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Ecol Lett

Title:		Chemical mimicry of insect oviposition sites: a global analysis of convergence in angiosperms
Author(s):		Jurgens A; Wee SL; Shuttleworth A; Johnson SD;
Address:		"School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01 Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa. juergensa@ukzn.ac.za"
Journal Title:		Ecol Lett
Year:		2013
Volume:		20130710
Issue:		9
Page Number:		1157 - 1167
DOI:		10.1111/ele.12152
ISSN/ISBN:		1461-0248 (Electronic) 1461-023X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Floral mimicry of decaying plant or animal material has evolved in many plant lineages and exploits, for the purpose of pollination, insects seeking oviposition sites. Existing studies suggest that volatile signals play a particularly important role in these mimicry systems. Here, we present the first large-scale phylogenetically informed study of patterns of evolution in the volatile emissions of plants that mimic insect oviposition sites. Multivariate analyses showed strong convergent evolution, represented by distinct clusters in chemical phenotype space of plants that mimic animal carrion, decaying plant material, herbivore dung and omnivore/carnivore faeces respectively. These plants deploy universal infochemicals that serve as indicators for the main nutrients utilised by saprophagous, coprophagous and necrophagous insects. The emission of oligosulphide-dominated volatile blends very similar to those emitted by carrion has evolved independently in at least five plant families (Annonaceae, Apocynaceae, Araceae, Orchidaceae and Rafflesiaceae) and characterises plants associated mainly with pollination by necrophagous flies and beetles"
Keywords:		"Animals *Biological Evolution Female Flowers/*anatomy & histology/physiology Insecta/*physiology Magnoliopsida/*physiology Multivariate Analysis Oviposition/*physiology Pollination/physiology Amorphophallus Rafflesia Stapelia chemical ecology, pollination;"
Notes:		"MedlineJurgens, Andreas Wee, Suk-Ling Shuttleworth, Adam Johnson, Steven D eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2013/07/12 Ecol Lett. 2013 Sep; 16(9):1157-67. doi: 10.1111/ele.12152. Epub 2013 Jul 10"