High niche diversity in Mesozoic pollinating lacewings
Qing Liu1, Xiumei Lu2, Qingqing Zhang1
1State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 210008, Nanjing, China.
Nature Communications
|September 19, 2018
Summary
New fossil insects called kalligrammatids from the Cretaceous period show diverse mouthpart lengths, indicating varied pollination niches. These ancient pollinators highlight the rich diversity of early insect-pollinator relationships before flowering plants dominated.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Ecology
Background:
- Pollinating insect diversity is crucial for terrestrial ecosystems.
- Insect proboscis length is a key factor in pollination niche specialization, often matching floral tube length.
- Kalligrammatid lacewings are an iconic Mesozoic insect lineage known for their role in pollination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe new kalligrammatid lacewings from Late Cretaceous Burmese amber and Chinese Mesozoic sediments.
- To investigate the niche diversity of Mesozoic pollinating insects and their associated plants.
- To understand the evolutionary adaptations of mouthpart morphology in relation to pollination.
Main Methods:
- Fossil discovery and description of new kalligrammatid specimens.
- Morphological analysis of mouthpart structures, including maxillae, labium, and palps.
- Measurement of mouthpart lengths to infer proboscis length variation.
Main Results:
- New kalligrammatid fossils reveal complex, elongate mouthpart configurations.
- Mouthpart lengths varied significantly among species, ranging from 0.6 to 18.0 mm.
- These findings suggest a corresponding diversity in Mesozoic floral tube lengths and pollinator-dependent plants.
Conclusions:
- Kalligrammatids exhibited high niche diversity, adapting to various pollination strategies.
- Fossil evidence indicates significant diversity in Mesozoic pollinating insects and their plant partners prior to angiosperm dominance.
- These ancient insects highlight the complex ecological interactions in Mesozoic ecosystems.
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