Colombia is the country with the highest diversity of zamias, there are

not described pollinator species for the country, and given that this Zamia species was recently

described, its associated pollinator could certainly be also unknown (Skelley pers. comm.) and it is

being described (Valencia-Montoya et al. in prep.). Currently the morphological and molecular

identity of the pollinator is being checked for further confirmation.

The information about the pollination process may contribute significantly to further conservation

efforts. The results of this study show a complex net of interactions never described before for a

Zamia species, this is probably because the study was carried out in a natural and healthy population

of Zamia incognita. Sorrowfully, this population is seriously threatened by mining limestone and

could disappear promptly because it is located in a karstic cone, which is going to be exploited shortly.

If the Zamia incognita population of the Cañón del Río Alicante become extinct, not only plants and

specialist pollinator insects would be extinguished, but also a complex network of direct and indirect

interactions, which has long been thought as impossible for non-flowering plants.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Gloria Montoya for unconditional support and her help in processing data. To

Cornelio Bota, Camilo Flórez, Laura Gómez Mesa, Miguel González, Laura Marín and Yeyson

Montoya for invaluable field assistance. Yeyson Montoya and Cornelio Bota also provided field

observations, and Cornelio let us use some of his beautiful photographs. Gustavo Londoño and Juan

Luis Parra kindly lent us the temperature recording equipment. To Pablo Guzmán for his valuable

help with the statistical analyses. Maria José Sanín, Cristina López-Gallego, Henry Arenas-Castro,

Sergio A. Muñoz-Gómez, Alejandra Duque, Nicolás González-Castro and Edwin Hurtado gave

constructive input to the manuscript. To the Fundación Alejandro Ángel Escobar for financial support

through the Colombia Biodiversa Award, and to the Biology program from Universidad CES for

supporting field and laboratory work. Diana María Carmona and Ahída Paulina Herrera provided

logistical support while working in the Animal Biology lab from Universidad CES. Marta Wolff and

Grupo de Entomología from Universidad de Antioquia (GEUA) kindly provided laboratory resources

during the initial stages of this work. Finally, we express our gratitude to all the people in La Hacienda

Santa Bárbara, from Maceo, for their very kind help with logistics.

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