Beyond buzz‐pollination – departures from an adaptive plateau lead to new pollination syndromes

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.15468
• Publication Date: 2018-10-28T20:11:40Z
• Authors: Agnes S. Dellinger; Marion Chartier; Diana Fernández‐F...; Darin S. Penneys; Marcela Alvear; Frank Almeda; Fabián A. Michela...; Yannick Staedler; W. Scott Armbruster; Jürg Schönenberger
• Keywords: Hummingbird; Zoophily; Mutualism

Summary Pollination syndromes describe recurring adaptation to selection imposed by distinct pollinators. We tested for pollination in Merianieae (Melastomataceae), which contain bee‐ (buzz‐), hummingbird‐, flowerpiercer‐, passerine‐, bat‐ and rodent‐pollinated species. Further, we explored trait changes correlated with the repeated shifts away from buzz‐pollination, represents an ‘adaptive plateau’ Melastomataceae. used random forest analyses identify key traits associated different pollinators of 19 species estimated 42 more employed morphospace compare morphological diversity (disparity) among syndromes. identified three (‘buzz‐bee’, ‘mixed‐vertebrate’ ‘passerine’), characterized pollen expulsion mechanisms reward types, but not traditional syndrome characters. found that ‘efficiency’ rather than ‘attraction’ were important circumscription. Contrary theory, our study supports pooling (hummingbirds, bats, rodents flowerpiercers) into syndrome, disparity was highest ‘buzz‐bee’ syndrome. conclude highly adaptive buzz‐pollination system may have prevented towards classical syndromes, provided starting point evolution a novel set all having retained multifunctional stamens provide expulsion, attraction.