Pollen Interference Between Rare and Common Species.

The mechanisms underlying plant species distribution and abundance have been long studied in ecology. However, the role of heterospecific pollen interference in shaping these patterns needs more attention. Species distribution and abundance are important factors determining whether a species is endangered or not; thus, understanding the impact of heterospecific pollen interference on rare species could help to inform conservation strategies aimed at preserving plant communities.

Are rare plant species less resistant than common ones to herbivores? A multi-plant species study using above- and below-ground generalist herbivores.

Rare plant species are suggested to be less resistant to herbivores than common species. Their lower apparency and the fact that they often live in isolated populations, resulting in fewer herbivore encounters, might have led to the evolution of reduced defences. Moreover, their frequent lower levels of genetic diversity compared with common species could negatively affect their resistance against enemies.

DNA barcoding of flowering plants in Sumatra, Indonesia.

The rapid conversion of Southeast Asian lowland rainforests into monocultures calls for the development of rapid methods for species identification to support ecological research and sustainable land-use management. Here, we investigated the utilization of DNA barcodes for identifying flowering plants from Sumatra, Indonesia. A total of 1,207 barcodes (441 species) and 2,376 barcodes (750 species) were successfully generated.