| Autor: |
Gómez JM; Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain. jmgreyes@eeza.csic.es.; Research Unit Modeling Nature, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. jmgreyes@eeza.csic.es., Perfectti F; Research Unit Modeling Nature, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. fperfect@ugr.es.; Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. fperfect@ugr.es., Armas C; Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain. cris@eeza.csic.es., Narbona E; Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain., González-Megías A; Research Unit Modeling Nature, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.; Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain., Navarro L; Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ciencias del Suelo, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain., DeSoto L; Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain., Torices R; Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Spain. |
| Abstrakt: |
Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of a genotype of producing different phenotypes when exposed to different environments, may impact ecological interactions. We study here how within-individual plasticity in Moricandia arvensis flowers modifies its pollination niche. During spring, this plant produces large, cross-shaped, UV-reflecting lilac flowers attracting mostly long-tongued large bees. However, unlike most co-occurring species, M. arvensis keeps flowering during the hot, dry summer due to its plasticity in key vegetative traits. Changes in temperature and photoperiod in summer trigger changes in gene expression and the production of small, rounded, UV-absorbing white flowers that attract a different assemblage of generalist pollinators. This shift in pollination niche potentially allows successful reproduction in harsh conditions, facilitating M. arvensis to face anthropogenic perturbations and climate change. |
