Pollinator and nonpollinator selection on ray morphology in Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy, Asteraceae)

Despite evidence that both pollinators and nonpollinator agents of selection can shape the evolution of floral characters, there have been few attempts to compare the strengths and directions of selection from pollinators and other agents in the same study system. In this investigation of Leucanthem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	American journal of botany 2008-09, Vol.95 (9), p.1072-1078
Main Author:	Andersson, Stefan
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Asteraceae Asteraceae • floral evolution • Leucanthemum vulgare • pollination • selection Biologi Biological Sciences Botany Ecological genetics Ecology Ekologi Evolution Evolutionary biology floral evolution Florets Flowers Flowers & plants Fruit set Leucanthemum vulgare Natural Sciences Naturvetenskap Phenotypes Plant morphology Plant populations Plant reproduction Plants Pollination Pollinators selection Studies
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Summary:	Despite evidence that both pollinators and nonpollinator agents of selection can shape the evolution of floral characters, there have been few attempts to compare the strengths and directions of selection from pollinators and other agents in the same study system. In this investigation of Leucanthemum vulgare, a self-incompatible composite known for its conspicuous white rays, I obtained data from a ray removal experiment in the field and from a segregating F₂ population in an experimental garden to assess the role of pollinator and nonpollinator selection as stabilizing factors on floral evolution in this species. Removal of all rays reduced the pollination success of heads by 31-35%, but did not significantly affect the level of infestation by larvae of the fly Tephritis neesii. Data from F₂ plants indicated a potential for indirect selection on ray morphology, mediated through links between ray morphology and measures of vegetative size and plant vigor. The results of this study show that individuals of the normal, rayed phenotype have a clear selective advantage, in terms of both pollinator attraction and general plant vigor. Thus, there were no conflicting selection pressures between the pollinators and the other selective agents considered in this study.
ISSN:	0002-9122 1537-2197