Mutualist- and antagonist-mediated selection contribute to trait diversification of flowers.

ABSTRACT: Flowers are generally short-lived, and they all face a multidimensional challenge because they have to attract mutualists, compel them to vector pollen with minimal investment in rewards, and repel floral enemies during this short time window. Their displays are under complex selection, either consistent or conflicting, to maximize reproductive fitness under heterogeneous environments. The phenological or morphological mismatches between flowers and visitors will influence interspecific competition, resource access, mating success and, ultimately, population and community dynamics. To better understand the effects of the plant visitors on floral traits, it is necessary to determine the functional significance of specific floral traits for the visitors; how plants respond to both mutualists

SUBMITTER: Huang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9527018 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature