Pollinators exert selection on floral traits in a pollen-limited, narrowly endemic spring ephemeral.

ABSTRACT:

Premise

Floral traits are frequently under pollinator-mediated selection, especially in taxa subject to strong pollen-limitation, such as those reliant on pollinators. However, antagonists can be agents of selection on floral traits as well. The causes of selection acting on spring ephemerals are understudied though these species can experience particularly strong pollen-limitation. I examined pollinator- and antagonist-mediated selection in a narrowly endemic spring ephemeral, Trillium discolor.

Methods

I measured pollen limitation in T. discolor across two years and evaluated its breeding system. I compared selection on floral traits (display height, petal size, petal color, flowering time) between open-pollinated, and pollen-supplemented plants to measure the strength and

SUBMITTER: Koski MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10108127 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature