Geographic variation of reproductive traits and competition for pollinators in a bird-pollinated plant.

ABSTRACT: Geographic variation in the reproductive traits of animal-pollinated plants can be shaped by spatially variable selection imposed by differences in the local pollination environment. We investigated this process in Babiana ringens (Iridaceae), an enigmatic species from the Western Cape region of South Africa. B. ringens has evolved a specialized perch facilitating cross-pollination by sunbirds and displays striking geographic variation in perch size and floral traits. Here, we investigate whether this variation can be explained by geographic differences in the pollinator communities. We measured floral and inflorescence traits, and abiotic variables (N, P, C, and rainfall) and made observations of sunbirds in populations spanning the range of B. ringens. In each popula

SUBMITTER: Theron GL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6816071 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature