Rapid evolution caused by pollinator loss in Mimulus guttatus.

ABSTRACT: Anthropogenic perturbations including habitat loss and emerging disease are changing pollinator communities and generating novel selection pressures on plant populations. Disruption of plant-pollinator relationships is predicted to cause plant mating system evolution, although this process has not been directly observed. This study demonstrates the immediate evolutionary effects of pollinator loss within experimental populations of a predominately outcrossing wildflower. Initially equivalent populations evolved for five generations within two pollination treatments: abundant bumblebee pollinators versus no pollinators. The populations without pollinators suffered greatly reduced fitness in early generations but rebounded as they evolved an improved ability to self-fertilize. All population

SUBMITTER: Roels SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5958604 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature