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Phenotypic selection on floral scent: trade-off between attraction and deterrence?

Schiestl, Florian ; Huber, Franz ; Gomez, José

In: Evolutionary Ecology, 2011, vol. 25, no. 2, p. 237-248

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    Title
    • Phenotypic selection on floral scent: trade-off between attraction and deterrence?
    Author
    • Schiestl, Florian. Institute of Systematic Botany, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Huber, Franz. Institute of Systematic Botany, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Gomez, José. Dpto Ecología, Universidad de Granada, Avda Fuentenueva s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:321169
    Summary
    Flowers emit a large variety of floral signals that play a fundamental role in the communication of plants with their mutualists and antagonists. We investigated phenotypic selection on floral scent and floral display using the rewarding orchid species Gymnadenia odoratissima. We found positive directional selection on inflorescence size, as well as positive and negative selection on floral scent compounds. Structural equation modeling showed that "active” compounds, i.e. those that were shown in earlier investigations to be detected by pollinator insects, were positively linked to fitness, whereas "non-active” were negatively linked to fitness. Our results suggest that different patterns of selection impact on different scent compounds, which may relate to the functions of compounds for attracting/deterring insects