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.

模式-拟态植物系统（model-mimic plant systems）已是学界广泛认知的研究对象，但推动这类系统存续的具体条件仍属未解之谜。本研究提出，若聚焦于模式物种与拟态物种的花部相似性、模式物种提供的报酬水平，以及传粉者据此调整觅食行为的能力，便可更深入地阐释这类系统的存续条件。我们采用空间显式建模（spatially-explicit modelling）方法，分析了从贝茨拟态（Batesian mimicry）到一般性食物拟态等多种拟态策略下，驱动欺骗性物种存续的性状组合。与此前针对此类系统的模型研究不同，本研究纳入第三种不同的物种以考察模式-拟态物种间的互作关系，从而构建了传粉者可完全避开模式-拟态系统的更具生态学真实性的研究场景。研究结果显示，食物欺骗性系统中物种的整体存续率与种群丰度，取决于参与互作的物种所提供的相对报酬，以及环境中可获得的潜在替代资源。具体而言，贝茨拟态系统中拟态物种的成功与否，取决于其模式物种所提供的报酬水平，相对于花群落中潜在替代资源的高低。与之相对，一般性食物拟态系统中的拟态物种，在其所提供的报酬水平较低时，其存续成功率反而更高。本研究表明，传粉者利用过往经验进行决策的能力，对推动拟态物种的存续具有关键作用，这一发现为阐明食物拟态的预期存续条件提供了重要理论视角。