Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39223914›Full record

ArticleAnnals of botany2025

Floral resource availability declines and florivory increases along an elevation gradient in a highly biodiverse community.

Irene Gélvez-Zúñiga, M Beirão, Samuel Novais, J C Santiago, Geraldo Wilson Fernandes

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of botany, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Irene Gélvez-ZúñigaEcologia Evolutiva & Biodiversidade, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0001-7724-0799
M BeirãoPrograma de Ecologia, Conservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Samuel NovaisRed de Interacciones Multitróficas, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, México.
J C SantiagoEcologia Evolutiva & Biodiversidade, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Geraldo Wilson FernandesEcologia Evolutiva & Biodiversidade, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Funding

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsFlower-visitor interactions comprise a continuum of behaviours, from mutualistic partners to antagonistic visitors. Despite being relatively frequent in natural communities, florivory remains unexplored, especially when comprising abiotic factors, spatio-temporal variations and global environmental changes. Here, we addressed the variation of florivory driven by changes in elevation and temporal flower availability. We expect decreased floral resources as elevation increases - due to environmental constraints - which may affect plant-florivore interactions. Yet if floral resources decrease but florivores remain constant, then we may expect an increase in florivory with increasing elevation in the community.

methodsThe flowering phenology of plant individuals was recorded in the Neotropical campo rupestre vegetation, in southeastern Brazil. Damage by florivores was recorded in plots at elevations ranging from 823 to 1411 m using two response variables as a proxy for florivory: the proportion of attacked flowers per plant and the proportion of petal removal on single flowers. KEY

resultsFlower attack increased with elevation and damage was intensified in species with longer flowering periods. Conversely, longer flowering periods resulted in higher levels of petal removal with decreasing elevation. The temporal availability of flowers affected florivory, with the proportion of attacked flowers being more intense when there were fewer flowered individuals in the community. Petal removal on single flowers was intensified in plots with a larger number of individuals flowering, and with more species co-flowering.

conclusionsThis study provides one of the broadest records of a commonly neglected interaction of insects feeding on floral structures, quantifying the combined effect of floral display and availability along an elevation gradient in a highly biodiverse mountaintop community. These findings contribute to filling the gap in the understanding of florivory dynamics, focusing on a tropical mountaintop scenario facing imminent environmental changes and excessive natural resource exploitation.

Indexed as

AltitudeFlowersInsectaAnimalsBrazilEcosystemPollinationBiotic interactionscampo rupestreelevation gradientfloral antagonistsflorivoryflower attractivityinsect–plant interactionsrupestrian grassland

Identifiers

PMID39223914
PMCPMC11805935

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.