Sexual selection, pollinators and floral dimorphism

Sexual selection, pollinators and floral dimorphism

Sexual selection, pollinators and floral dimorphism
Sexual selection, pollinators and floral dimorphism

Sexual selection mediated by animal pollinators can potentially drive dimorphism in plant populations with unisexual flowers. Yakimowski et al. compare variation in floral traits between populations of Sagittaria latifolia with combined versus separated sexes. Male flowers are larger than females but the pattern is reversed for daily display size, probably because of improved pollen dispersal associated with prolonged male function. Both patterns are predicted signatures of sexual selection.

 

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The Annals of Botany Office is based at the University of Oxford.

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