405
This study revealed that the transport capacity is scarce and lower than the 600 m
that Niklas (1985) reports for other gymnosperms. Bittencourt and Sebbenn (2007)
and Sant'Anna et al. (2013) established, by means of genetic techniques, that
A. angustifolia pollen can travel as far as 2006 m between fragmented areas, or
318 m in a continuous forest. Nonetheless, these estimates of wind transport are
indirect and do not account for the pollen abundance distribution from the emitting
sources. In order to calculate the distance traveled by pollen and learn about pollen
concentration during the journey, Latorre et al. (2016) performed mensurative
experiments during 2 years, using portable Lanzoni aerobiological samplers at different distances from the sources (Fig. 15.8a). In line with the theoretical curve of
pollen distribution, the pollen concentration of A. angustifolia was much higher
near its sources and decreased logarithmically as it moved away from them
(Fig. 15.8b). It is estimated that A. angustifolia pollen reaches a maximum transport
distance of 455 m from its releasing sources; however, 60% of the pollen released
reaches a distance of as much as 100 m, and 90% of the pollen falls before 200 m.
Based on these results, it becomes clear that distance is a crucial factor for pollination, which although possible up to more than 2 km, is unlikely beyond 450 m.
Fig. 15.7 Pollen grains of Araucaria angustifolia in their natural state in aerobiological samples
from San Antonio (Province of Misiones, Argentina). Two views of the same grain in (a) and (b),
where the granular ornamentation of the wall (a), and the size and shape (b) can be observed.
Broken “pac-man”-type grain with ejected cellular content (c). (Photos: Fabiana Latorre)
Fig. 15.8 Transect with sampling points from 20 to 700 m from the releasing pollen source (a).
Pollen percentage of A. angustifolia at different distances from the releasing sources (b)
15 Paraná Pine (Araucaria angustifolia): The Most Planted Native Forest Tree…
This study revealed that the transport capacity is scarce and lower than the 600 m
that Niklas (1985) reports for other gymnosperms. Bittencourt and Sebbenn (2007)
and Sant'Anna et al. (2013) established, by means of genetic techniques, that
A. angustifolia pollen can travel as far as 2006 m between fragmented areas, or
318 m in a continuous forest. Nonetheless, these estimates of wind transport are
indirect and do not account for the pollen abundance distribution from the emitting
sources. In order to calculate the distance traveled by pollen and learn about pollen
concentration during the journey, Latorre et al. (2016) performed mensurative
experiments during 2 years, using portable Lanzoni aerobiological samplers at different distances from the sources (Fig. 15.8a). In line with the theoretical curve of
pollen distribution, the pollen concentration of A. angustifolia was much higher
near its sources and decreased logarithmically as it moved away from them
(Fig. 15.8b). It is estimated that A. angustifolia pollen reaches a maximum transport
distance of 455 m from its releasing sources; however, 60% of the pollen released
reaches a distance of as much as 100 m, and 90% of the pollen falls before 200 m.
Based on these results, it becomes clear that distance is a crucial factor for pollination, which although possible up to more than 2 km, is unlikely beyond 450 m.
Fig. 15.7 Pollen grains of Araucaria angustifolia in their natural state in aerobiological samples
from San Antonio (Province of Misiones, Argentina). Two views of the same grain in (a) and (b),
where the granular ornamentation of the wall (a), and the size and shape (b) can be observed.
Broken “pac-man”-type grain with ejected cellular content (c). (Photos: Fabiana Latorre)
Fig. 15.8 Transect with sampling points from 20 to 700 m from the releasing pollen source (a).
Pollen percentage of A. angustifolia at different distances from the releasing sources (b)
15 Paraná Pine (Araucaria angustifolia): The Most Planted Native Forest Tree…