| Title: | Evolution of honest reward signal in flowers |
| Author(s): | Ito K; Suzuki MF; Mochizuki K; |
| Address: | "Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Hirano 2-509-3, Otsu 520-2113, Japan. School of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 4200-6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4. Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan. URA Center, Research Promotion and Social Collaboration Department, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan. The Botanical Gardens, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-7-1, Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1471-2954 (Electronic) 0962-8452 (Print) 0962-8452 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Some flowering plants signal the abundance of their rewards by changing their flower colour, scent or other floral traits as rewards are depleted. These floral trait changes can be regarded as honest signals of reward states for pollinators. Previous studies have hypothesized that these signals are used to maintain plant-level attractiveness to pollinators, but the evolutionary conditions leading to the development of honest signals have not been well investigated from a theoretical basis. We examined conditions leading to the evolution of honest reward signals in flowers by applying a theoretical model that included pollinator response and signal accuracy. We assumed that pollinators learn floral traits and plant locations in association with reward states and use this information to decide which flowers to visit. While manipulating the level of associative learning, we investigated optimal flower longevity, the proportion of reward and rewardless flowers, and honest- and dishonest-signalling strategies. We found that honest signals are evolutionarily stable only when flowers are visited by pollinators with both high and low learning abilities. These findings imply that behavioural variation in learning within a pollinator community can lead to the evolution of an honest signal even when there is no contribution of rewardless flowers to pollinator attractiveness" |
| Keywords: | *Flowers Phenotype Plants *Pollination Reward foraging behaviour free riders plant-animal interaction pollinator attractivity rewardless flower signalling theory; |
| Notes: | "MedlineIto, Koichi Suzuki, Miki F Mochizuki, Ko eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2021/01/21 Proc Biol Sci. 2021 Jan 27; 288(1943):20202848. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2848. Epub 2021 Jan 20" |
