Evidence for selectively constrained 3D flower shape evolution in a Late Miocene clade of Malagasy Bulbophyllum orchids
- Author(s)
- Silvia Artuso, Alexander Gamisch, Yannick M. Staedler, Jürg Schönenberger, Hans Peter Comes
- Abstract
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).
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
- External organisation(s)
- Paris-Lodron Universität Salzburg
- Journal
- New Phytologist
- Volume
- 232
- Pages
- 853-867
- No. of pages
- 15
- ISSN
- 0028-646X
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17643
- Publication date
- 2021
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 106008 Botany, 106012 Evolutionary research, 106042 Systematic botany
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology, Plant Science
- Portal url
- https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/evidence-for-selectively-constrained-3d-flower-shape-evolution-in-a-late-miocene-clade-of-malagasy-bulbophyllum-orchids(e52605a3-cf69-4f15-8f8d-2279891b30b6).html