Applications of pollination biology in studies of evolution, ecology and agriculture: perspectives and trends from South Africa

Abstract

Pollination is an essential process for the reproduction of most plants and usually involves animals as agents of pollen dispersal. Pollination biology in the broad sense is therefore relevant to many different scientific fields. Here we examine howpollination biology in South Africa has contributed to our understanding of evolutionary biology, fundamental and applied ecology and agriculture. Due to its high levels of biodiversity and relatively intact ecosystems, South Africa has unique geographical advantages for research involving pollination systems. Some of the highlights of evolutionary work include studies of the functions of floral structure, signals and rewards, including various kind of floral deception, elucidation of convergent floral evolution in plants specialized for pollination by particular animal groups, and advances in our understanding of coevolution and pollinator-driven plant speciation. In terms of ecology, there has been impactful research on the ecological dependence of plants on pollinators for seed production and the influences of population and community contexts on pollination processes, as well as applied applications in terms of risks of mutualism failure and the use of plant reproductive traits for predicting the spread of invasive species. In agriculture, there have been ground-breaking studies of the biology of honeybees and estimates of the value of natural habitats for pollinator services. Studies of pollination biology have proven highly valuable in advancing understanding in a wide range of fields in biology globally, and work in South Africa has contributed significantly, particularly over the past five decades.