Pollinator shifts and floral Evolution in the Merianieae (Melastomataceae)

passerine pollinated Axinaea affinis

passerine pollinated Axinaea affinis

Bee pollinated Meriania hernandoi

Bee pollinated Meriania hernandoi

The tremendous diversity of angiosperm flowers has most likely evolved primarily in connection with their manifold pollinators. A particularly interesting topic located at the interface of pollination ecology and floral evolution is the occurrence of so-called pollinator shifts, i.e., the shift from one functional group of pollinators to another (e.g., from bees to birds). This project focuses on a group of Central- and South American plants (the tribe Merianieae) belonging to the melastome family (Melastomataceae). The Merianieae include bee-, bat-, hummingbird- as well as passerine pollinated species. Using high resolution x-ray computed tomography combined with geometric morphometrics, we aim at analyzing in detail the differences in floral traits associated with different functional groups of pollinators. In addition, using a population genetic approach, we will assess gene flow and pollination efficiency in the different pollination systems.

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 Project publications

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2018


Dellinger A, Paun O, Fernandez-Fernandez DM, Penneys DS, Schönenberger J. Impact of pollinator shifts on mating systems and population genetic diversity in a Neotropical plant group. In European Conference of Tropical Ecology, Annual Meeting of the society for Tropical Ecology (GTÖ): Challenges in Tropical Ecology and Conservation - Global Perspectives. 2018. S15-002

Dellinger A, Paun O, Fernandez-Fernandez DM, Penneys DS, Schönenberger J. Population genetics as a tool for measuring connectivity in tropical plants – a case study from South American mountains. 2018. 34. Jahrestagung Lateinamerikaforschung Austria, Strobl am Wolfgangsee, Austria.

Showing entries 21 - 22 out of 22