Flower colour and size signals differ depending on geographical location and altitude region. (21st September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garcia, J. E.; Dyer, A. G.; Burd, M.; Shrestha, M.
• Editors: Arista, M.
• Is Part Of: Plant biology. Volume 23:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 905
• Page End: 914
• Publication Date: 2021-09-21
• Subjects: generalisation -- chromatic contrast -- achromatic contrast -- bee -- vision -- pollination -- colour signal; Botany -- Periodicals; Plants -- genetics -- Periodicals; Plants -- growth & development -- Periodicals; Plant Proteins -- Periodicals; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/plb.13326
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1435-8603

Abstract

Abstract: Bees are major pollinators of angiosperms and have phylogenetically conserved colour vision but differ in how various key species use achromatic information that is vital for both flower detection and size processing. We modelled green contrast and colour contrast signals from flowers of different countries where there are well established differences in availability of model bee species along altitudinal gradients. We tested for consistency in visual signals as expected from generalization in pollination principles using phylogenetically informed linear models. Patterns of chromatic contrast, achromatic green contrast and flower size differed among the three floras we examined. In Nepal there is a significant positive correlation between flower size and colour contrast in the subalpine region, but a negative correlation at the lower altitudes. At high elevations in Norway, where pollinators other than bees are common, flower size was positively correlated with colour contrast. At low and medium altitudes in Norway and in Australia, we did not observe a significant relationship between size and colour contrast. We thus find that the relationship between size, green and colour contrast cannot be generalized across communities, thus suggesting that flower visual signal adaptations to local pollinators are not limited to chromatic contrast. Abstract : Different bee species require varying amounts of green (achromatic) and chromatic (colour) contrast to discriminate and detect flowers of different sizes; flowers at different communities show different relationships between respective properties.