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Patterns of floral colour neighbourhood and their effects on female reproductive success in an Antirrhinum hybrid zone
Author(s) -
TASTARD E.,
FERDY J.B.,
BURRUS M.,
THÉBAUD C.,
ANDALO C.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02433.x
Subject(s) - biology , pollinator , reproductive success , pollination , pollen , ecology , hybrid , neighbourhood (mathematics) , heterostyly , frequency dependent selection , hybrid zone , selection (genetic algorithm) , evolutionary biology , botany , gene flow , genetic variation , demography , population , biochemistry , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , gene , mathematical analysis , mathematics
The maintenance of genetic integrity of parental populations is often explained by selection against hybrids. However, the selection agents are usually unknown. The role of environmental biotic interactions is often suspected but has rarely been demonstrated. In plants for instance, mutualism with pollinators may be involved. After verification that pollen deposition is a limiting factor for fruit set, we used an individual‐based study and a representation of pollinator colour perception to test the effects of local plant density and floral colour neighbourhood on female reproductive success in an Antirrhinum hybrid zone. In addition to flower colour and density effects, the composition of the floral neighbourhood was found to influence fruit set, suggesting that most plants were usually better fertilized when similar to their neighbours. However, the plants of one particular type were sometimes favoured when very different from their neighbours. The implications for hybrid zone dynamics are discussed.