Macroevolutionary patterns of ultraviolet floral pigmentation explained by geography and associated bioclimatic factors.

ABSTRACT: Selection driven by biotic interactions can generate variation in floral traits. Abiotic selection, however, also contributes to floral diversity, especially with respect to patterns of pigmentation. Combining comparative studies of floral pigmentation and geography can reveal the bioclimatic factors that may drive macroevolutionary patterns of floral color. We create a molecular phylogeny and measure ultraviolet (UV) floral pattern for 177 species in the Potentilleae tribe (Rosaceae). Species are similar in flower shape and visible color but vary in UV floral pattern. We use comparative approaches to determine whether UV pigmentation variation is associated with geography and/or bioclimatic features (UV-B, precipitation, temperature). Floral UV pattern was present in half of the species,

SUBMITTER: Koski MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6681094 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature