Negative frequency-dependent selection maintains a dramatic flower color polymorphism in the rewardless orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soo

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_598EF0AF0293
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Negative frequency-dependent selection maintains a dramatic flower color polymorphism in the rewardless orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soo
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Author(s)
Gigord  L. D., Macnair  M. R., Smithson  A.
ISSN
0027-8424 (Print)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
05/2001
Volume
98
Number
11
Pages
6253-5
Notes
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't --- Old month value: May 22
Abstract
The orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina shows a stable and dramatic flower-color polymorphism, with both yellow- and purple-flowered individuals present in natural populations throughout the range of the species in Europe. The evolutionary significance of flower-color polymorphisms found in many rewardless orchid species has been discussed at length, but the mechanisms responsible for their maintenance remain unclear. Laboratory experiments have suggested that behavioral responses by pollinators to lack of reward availability might result in a reproductive advantage for rare-color morphs. Consequently, we performed an experiment varying the relative frequency of the two color morphs of D. sambucina to test whether rare morph advantage acted in the natural habitat of the species. We show here clear evidence from this manipulative experiment that rare-color morphs have reproductive advantage through male and female components. This is the first demonstration, to our knowledge, that negative frequency-dependent selection through pollinator preference for rare morphs can cause the maintenance of a flower-color polymorphism.
Keywords
Angiosperms/*genetics Color Gene Frequency *Genes, Plant Pollen *Polymorphism, Genetic *Selection (Genetics)
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
24/01/2008 20:08
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:13
Usage data