Erzincan Türkiye’den, İki Endemik Scrophularia L. Türünde Çiçek Özelliklerinin ve Bitki Polinatör Etkileşimlerinin İşlevsel Ekolojisi

Abstract

Bitki-tozlayıcı etkileşimleri üreme başarısı için temel öneme sahiptir, ancak özellikle endemik türler için Türkiye ekolojik bağlamında yeterince araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye, Erzincan’a endemik iki nadir Scrophularia (S. fatmae ve S. erzincanica) türündeki tozlayıcı çeşitliliğini, davranışını ve çevresel etkileri araştırmaktadır. 2019 ve 2020 yılları arasında gerçekleştirilen saha gözlemleri, çiçek ziyaretçilerini, ziyaret sıklığını ve çiçek morfolojisinin tozlayıcı davranışını yönlendirmedeki rolünü belgelemiştir. Sıcaklık, nem ve rüzgar gibi iklim değişkenleri de tozlayıcı aktivitesiyle ilişkili olarak analiz edilmiştir. Yüksek rakımlı S. fatmae’yi yalnızca Bombus niveatus ziyaret etmiştir ve bu tür soğuk ve rüzgarlı koşullarda bile etkili olmuştur; buna karşın S. erzincanica, Halictus quadricinctus, Halictus sp., ve Lasioglossum pauxillum dahil olmak üzere daha çeşitli bir topluluğu çekmiştir. Tozlaşmanın verimliliği, çiçek mimarisiyle güçlü bir şekilde bağlantılı olup; kümelenmiş çiçekler ve staminodlar, tozlayıcı rehberliğini ve çapraz tozlaşmayı artırmıştır. İstatistiksel karşılaştırmalar, tozlayıcı grupları arasındaki vücut büyüklüğü ve beslenme stratejilerindeki farklılıkları daha da vurgulamıştır. Çevresel koşulların tozlayıcı aktivitesini önemli ölçüde sınırladığı, yüksek nem ve düşük sıcaklıkların ziyaretleri azalttığı gösterilmiştir. Ayrıca, beklenmedik ısınma olayları S. fatmae’de fenolojiyi hızlandırmış ve bu da iklim değişikliğinden kaynaklanan potansiyel riskleri göstermiştir. Genel olarak, bu araştırma, endemik Scrophularia türlerinin işlevsel ekolojisine yeni bakış açıları sunarak, çiçek özelliklerinin, tozlayıcı davranışının ve çevresel değişkenlerin üreme stratejilerini şekillendirmek için nasıl etkileşime girdiğini göstermektedir. Bu bulgular, biyolojik çeşitliliğin korunması çalışmalarına katkıda bulunmakta ve değişen iklim koşullarında uzun vadeli izleme çalışmalarının önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Çiçek özellikleri
• endemik bitkiler
• Scrophularia fatmae
• Scrophularia erzincanica
• tozlaşma biyolojisi

Functional Ecology of Floral Traits and Plant Pollinator Interactions in Two Endemic Scrophularia L. Species from Erzincan, Türkiye

Abstract

Plant–pollinator interactions are fundamental to reproductive success, yet remain understudied in the Turkish ecological context, particularly for endemic species. This study investigates pollinator diversity, behavior, and environmental influences in two rare Scrophularia L. species endemic to Erzincan, Türkiye: S. fatmae and S. erzincanica. Field observations conducted between 2019 and 2020 documented floral visitors, visitation frequency, and the role of floral morphology in guiding pollinator behavior. Climatic variables such as temperature, humidity, and wind were also analyzed in relation to pollinator activity. The high-altitude S. fatmae was visited exclusively by Bombus niveatus, which proved effective even under cold and windy conditions, whereas S. erzincanica attracted a more diverse community, including Halictus quadricinctus, Halictus sp., and Lasioglossum pauxillum, the efficiency of pollination was strongly linked to floral architecture; clustered flowers and staminodes enhanced pollinator guidance and cross-pollination. Statistical comparisons further highlighted differences in body size and foraging strategies between pollinator groups. Environmental conditions were shown to significantly limit pollinator activity, with high humidity and low temperatures reducing visitation. Additionally, unexpected warming events accelerated phenology in S. fatmae, indicating potential risks from climate change. Overall, this research provides novel insights into the functional ecology of endemic Scrophularia species, demonstrating how floral traits, pollinator behavior, and environmental variables interact to shape reproductive strategies. These findings contribute to biodiversity conservation efforts and underscore the importance of long-term monitoring under changing climatic conditions.

Keywords

• Endemic plants
• floral traits
• pollination biology
• Scrophularia fatmae
• Scrophularia erzincanica

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