Data from: Floral trait evolution associated with shifts between insect and wind pollination in the dioecious genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae)

Transitions between animal and wind pollination have occurred in many lineages and have been linked to various floral modifications, but these have seldom been assessed in a phylogenetic framework. In the dioecious genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae), transitions from insect to wind pollination have occurred at least four times. Using analyses that controlled for relatedness among Leucadendron species, we investigated how these transitions shaped the evolution of floral structural and signaling traits, including the degree of sexual dimorphism in these traits. Pollen grains of wind-pollinated species were found to be smaller, more numerous, and dispersed more efficiently in wind than were those of insect-pollinated species. Wind-pollinated species also exhibited a reduction in spectral contrast between showy subtending leaves and background foliage, reduced volatile emissions, and a greater degree of sexual dimorphism in color and scent. Uniovulate flowers and inflorescence condensation are conserved ancestral features in Leucadendron and likely served as exaptations in shifts to wind pollination. These results offer insights into the key modifications of male and female floral traits involved in transitions between insect and wind pollination.动物传粉与风媒传粉之间的演化转换在多个演化支中均有发生，且与多种花部特征修饰相关联，但此类转换极少在系统发育框架下得到评估。 在隶属于山龙眼科（Proteaceae）的雌雄异株银苞木属（Leucadendron）中，从虫媒传粉向风媒传粉的演化转换至少已发生四次。 本研究通过控制银苞木属物种间亲缘关系的分析方法，探究了此类传粉模式转换如何塑造花部结构与信号特征的演化，包括这些特征的性二态程度。 研究发现，相较于虫媒传粉物种，风媒传粉物种的花粉粒更小、数量更多，且在风力作用下的传播效率更高。 风媒传粉物种还表现出以下特征：显眼的承托叶与背景植被间的光谱对比度降低、挥发性物质释放量减少，以及颜色与气味方面的性二态程度更高。 单胚珠花与花序紧凑化是银苞木属的保守祖先特征，且可能在向风媒传粉的转换过程中充当了副适应（exaptation）特征。 本研究结果为解析虫媒与风媒传粉转换过程中雌雄花部特征的关键修饰提供了重要视角。