Evolution of UV reflection in bee- and bird-pollinated flowers.

ABSTRACT: Floral colour is a key trait mediating plant-pollinator interactions, with UV reflection hypothesized to evolve in response to the effectiveness of pollinators. The bee-avoidance hypothesis predicts higher UV reflection in white flowers and lower reflection in red and yellow flowers of bird-pollinated plants, with opposite patterns in bee-pollinated flowers. However, the macroevolutionary role of this process remains unclear. We analysed 245 angiosperm species using ancestral state reconstruction and comparative evolutionary models to assess UV reflection patterns in relation to flower colour and pollinator type. Ancestral reconstructions revealed frequent transitions in both hue and UV reflection states. Higher UV reflection optima were found in red and bee-pollinated flowers compared to

SUBMITTER: Oliveira LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12710832 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature