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Nat Commun

Title:		Real-time divergent evolution in plants driven by pollinators
Author(s):		Gervasi DD; Schiestl FP;
Address:		"Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, Zurich 8008, Switzerland"
Journal Title:		Nat Commun
Year:		2017
Volume:		20170314
Issue:
Page Number:		14691 -
DOI:		10.1038/ncomms14691
ISSN/ISBN:		2041-1723 (Electronic) 2041-1723 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Pollinator-driven diversification is thought to be a major source of floral variation in plants. Our knowledge of this process is, however, limited to indirect assessments of evolutionary changes. Here, we employ experimental evolution with fast cycling Brassica rapa plants to demonstrate adaptive evolution driven by different pollinators. Our study shows pollinator-driven divergent selection as well as divergent evolution in plant traits. Plants pollinated by bumblebees evolved taller size and more fragrant flowers with increased ultraviolet reflection. Bumblebees preferred bumblebee-pollinated plants over hoverfly-pollinated plants at the end of the experiment, showing that plants had adapted to the bumblebees' preferences. Plants with hoverfly pollination became shorter, had reduced emission of some floral volatiles, but increased fitness through augmented autonomous self-pollination. Our study demonstrates that changes in pollinator communities can have rapid consequences on the evolution of plant traits and mating system"
Keywords:		Animals *Bees *Biological Evolution *Brassica rapa *Diptera Flowers Odorants Phenotype *Pollination;
Notes:		"MedlineGervasi, Daniel D L Schiestl, Florian P eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2017/03/16 Nat Commun. 2017 Mar 14; 8:14691. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14691"