Species fragmentation or area loss?

Article Abstract:

Metapopulation models predict species loss in patchy habitats but provide no support for the notion that area loss induces extinction. The Tilman metapopulation model for patchy habitats predicts a high-risk deterministic extinction situation for dominant competitors in a habitat loss scenario. However, this model gives accurate results only if the sites selected for destruction are randomly distributed throughout the habitat. The loss of habitat reduces effective colonization and the model implicitly assumes spatial homogeneity of destroyed colonization sites.

Habitat (Ecology), Habitats, Competition (Biology)

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Dating the origin of the Orchidaceae from a fossil orchid with its pollinator

Article Abstract:

Evolutionary biologists have reported an exquisitely preserved orchid pollinarium attached to the mesoscutellum of an extinct stingless bee, Proplebia dominicana, recovered from Miocene amber in the Dominican Republic, which is 15-20 million years old. The results have shown that the most recent common ancestor of extant orchids lived in the Late Cretaceous and have also indicated that the radiation of orchids began shortly after the mass extinctions at the K/T boundary.

Environmental aspects, Protection and preservation

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Orchid pollination by sexual swindle

Article Abstract:

The behaviour-inducing odour bouquet in Ophrys sphegodes is almost identical to the sex pheromone of the female bees and thus prompts almost equally intense reactions. However, the behaviourally active compounds are ubiquitous or arise in at least trace amounts in plant cuticular waxes. It appears that the specific pattern of otherwise common compounds is the prime innovation of O. sphegodes for attracting and deceiving pollinators.

Pheromones

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