Browsing by Autor "Fornoni, Juan"

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Efecto de los visitantes nativos y exóticos sobre la germinación de Lepechinia fforibunda (Lamiaceae)
(Rev. Cien. Tec. In., 2024) Baranzelli, Matías C.; Martínez, Gabriela; Fornoni, Juan; Camina, Julia; Ashworth, Lorena; Sérsic, Alicia N.; Cocucci, Andrea A.; Issaly, Andres E.; Benitez-Vieyra, Santiago; Rocamundi, Nicolás
La relación entre las plantas con flores y los polinizadores rara vez ocurre de a pares dado que la mayoría de las especies de plantas son visitadas por más de una especie polinizadora. Un aspecto central es la identificación de los visitantes florales que ejercen el mayor efecto positivo sobre el éxito reproductivo de las plantas. En Lepechinia fioribunda (Lamiaceae), se ha observado que los polinizadores nativos (Bombus spp) proporcionan un mayor movimiento de polen y formación de semillas en comparación con los polinizadores exóticos (Apis mellifera). Sin embargo, aún se desconoce cómo esta eficiencia se refleja en los niveles de germinación de las semillas (calidad de la progenie) de las flores visitadas por cada grupo de polinizadores. Este estudio evalúa cómo la efectividad en la polinización de los principales grupos de polinizadores afecta el éxito de germinación de las semillas de L. fioribunda. Se compararon los niveles acumulados y totales de germinación de 363 semillas provenientes de 256 flores visitadas por Bombus spp o A. mellifera. Se observaron patrones similares a lo largo del tiempo, con una ligera tendencia hacia una mayor germinación de las semillas de las visitas de Bombus spp, aunque esta tendencia no fue estadísticamente significativa. Estos resultados sugieren que la menor eficiencia de A. mellifera polinizando no afectarían significativamente el potencial de supervivencia de la progenie de L. fioribunda. Además, destacan la importancia de cuantificar de manera integral la contribución de cada visitante floral al éxito reproductivo de las plantas.
Empirical and experimental evidence of phenotypic plasticity to soil moisture conditions in the invasive cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Pyralidae)
(European Organization for Nuclear Research, 2025) Vásquez-Ordóñez, Aymer Andrés; Fornoni, Juan; Ordano, Mariano
Since the cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) was released in several continents for biological control of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.), it has become invasive, particularly in the Caribbean and Southern North America threatening native Opuntia species. Recent niche ecological modelling suggests that topsoil moisture conditions experienced by the pupae can significantly determine the presence of the moth. In this study we described the range of topsoil moisture content across invaded and native populations and performed a reciprocal rearing experiment using native populations with extreme soil moisture conditions to provide evidence of local adaptation of the source population from which the initial individuals were collected for biological control campaigns in 1924. Throughout several decades, the moth has established under a wider range of topsoil moisture content than that registered within the native range in South America. This suggests that the moth has expanded its tolerance to topsoil moisture conditions, or that it already had enough phenotypic plasticity. Experimental results supported this last explanation since no evidence of local adaptation was detected. Thus, future forecasts of the invasion dynamic in non-native regions should incorporate these results to improve the model prediction and control practices.
Empirical and experimental evidence of phenotypic plasticity to soil moisture conditions in the invasive cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Pyralidae)
(European Organization for Nuclear Research, 2025) Vásquez-Ordóñez, Aymer Andrés; Fornoni, Juan; Ordano, Mariano
Since the cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) was released in several continents for biological control of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.), it has become invasive, particularly in the Caribbean and Southern North America threatening native Opuntia species. Recent niche ecological modelling suggests that topsoil moisture conditions experienced by the pupae can significantly determine the presence of the moth. In this study we described the range of topsoil moisture content across invaded and native populations and performed a reciprocal rearing experiment using native populations with extreme soil moisture conditions to provide evidence of local adaptation of the source population from which the initial individuals were collected for biological control campaigns in 1924. Throughout several decades, the moth has established under a wider range of topsoil moisture content than that registered within the native range in South America. This suggests that the moth has expanded its tolerance to topsoil moisture conditions, or that it already had enough phenotypic plasticity. Experimental results supported this last explanation since no evidence of local adaptation was detected. Thus, future forecasts of the invasion dynamic in non-native regions should incorporate these results to improve the model prediction and control practices.