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PREDISPERSAL SEED HERBIVORES, NOT POLLINATORS, EXERT SELECTION ON FLORAL TRAITS VIA FEMALE FITNESS
Author(s) -
Parachnowitsch Amy L.,
Caruso Christina M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.1890/07-0555.1
Subject(s) - pollinator , herbivore , biology , pollination , seed predation , selection (genetic algorithm) , ecology , directional selection , reproductive success , natural selection , population , seed dispersal , pollen , biological dispersal , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science
Herbivores that oviposit in flowers of animal‐pollinated plants depend on pollinators for seed production and are therefore expected to choose flowers that attract pollinators. This provides a mechanism by which seed herbivores and pollinators could impose conflicting selection on floral traits. We measured phenotypic selection on floral traits of Lobelia siphilitica (Lobeliaceae) via female fitness to determine the relative strength of selection by pollinators and a specialist predispersal seed herbivore. We were able to attribute selection on flowering phenology to the herbivores. However, no selection could be attributed to pollinators, resulting in no conflicting selection on floral traits. Unlike pollinators, whose preference for certain floral traits does not always translate into higher fitness, any discrimination by seed herbivores is likely to decrease fitness of the preferred floral phenotype. Thus predispersal seed herbivores may be a significant agent of selection on floral traits.