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Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
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Selection maintains a nonadaptive floral polyphenism.

José María Gómez1,2, Adela González-Megías2,3, Cristina Armas1

  • 1Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain.

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|August 5, 2024
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Adaptive phenotypic plasticity in Moricandia arvensis produces different flowers seasonally. This floral polyphenism is not adaptive, as pollinators favor a single type, but is maintained by selection for summer flowering.

Keywords:
adaptive plasticityfloral plasticitymaladaptationnatural selectionpollinatorswithin-individual plasticity

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Plant Sciences
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to adapt to environmental changes.
  • Adaptive plasticity is crucial for coping with environmental heterogeneity but is often assumed rather than demonstrated.
  • Moricandia arvensis exhibits extreme seasonal floral polyphenism, producing different flower types in spring and summer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the adaptive nature of seasonal floral polyphenism in Moricandia arvensis.
  • To determine if the observed floral polyphenism in M. arvensis is adaptive or a byproduct of other selective pressures.
  • To understand the evolutionary maintenance of nonadaptive plasticity.

Main Methods:

  • Examined seasonal floral polyphenism in Moricandia arvensis.
  • Assessed selection pressures on floral traits, including pollinator preferences.
  • Investigated the role of summer flowering and leaf trait plasticity in triggering floral polyphenism.

Main Results:

  • Floral polyphenism in M. arvensis was not adaptive, with selection moving traits away from local optima during summer.
  • Pollinators exerted strong selection against floral polyphenism by favoring a single morph across seasons.
  • Despite being nonadaptive, floral polyphenism is widespread and likely ancient in M. arvensis.
  • Summer flowering, favored by adaptive leaf plasticity, triggered floral polyphenism and was beneficial for seed production.

Conclusions:

  • Nonadaptive floral polyphenism in M. arvensis is indirectly maintained by selection favoring summer flowering.
  • This study provides evidence that nonadaptive plasticity can evolve as a byproduct of colonizing stressful environments.
  • The findings highlight the complex interplay between plasticity, environmental change, and evolutionary maintenance.