An ultraviolet floral polymorphism associated with life history drives pollinator discrimination in Mimulus guttatus (Phrymaceae)

Premise of the study: Ultraviolet (UV) floral patterns are common in angiosperms and mediate pollinator attraction, efficiency, and constancy. UV patterns may vary within species, yet are cryptic to human observers. Thus, few studies have explicitly described the distribution or ecological significance of intraspecific variation in UV floral patterning. Here, we describe the geographic distribution and pattern of inheritance of a UV polymorphism in the model plant species Mimulus guttatus (Phrymaceae). We then test whether naturally occurring UV phenotypes influence pollinator interactions within M. guttatus. Methods: We document UV patterns in 18 annual and 19 perennial populations and test whether UV pattern is associated with life history. To examine the pattern of inheritance, we conducted crosses within and between UV phenotypes. Finally, we tested whether bee pollinators discriminate among naturally occurring UV phenotypes in two settings: wild bee communities and captive Bombus i...研究背景：被子植物中普遍存在紫外光（UV）花部图案，这类图案可介导传粉者的吸引、访花效率与传粉忠实性。紫外光花部图案在物种内部存在变异，但人类观察者无法直接观测到这类变异。因此，鲜有研究明确阐述被子植物内紫外光花部图案种内变异的分布格局及其生态学意义。本研究以模式植物沟酸浆（Mimulus guttatus，隶属于透骨草科Phrymaceae）中的紫外光多态性为对象，阐述其地理分布格局与遗传模式；随后验证自然存在的紫外光表型是否会影响沟酸浆与传粉者的互作关系。方法：本研究记录了18个一年生种群与19个多年生种群的紫外光花部图案，并检验花部紫外光图案是否与植物生活史类型存在关联。为解析该性状的遗传模式，我们开展了同种紫外光表型间以及不同紫外光表型间的杂交实验。最后，我们在两种场景下测试了蜂类传粉者是否会区分自然存在的紫外光表型：野生蜂类群落与人工饲养的熊蜂（原文此处内容未完整给出）。