Abstract
The ultimate causes of evolution of highly specialized pollination systems are little understood. We investigated the relationship between specialization and pollination efficiency, defined as the proportion of pollinated flowers relative to those that experienced pollen removal, using orchids with different pollination strategies as a model system. Rewarding orchids showed the highest pollination efficiency. Sexually deceptive orchids had comparably high pollination efficiency, but food-deceptive orchids had significantly lower efficiency. Values for pollinator sharing (a measure of the degree of generalization in pollination systems) showed the reverse pattern, in that groups with high pollination efficiency had low values of pollinator sharing. Low pollinator sharing may thus be the basis for efficient pollination. Population genetic data indicated that both food- and sexually deceptive species have higher degrees of among-population gene flow than do rewarding orchids. Thus, the shift from food to sexual deception may be driven by selection for more efficient pollination, without compromising the high levels of gene flow that are characteristic of deceptive species.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Rewarding orchids had the highest pollination efficiency.
Verbatim
e0“Rewarding orchids showed the highest pollination efficiency.”
Claim · model-written summary
Sexually deceptive orchids had comparably high pollination efficiency.
Verbatim
e0“Sexually deceptive orchids had comparably high pollination efficiency”
Claim · model-written summary
Food-deceptive orchids had significantly lower pollination efficiency.
Verbatim
e0“food-deceptive orchids had significantly lower efficiency.”
t0“Pollination Efficiency and the Evolution of Specialized Deceptive Pollination Systems”
Claim · model-written summary
Groups with high pollination efficiency had low pollinator sharing.
Not reportedOrgan / stage
Verbatim
e0“groups with high pollination efficiency had low values of pollinator sharing.”
t0“orchids with different pollination strategies”
Claim · model-written summary
Food-deceptive species had higher among-population gene flow than rewarding orchids.
Verbatim
e0“both food- and sexually deceptive species have higher degrees of among-population gene flow than do rewarding orchids.”
t0“using orchids with different pollination strategies”
Claim · model-written summary
Sexually deceptive species had higher among-population gene flow than rewarding orchids.
Verbatim
e0“both food- and sexually deceptive species have higher degrees of among-population gene flow than do rewarding orchids.”
t0“using orchids with different pollination strategies”
Claim · model-written summary
Low pollinator sharing may underlie efficient pollination.
Verbatim
e0“Low pollinator sharing may thus be the basis for efficient pollination.”
t0“using orchids with different pollination strategies”
Claim · model-written summary
The shift from food to sexual deception may be driven by selection for efficient pollination while maintaining gene flow.
Verbatim
e0“the shift from food to sexual deception may be driven by selection for more efficient pollination, without compromising the high levels of gene flow”
t0“using orchids with different pollination strategies”