Data from: Colour, design, and reward: phenotypic integration of fleshy fruit displays

The functional or structural linkage among traits (phenotypic integration;
PI) within complex structures can constrain the evolutionary response of
individual traits. To analyse whether frugivores with distinct sensory
ecology have shaped the patterns of fruit diversification differently, we
compared PI values of fleshy fruits that are consumed by birds and
mammals. We used phylogenetic comparative analyses of PI among 13
morphological, nutritional and visual fruit traits from 111 Mediterranean
plant species. Results showed that morphological traits had higher PI
values than nutritional and colour traits. Visual and nutritional traits
show positive phylogenetic covariance, while negative covariation occurs
between fruits size and nutrients. Importantly, fruits consumed by birds
were relatively more integrated than fruits consumed partly or solely by
mammals. Hence we show that major groups of mutualistic frugivores can
shape the covariance among some fruit traits differently and thereby
influence fruit diversification.