New Synthesis: The Evolutionary Ecology of Floral Volatiles

Parachnowitsch, Amy L.

doi:10.1007/s10886-014-0491-4

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Floral chemistry is hypothesized to be the product of natural selection, but researchers have just begun to consider the micro-evolution of these traits (Parachnowitsch, 2014). In fooddeceptive orchids defined by Ackerman (1986), and Jersáková et al (2009), we can see the multidirectional character of the floral chemical signals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deceptive strategy in Dactylorhiza orchids: multidirectional evolution of floral chemistry

et al. 2019

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Background and AimsThe deception strategies of orchids remain poorly understood, especially in regard to the chemical compounds emitted from their flowers and their interaction with various taxonomic groups of pollinators. We investigated the phylogenetic relationships and compared the variation of floral chemical compounds between food-deceptive Dactylorhiza taxa (D. incarnata var. incarnata and D. incarnata var. ochroleuca, D. fuchsii and D. majalis) from populations in north-eastern Poland. We propose a model of the evolution of deception based on floral chemical signals in this genus.• Methods A Bayesian approach based on polymorphic plastid DNA (trnL, trnF and psbC-trnK), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and flow cytometry data was applied to confirm the taxonomic status of the studied orchids. We also identified and classified the pollinators and flower visitors in each Dactylorhiza population to the taxonomic level and compared our results with literature data. The chemical composition of pentane and diethyl ether extracts from the flowers was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Variation of the floral chemical components was visualized by non-metric multidimensional scaling based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity. • Key ResultsThe genetic distinctiveness of D. incarnata, D. fuchsii and D. majalis was confirmed. No hybrids between them were found, but the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA), ITS haplotypes and flow cytometry showed genetic similarity between D. incarnata var. incarnata and D. incarnata var. ochroleuca. We determined that Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera) was the only shared pollinator of these taxa. Strangalia attenuata and Alosterna tabacicolor (Coleoptera) and Volucella pellucens and V. bombylans (Hymenoptera) were observed pollinating D. fuchsii. Visualization of the emission rates of the 61 floral chemical compounds detected from pentane extracts (mainly hydrocarbons and aldehydes) and the 51 from diethyl extracts (with abundant groups of benzenoids and nonaromatic acids) strongly differentiated D. incarnata, D. fuchsii and D. majalis, while those of the two varieties of D. incarnata (var. incarnata and var. ochroleuca) were almost identical.• Conclusions While the genetic data clearly supported the distinct lineages of D. incarnata, D. fuchsii and D. majalis, the patterns of emission of their flower chemical compounds were more complex within the series of shared compounds (alkanes and aldehydes) and taxon-specific compounds (benzenoids and esters). Their floral bouquet can influence the sexual, social and feeding behaviour of pollinators in different ways. We observed that the floral chemical compounds attracted both shared and species-specific pollinators to Dactylorhiza, confirming the multidirectional character of floral chemical signals in these food-deceptive taxa. Reduction of species-specific pollination levels in Dactylorhiza orchid taxa may promote hybridization between them.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deceptive strategy in Dactylorhiza orchids: multidirectional evolution of floral chemistry

et al. 2019

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“…Specifically, the volatile compounds phenylacetaldehyde, p-anisaldehyde, benzaldehyde, methyl benzoate and benzyl nitrile have been previously found to be under significant and generally positive selection by bumblebees in controlled experiments (Gervasi and Schiestl, 2017;Knauer and Schiestl, 2017). Studies performing electroantennographic recording (EAD) (Dötterl and Vereecken, 2010;Knauer and Schiestl, 2015;Zito et al, 2019) suggest that pollinator-mediated selection on certain floral VOCs is likely if pollinating insects can detect them (Schiestl et al, 2011;Schiestl and Dötterl, 2012;Parachnowitsch, 2014). In an thoroughly review, Dötterl and Vereecken (2010) documented several floral volatiles that have been shown to elicit positive behavioral responses in bees.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Floral Fragrance Is Compromised by Herbivory

Ramos

Schiestl

2020

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Despite the paramount role of floral fragrance in pollinator attraction and reproduction in flowering plants, we know little about its evolution under natural conditions. Here we show that by reducing herbivore load with pesticide application, plants showed evolutionary changes in their floral fragrance within 4 generations when compared to plants with natural levels of herbivory. We interpret this finding in the context of relaxed physiological and ecological trade-offs with fewer herbivores, potentially facilitating selection by bees on specific aromatic volatiles. Our study confirms earlier findings of experimental evolution under highly controlled and simplified conditions in the greenhouse.

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“…Floral chemistry is hypothesized to be the product of natural selection yet research is only just considering the micro-evolution of these traits [ [42]. Broad phylogenetic sampling shows nicotine concentrations in Nicotiana nectar are lower in pollinatordependent species [13 ], suggesting that pollinators could drive chemical composition of nectar.…”

Section: Evolution Of Floral Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%