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The adaptive value of phenotypic floral integration
Mariano Ordano1, Juan Fornoni1, Karina Boege1
1Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-275 Ciudad Universitaria, México, DF, CP 04510, México.
The New Phytologist
|June 13, 2008
Summary
Floral integration, the way floral traits work together, has low adaptive value in Rosaceae species. Pollinator-driven selection may favor intrafloral integration instead of whole-flower integration.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Plant reproductive strategies
- Phenotypic integration
Background:
- Floral integration is thought to enhance animal pollination benefits.
- Its adaptive value under natural conditions remains largely unquantified.
- Understanding floral trait integration is crucial for plant evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the adaptive value of phenotypic floral integration in natural settings.
- To examine variation in floral integration and trait covariance structures in Rosaceae.
- To review evidence on the magnitude of floral integration across flowering plants.
Main Methods:
- Studied four species of Rosaceae to assess floral integration.
- Analyzed the variance-covariance structure of floral traits.
- Estimated natural selection acting on floral phenotypic integration.
- Reviewed existing literature on floral integration magnitude.
Main Results:
- Species showed similar floral integration levels but varied in trait covariance.
- Natural selection primarily targeted subsets of floral traits (intrafloral integration).
- Average floral integration was 20%, aligning with flowering plant means, but lower than expected by chance.
Conclusions:
- Phenotypic integration at the flower level appears to have limited adaptive value in the studied species.
- Selection may favor intrafloral integration over whole-flower integration.
- Pollinator-mediated selection is proposed as a driver for the evolution of intrafloral integration.
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