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Pollination and Flower Structure

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When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Field Experiments of Pollination Ecology: The Case of Lycoris sanguinea var. sanguinea

Field Experiments of Pollination Ecology: The Case of Lycoris sanguinea var. sanguinea

Published on: November 25, 2016

The messenger matters: Pollinator functional group influences mating system dynamics.

Jennifer J Weber¹

¹Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, USA.

Molecular Ecology

|August 10, 2017

Summary

Understanding multiple paternity in plants is crucial for evolutionary biology. This study shows pollinator type and plant isolation affect seed paternity, highlighting the need to consider diverse pollinators beyond simple self- and cross-pollination.

Keywords:

ecological genetics multiple paternity plant mating systems pollination

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Last Updated: Feb 25, 2026

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Published on: November 25, 2016

Induction and Evaluation of Inbreeding Crosses Using the Ant, Vollenhovia Emeryi

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Plant Reproductive Ecology
Pollination Biology

Background:

Plant mating systems are diverse, with significant research on pollinator impacts.
Multiple paternity, arising from mixed pollen loads, is understudied despite its evolutionary implications.
Understanding how pollinator communities affect plant reproductive success is critical.

Discussion:

This study investigates pollinator identity and spatial isolation's influence on multiple paternity in a self-incompatible evening primrose.
Pollen pool diversity differed between hawkmoths and diurnal solitary bees.
Increased plant isolation reduced multiple paternity, irrespective of pollinator type.

Key Insights:

Pollinator type significantly influences pollen pool diversity and subsequent multiple paternity.
Spatial isolation acts as a key factor in determining the number of sires per fruit.
The findings challenge the traditional self- and cross-pollination paradigm.

Outlook:

Future research should incorporate multiple paternity into mating system dynamics.
The role of functionally diverse pollinators in plant reproduction warrants further investigation.
Conservation strategies for plant populations must consider pollinator diversity and landscape structure.