Gongylolepis martiana, an Asteraceae pollinated by bats in the Amazon.

Most Asteraceae species are pollinated by insects, mainly bees and butterflies, although pollination by birds has been documented and pollination by bats has been suggested for some species. Here, we investigated the pollination of Gongylolepis martiana, a species supposedly pollinated by bats. We assessed floral traits and visitors in a population of G. martiana in the Brazilian Amazon, measuring pollen removal from anthers and deposition on stigmas by diurnal and nocturnal visitors. Florets opened at dusk and lasted for 4 days, with the male phase starting on the first night and the female phase on the third night. Accumulated nectar per capitulum was 69.6 µl per night and sugar concentration was 15%. Nectar-feeding bats and hummingbirds contacted the sexual parts, but pollen removal and deposition were greater throughout the night than during the day, when Meliponini bees considerably reduced pollen availability. Other nocturnal visitors of G. martiana were rare, including nocturnal bees and moths that foraged for pollen and nectar, respectively. Our results support that nectarivorous bats are the main pollinators of G. martiana, confirming Vogel's hypothesis of bat pollination in Asteraceae, particularly in the genus Gongylolepis. Since anthesis and each sexual floral phase started in the evening, nectarivorous bats and diurnal bees caused additive priority effects, preventing hummingbirds from being efficient pollinators. The high density of flowering individuals of G. martiana in patches from white-sand forests likely increases bat attraction, while the small amount of nectar per plant favours cross-pollination.

Ovulation, pregnancy rate and early embryonic development in vernal transitional mares treated with equine- or porcine-FSH.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of purified equine- and porcine-FSH treatment regimes in mares in early vernal transition. Mares (n = 22) kept under ambient light were examined ultrasonographically per-rectum, starting January 30th. They were assigned to one of two treatment groups using a sequential alternating treatment design when a follicle >or= 25 mm was detected. In the eFSH group, mares were treated twice daily with equine-FSH, and in the pFSH group mares were treated twice daily with porcine-FSH; treatments were continued until follicle(s) >or= 35 mm, and 24 h later hCG was administered. Oestrous mares were inseminated with fresh semen and examined for pregnancy on days 11-20 post-ovulation. In the eFSH group, 11/11 (100%) mares developed follicle(s) >or= 35 mm, 8/11 (73%) ovulated and 6/8 (75%) conceived. In the pFSH group, 5/11 (45%) developed follicle(s) >or= 35 mm, 4/11 (36%) ovulated and 3/4 (75%) conceived. Treatment with eFSH resulted in a greater ovarian stimulation; higher number of pre-ovulatory-sized follicles, higher number of ovulations and higher number of embryos (p < 0.05). Following ovulation, serum progesterone concentrations were correlated with the number of CLs and supported early embryonic development; maternal recognition of pregnancy occurred in all pregnant mares. We concluded that eFSH can be used to effectively induce follicular growth and ovulation in vernal transitional mares; however, if bred, diagnosis and management of twins' pregnancies would be required prior to day 16 because of the increased risk of multiple embryos per pregnancy. Conversely, the current pFSH treatment regime cannot be recommended.