Abstract Detail

Macroevolution

Joly, Simon [1], Faure, Julie [2], Martén-Rodríguez, Silvana [3], Clark, John L. [4].

How does the level of pollination specialization affect the evolution of flower shape?

It is well accepted that the pollinators strongly constraint the evolution of flowers shapes of the species they pollinate. This is illustrated by the concept of pollination syndromes, which describe cases of convergent flower shapes in species pollinated by functionally similar pollinators. In addition, many studies have quantified the selection imposed by pollinators on flower traits. Yet, the vast majority of studies have so far studied plants that are pollination specialists, meaning that are pollinated by one or a few functionally similar species. In this contribution, we show that the level of pollination generalization has had a great impact on the evolution of flower shape in Antillean Gesneriaceae species as measured by geometric morphometrics. We first show using phylogenetic models that pollination specialists and generalists differ in terms of evolutionary morphological integration and disparity. Then, using pollination observation data to associate plant species with their pollinators, we show using phylogenetic two blocks partial least squares that although the shape of corolla of pollination specialists is tightly correlated to the shape of their hummingbird pollinators, it is not the case for plant generalists that are also pollinated by bats and insects. This suggests that the level of specialization can strongly affect the evolution of flower shape.

1 - Montreal Botanical Garden, 4101 Sherbrooke East, Montreal, QC, H1X 2B2, Canada
2 - Université de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, QC, H1X 2B2, Canada
3 - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
4 - Lawrenceville School,, 2500 Main Street, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA

Keywords:
Pollinators
morphometry
Geometric Morphometrics
Phylogenetic comparative methods
Gesneriaceae
Generalists.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: MACRO I007
Abstract ID:537
Candidate for Awards:None