POLLINATOR PREFERENCE FOR SYMMETRICAL FLOWERS AND SEXUAL SELECTION IN PLANTS

被引：83

作者：

MOLLER, AP ^{[1
]}

ERIKSSON, M ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] UNIV UPPSALA, DEPT ZOOL, S-75236 UPPSALA, SWEDEN

来源：

OIKOS | 1995年 / 73卷 / 01期

关键词：

D O I：

10.2307/3545720

中图分类号：

Q14 [生态学（生物生态学）];

学科分类号：

071012 ; 0713 ;

摘要：

Floral characters are often subject to strong directional selection from pollinators, and this may disrupt developmental homeostasis in flowers that therefore develop large degrees of fluctuating asymmetry. Fluctuating asymmetry in floral traits may lead to sexual selection in plants if pollinators assortatively visit symmetrical flowers. We studied the relationship between pollination and floral asymmetry in ten different flowering plant species in Spain, Denmark, and Sweden. Pollinators preferentially visited symmetrical flowers independently of whether the plant species produced nectar. Symmetrical flowers of some species had higher pollinator rewards in terms of nectar content than asymmetrical flowers. Handling time of flowers was unaffected by asymmetry since insect visits to symmetrical flowers lasted as long as visits to asymmetrical flowers. Insect preferences for symmetrical flowers should have resulted in sexual selection with respect to symmetry. The evolution of pollinator preferences for symmetrical flowers and the potential fitness benefits to plants with symmetrical flowers due to this preference are discussed.

引用

页码：15 / 22

页数：8