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Phylogenetic evidence for pollinator-driven diversification of angiosperms
Timotheüs van der Niet1, Steven D Johnson
1School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa. vdniet@gmail.com
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|March 27, 2012
Summary
Pollinator shifts are a common driver of flower evolution, influencing over a quarter of plant divergence events. These shifts are shaped by floral traits, evolutionary history, and local pollinator interactions.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Plant sciences
- Ecology
Background:
- Flower diversity is a key feature of angiosperms.
- Pollinator selection has long been hypothesized as a driver of floral trait evolution and diversification.
- Understanding the historical role of pollinators in angiosperm diversification is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies on pollinator shifts and their impact on angiosperm diversification.
- To assess the frequency and directionality of pollinator shifts.
- To identify factors influencing pollinator-driven evolutionary processes.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies combining species-level phylogenies with pollinator data.
- Analysis of documented divergence events associated with pollinator shifts.
- Examination of intrinsic (floral features, phylogenetic history) and extrinsic (pollinator assemblages) factors.
Main Results:
- Pollinator shifts are common, linked to at least 25% of angiosperm divergence events.
- Shift frequency and directionality exhibit significant variation.
- Factors influencing shifts include floral traits, phylogenetic history, and local pollinator interactions.
Conclusions:
- Pollinator shifts play a substantial role in angiosperm diversification.
- Evolutionary and ecological factors modulate the impact of pollinator shifts.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate pollinator-driven evolutionary processes using phylogenies.
Related Concept Videos
02:40Pollination and Flower Structure
Flowers are the reproductive, seed-producing structures of angiosperms. Typically, flowers consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals and petals are the vegetative flower organs. Stamens and carpels are the reproductive organs.
02:55The Evidence for Evolution
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
01:31Formation of Species
Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.
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02:39The Angiosperm Life Cycle
Plants have a life cycle split between two multicellular stages: a haploid stage—with cells containing one set of chromosomes—and a diploid stage—with cells containing two sets of chromosomes. The haploid stage is the gamete-producing gametophyte, and the diploid stage is the spore-producing sporophyte.
01:07Speciation Rates
Overview