Evidence for selectively constrained 3D flower shape evolution in a Late Miocene clade of Malagasy Bulbophyllum orchids

Autor(en)
Silvia Artuso, Alexander Gamisch, Yannick M. Staedler, Jürg Schönenberger, Hans Peter Comes
Abstrakt

SUMMARY Questions concerning the evolution of complex biological structures are central to the field of evolutionary biology. Yet, still little is known about the modes and temporal dynamics of three-dimensional (3D) flower shape evolution across the history of clades. Here, we combine 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 hypothesize 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(en)
Department für Botanik und Biodiversitätsforschung
Externe Organisation(en)
Paris-Lodron Universität Salzburg
Journal
New Phytologist
Band
232
Seiten
853-867
Anzahl der Seiten
15
ISSN
0028-646X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17643
Publikationsdatum
2021
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
106008 Botanik, 106012 Evolutionsforschung, 106042 Systematische Botanik
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Physiology, Plant Science
Link zum Portal
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/de/publications/evidence-for-selectively-constrained-3d-flower-shape-evolution-in-a-late-miocene-clade-of-malagasy-bulbophyllum-orchids(e52605a3-cf69-4f15-8f8d-2279891b30b6).html