Evolution of pollination niches and floral divergence in the generalist plant Erysimum mediohispanicum

• DOI: 10.1093/aob/mct186
• Publication Date: 2013-08-22T01:41:02Z
• Authors: J. M. Gómez; A. J. Muñoz-Pajares; M. Abdelaziz; J. Lorite; F. Perfectti
• Keywords: Zoophily

How generalist plants diverge in response to pollinator selection without becoming specialized is still unknown. This study explores this question, focusing on the evolution of pollination system Erysimum mediohispanicum (Brassicaceae). Pollinator assemblages were surveyed from 2001 2010 48 geo-referenced populations covering entire geographic distribution E. mediohispanicum. Bipartite modularity, a complex network tool, was used find niche each population. Evolution niches and correlated floral traits explored using within-species comparative analyses. Despite being generalists, studied can be classified into five niches. The boundaries between not sharp, differing among them relative frequencies visitor functional groups. absence spatial autocorrelation phylogenetic signal indicates that distributed phylogeographic mosaic. ancestral presumably belonged defined by high number beetle ant visits. A found some traits, suggesting existence ecotypes. It conjectured variation has contributed observed divergence process mediating been adaptive wandering, but adaptation local faunas universal. outcome landscape where few locally adapted their environment (generalist ecotypes) coexist with many failed plant phenotype primarily shaped pollinators.