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Evidence for selectively constrained 3D flower shape evolution in a Late Miocene clade of Malagasy Bulbophyllum orchids
Author(s) -
Artuso Silvia,
Gamisch Alexander,
Staedler Yannick M.,
Schönenberger Jürg,
Comes Hans Peter
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.17643
Subject(s) - clade , biology , evolutionary biology , morphometrics , adaptive radiation , rate of evolution , parallel evolution , macroevolution , phylogenetic tree , character evolution , stabilizing selection , phylogenetics , evolutionary dynamics , zoology , genetic variation , gene , biochemistry , population , demography , sociology
Summary Questions concerning the evolution of complex biological structures are central to the field of evolutionary biology. Yet, still little information is known about the modes and temporal dynamics of three‐dimensional (3D) flower shape evolution across the history of clades. Here, we combined high‐resolution X‐ray computed tomography with 3D geometric morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative methods to test models of whole‐flower shape evolution in the orchid family, using an early Late Miocene clade ( c . 50 spp.) of Malagasy Bulbophyllum as model system. Based on landmark data of 38 species, our high‐dimensional model fitting decisively rejects a purely neutral mode of evolution, suggesting instead that flower shapes evolved towards a primary adaptive optimum. Only a small number of recently evolved species/lineages attained alternative shape optima, resulting in an increased rate of phenotypic evolution. Our findings provide evidence of constrained 3D flower shape evolution in a small‐sized clade of tropical orchids, resulting in low rates of phenotypic evolution and uncoupled trait–diversification rates. We hypothesise that this deep imprint of evolutionary constraint on highly complex floral structures might reflect long‐term (directional and/or stabilizing) selection exerted by the group’s main pollinators (flies).