Data from: Effects of plant and pollinator traits on the maintenance of a food deceptive species within a plant community

Model-mimic plant systems are well known. However, the conditions promoting the existence of such systems are still an enigma. We suggest that by focusing on floral similarity between model and mimic, reward levels offered by models, and pollinators' ability to adjust foraging accordingly, the conditions can be better understood. Using spatially-explicit modelling, we examined trait combinations that lead to the survival of deceptive species under a large range of mimic strategies, from Batesian mimicry to general food deception. Unlike previous models studying such systems, we examined model-mimic interactions in the presence of a third, dissimilar species, thus generating a more realistic scenario where pollinators may avoid the model-mimic system altogether. Results showed that overall survival and abundance of species in food deceptive systems depend on the relative reward provided by the participating species and the potential alternatives available. Specifically, the success of a mimic in a Batesian mimicry system depends on high levels of reward provided by its model species relative to potential alternatives in the flower community. On the other hand, the success of a mimic in a general food deception system was higher when the reward offered was lower. Our study suggests that the ability of pollinators to utilize their experience as part of decision-making is highly relevant in promoting mimic survival, thus shedding light on the conditions under which food deception is expected.拟态植物系统（model-mimic plant systems）已是学界广泛认知的研究对象。然而，这类系统得以存续的条件仍是未解之谜。我们提出，若聚焦于拟态者与模型间的花部相似性、模型所提供的报酬水平，以及传粉者相应调整觅食行为的能力，便能更透彻地理解此类系统的存续条件。 本研究采用空间显式建模（spatially-explicit modelling），分析了覆盖从贝茨拟态（Batesian mimicry）到一般性食物拟态的多种拟态策略下，促使欺骗性物种存活的性状组合。与此前针对此类系统的研究不同，我们纳入了第三种非相似物种的影响，从而构建出传粉者可完全规避该拟态系统的更具生态真实性的研究场景。 研究结果显示，食物拟态系统中物种的整体存活概率与种群丰度，取决于各参与物种提供的相对报酬，以及群落中可获得的潜在替代资源。具体而言，贝茨拟态系统中的拟态者能否成功，取决于其模型物种所提供的报酬水平显著高于开花植物群落中的潜在替代资源。而在一般性食物拟态系统中，拟态者的成功率反而会随自身提供的报酬降低而提升。 本研究表明，传粉者利用过往经验进行决策的能力，对促进拟态者的存活至关重要，这一发现阐明了食物拟态得以存续的预期条件。