Abstract
Differences in floral morphology are often hypothesized to stem from selection by different pollinators. Thus, the presence of multiple floral color morphs within a species might indicate visitation by different pollinator species. To test this prediction, we examined Ipomoea aquatica Forssk., a morning glory species with a “white” morph (all-white flowers) and a “purple” morph (white corolla lobes with purple corolla tubes). We studied this species in Nong Khai, Thailand, where some populations are monomorphic for a single color and others are polymorphic. We compared (a) animal visitation rates to each morph; (b) visitor and pollinator community composition at each morph; and (c) the female reproduction of each morph. Visitation rates were obtained from camcorder footage and used to analyze community composition. Female reproduction was assessed from a pollination experiment with five treatments (open, open emasculation, hand-cross, hand-self, and closed). We found that the main pollinators (bees and butterflies) visited both morphs, and that overall insect community composition to the two floral colors did not differ significantly. Moreover, we found that I. aquatica is capable of spontaneous autogamy but still benefits from pollinators, as flowers in the closed treatment set significantly fewer seeds than flowers in the open and hand cross-pollinated treatments. When comparing female reproduction between morphs, we did not find significant differences for either fruit set or seed set. These findings suggest that floral visitors interact with the two morphs similarly, and that the high-reproductive success experienced by both colors may help maintain the polymorphism in nature.
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Acknowledgements
We are thankful to Nong Khai locals for their assistance with field work, and to Wipawee Nilapaka, Natthaphong Chitchak, and Pantamith Ratanakrajang for helpful comments and suggestions during discussions about this project. We also thank Nico Blüthgen and four anonymous reviewers for comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript.
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This study was supported by Mahidol University (Mentorship Grant awarded to ABS and PT; Young Scientist Scholarship awarded to PH).
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This study was conceived and designed by ABS, PH, and PT; data were collected by PH; data were analyzed by ABS and PH; figures and tables were prepared by ABS and PH; the first draft was written by ABS and PH; the manuscript was revised by ABS, PH, and PT; and the final version was approved by ABS, PH, and PT.
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Permission to work with animals was granted by MUSC-IACUC (Faculty of Science, Mahidol University-Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) (license number MUSC60-037-387).
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Visitation rates of all animal species visiting Ipomoea aquatica flowers in Nong Khai, Thailand. Visitation rates to both floral color morphs, purple flowers only, and white flowers only are listed, as well as the results from zero-inflated regression models determining whether or not floral color significantly influenced visitation rates
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Hassa, P., Traiperm, P. & Stewart, A.B. Pollinator visitation and female reproductive success in two floral color morphs of Ipomoea aquatica (Convolvulaceae). Plant Syst Evol 306, 88 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-020-01716-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-020-01716-1