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Within-species floral evolution reveals convergence in adaptive walks during incipient pollinator shift

Author

Listed:
  • Katherine E. Wenzell

    (John Innes Centre
    South Dakota State University
    California Academy of Sciences
    University of Maryland)

  • Mikhaela Neequaye

    (John Innes Centre)

  • Pirita Paajanen

    (John Innes Centre)

  • Lionel Hill

    (John Innes Centre)

  • Paul Brett

    (John Innes Centre)

  • Kelsey J. R. P. Byers

    (John Innes Centre)

Abstract

Understanding how evolution proceeds from molecules to organisms to interactions requires integrative studies spanning biological levels. Linking phenotypes with associated genes and fitness illuminates how adaptive walks move organisms between fitness peaks. Floral evolution can confer rapid reproductive isolation, often converging in association with pollinator guilds. Within the monkeyflowers (Mimulus sect. Erythranthe), yellow flowers within red hummingbird-pollinated species have arisen at least twice, suggesting possible pollinator shifts. We compare two yellow-flowered forms of M. cardinalis and M. verbenaceus to their red counterparts in floral phenotypes, biochemistry, transcriptomic and genomic variation, and pollinator interactions. We find convergence in ongoing adaptive walks of both yellow morphs, with consistent changes in traits of large effect (floral pigments, associated gene expression), resulting in strong preference for yellow flowers by bumblebees. Shifts in scent emission and floral opening size also favor bee adaptation, suggesting smaller-effect steps from hummingbird to bee pollination. By examining intraspecific, incipient pollinator shifts in two related species, we elucidate adaptive walks at early stages, revealing how convergent large effect mutations (floral color) may drive pollinator attraction, followed by smaller effect changes for mechanical fit and reward access. Thus, ongoing adaptive walks may impact reproductive isolation and incipient speciation via convergent evolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Katherine E. Wenzell & Mikhaela Neequaye & Pirita Paajanen & Lionel Hill & Paul Brett & Kelsey J. R. P. Byers, 2025. "Within-species floral evolution reveals convergence in adaptive walks during incipient pollinator shift," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57639-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57639-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bates, Douglas & Mächler, Martin & Bolker, Ben & Walker, Steve, 2015. "Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using lme4," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 67(i01).
    2. H. D. Bradshaw & Douglas W. Schemske, 2003. "Allele substitution at a flower colour locus produces a pollinator shift in monkeyflowers," Nature, Nature, vol. 426(6963), pages 176-178, November.
    3. Lenth, Russell V., 2016. "Least-Squares Means: The R Package lsmeans," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 69(i01).
    4. Justen B. Whittall & Scott A. Hodges, 2007. "Pollinator shifts drive increasingly long nectar spurs in columbine flowers," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7145), pages 706-709, June.
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