Chemosystematics and Pollination of Gongora (Orchidaceae)

佛罗里达大学的威廉姆斯博士和德雷斯勒博士以及他们在厄瓜多尔的同事将研究贡戈拉兰花物种与其本土传粉者--优等生蜂群--之间的相互作用。这项研究将包括用气相色谱和质谱分析兰花散发出的花香的化学成分，这是吸引传粉者的线索。热带地区的田间实验旨在测试兰花物种是否会产生仅吸引特定授粉蜜蜂的诊断性花香，或者花香是否起到了“多面手”的作用，吸引了许多不同的传粉者。这些结果将对理解兰花物种之间生殖隔离障碍的进化和确定指导昆虫行为的化学线索范围具有重要意义。

Drs. Williams and Dressler at the University of Florida and their colleagues in Ecuador will study the interaction between Gongora orchid species and their native pollinators, bees of the euglossine group. The study will include analysis by gas- chromatography and mass-spectrometry of the chemistry of floral fragrances emitted by the orchids, which serve as attracting cues for pollinators. Field experiments in the tropics are designed to test whether orchid species produce diagnostic floral fragrances that attract only particular pollinating bees, or whether floral odors serve a "generalist" function, attracting many different pollinators. The results will be important in understanding the evolution of reproductive isolating barriers among orchid species and in determining the range of chemical cues that orient insect behaviors.