Abstract
Fluctuating asymmetry, which represents small random deviations from otherwise bilateral symmetry, is a measure of the phenotypic quality of individuals indicating the ability of controlled development under given environmental and genetic conditions. I tested whether floral symmetry reliably reflects phenotypic quality measured in terms of pollinator rewards and whether pollinators respond to floral symmetry in a series of observations and experiments on Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae). Lower petal asymmetry was negatively related to mean lower petal length, whereas asymmetry in leaf width was positively related to mean leaf width. Flowers visited by bumblebees were larger and more symmetrical than the nearest neighboring flower. This relationship between pollinator preference for large and symmetrical flowers was demonstrated to be causal in experiments in which the lower petals were manipulated symmetrically or asymmetrically. Nectar production was larger in symmetrical flowers, and this may explain the bumblebee preference for flower symmetry. Floral symmetry therefore reliably reflects nectar production and hence enhances pollen transport. Extensive embryo abortion has been documented in E. angustifolium and other outcrossing plant species. Floral fluctuating asymmetry, which reflects general developmental homeostasis, may explain such developmental selection in these plants.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Lower petal asymmetry was negatively related to mean lower petal length.
- Taxon
- Epilobium angustifolium
Chamaenerion angustifoliume1 - Organ / stage
- lower petale0
- Outcome
- Lower petal asymmetrye0
- Direction
- negativelye0
- Comparator
- mean lower petal lengthe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Lower petal asymmetry was negatively related to mean lower petal length”
e1“Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae)”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaf-width asymmetry was positively related to mean leaf width.
- Taxon
- Epilobium angustifoliumChamaenerion angustifoliume1
- Organ / stage
- leafe0
- Outcome
- asymmetry in leaf widthe0
- Direction
- positivelye0
- Comparator
- mean leaf widthe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“asymmetry in leaf width was positively related to mean leaf width”
e1“Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae)”
Claim · model-written summary
Bumblebee-visited flowers were larger and more symmetrical than neighboring flowers.
- Taxon
- Epilobium angustifoliumChamaenerion angustifoliume1
- Organ / stage
- Flowerse0
- Outcome
- larger and more symmetricale0
- Comparator
- nearest neighboring flowere0
BombusOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Flowers visited by bumblebees were larger and more symmetrical than the nearest neighboring flower”
e1“Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae)”
Claim · model-written summary
Symmetric versus asymmetric lower-petal manipulation causally changed pollinator preference for large, symmetrical flowers.
- Taxon
- Epilobium angustifoliumChamaenerion angustifoliume1
- Treatment
- lower petals were manipulated symmetricallye0
- Interactor
- pollinatore0pollinator
- Outcome
- pollinator preference for large and symmetrical flowerse0
- Comparator
- asymmetricallye0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This relationship between pollinator preference for large and symmetrical flowers was demonstrated to be causal in experiments in which the lower petals were manipulated symmetrically or asymmetrically”
e1“Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae)”
Claim · model-written summary
Symmetrical flowers produced more nectar.
- Taxon
- Epilobium angustifoliumChamaenerion angustifoliume1
- Organ / stage
- flowerse0
- Outcome
- Nectar productione0
- Direction
- largere0
- Comparator
- symmetrical flowerse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Nectar production was larger in symmetrical flowers”
e1“Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae)”
Claim · model-written summary
Greater nectar production may explain bumblebee preference for floral symmetry.
- Taxon
- Epilobium angustifoliumChamaenerion angustifoliume1
- Interactor
- bumblebeee0pollinator
- Outcome
- bumblebee preference for flower symmetrye0
- Qualifier
- Nectar production was larger in symmetrical flowerse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Nectar production was larger in symmetrical flowers, and this may explain the bumblebee preference for flower symmetry”
e1“Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae)”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors infer that floral symmetry reflects nectar production and enhances pollen transport.
- Taxon
- Epilobium angustifoliumChamaenerion angustifoliume1
- Outcome
- pollen transporte0
- Qualifier
- Floral symmetry therefore reliably reflects nectar productione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Floral symmetry therefore reliably reflects nectar production and hence enhances pollen transport”
e1“Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae)”