Functional significance of flower orientation and green marks on tepals in the snowdrop Galanthus nivalis (Linnaeus, 1753)
- 15 August 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Plant Signaling & Behavior
- Vol. 15 (11)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2020.1807153
Abstract
Flower shapes, colors, sizes and fragrances are shaped mostly for pollinator attraction. Flower phenotypes are, however, subjected to conflicting selection directed by both pollinators and non-pollinating agents. We investigated flower attractiveness to a model pollinator in the snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis L.) under laboratory conditions. Naïve bumblebees (Bombus terrestris L.) showed strong, innate preferences for experimentally altered upward positioned flowers, suggesting that the natural, downward orientation did not evolve to attract pollinators. Experimentally treated green marks on inner tepals decreased pollinator attraction compared with flowers expressing intact marks, suggesting that green marks serve to guide/attract pollinators. Attractiveness of green marks was significantly compromised by flower orientation; green marks were attractive only for untreated downward-oriented flowers, but they did not improve the attractiveness of upward-oriented flowers. Our results suggest that downward flowers in snowdrop evolved under conflicting selection directed by biotic and abiotic factors, and that green marks on inner tepals could evolve later to enhance flower attractiveness.Keywords
Funding Information
- VEGA (1/0286/20)
This publication has 47 references indexed in Scilit:
- Temperature distribution in light-coloured flowers and inflorescences of early spring temperate species measured by Infrared cameraFlora, 2010
- Pollen resistance to water in 80 angiosperm species: flower structures protect rain‐susceptible pollenNew Phytologist, 2009
- Specialization of flowers: is floral orientation an overlooked first step?New Phytologist, 2009
- The Role of Beetle Marks and Flower Colour on Visitation by Monkey Beetles (Hopliini) in the Greater Cape Floral Region, South AfricaAnnals of Botany, 2007
- Why Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis L.) tepals have green marks?Flora, 2006
- Down-Facing Flowers, Hummingbirds and RainTaxon, 2003
- Why does the flower stalk of Pulsatilla cernua (Ranunculaceae) bend during anthesis?American Journal of Botany, 2002
- The ecological role of orientation in tropical convolvulaceous flowersOecologia, 2002
- Evidence of pollen transfer efficiency as the natural selection factor favoring a large corolla of Campanula punctata pollinated by Bombus diversusOecologia, 1997
- Convective Heat Loss from Upward and Downward-Facing Cavity Solar Receivers: Measurements and CalculationsJournal of Solar Energy Engineering, 1995