Guerrero Pablo C, Martínez-Harms Jaime, Arroyo Mary T K, Eaton Deren, Meriño Beatriz M, Varas-Myrik Antonio, Villalobos-Barrantes Heidy M, Carvallo Gastón O
Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, 4030000, Concepción, Chile.
Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, 7800003, Santiago, Chile.
Plant Divers. 2025 Mar 11;47(3):440-453. doi: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.03.001. eCollection 2025 May.
Pollination niches, which encompass the factors influencing pollen exchange among angiosperms, are fundamental to understanding reproductive success and the intricate eco-evolutionary dynamics of plants. In this study, we investigated pollination niche shift among four sympatric cacti with restricted distributions in the South American Mediterranean region. Utilizing a comprehensive approach-including pollination niche analysis, pollinator color perception studies, reproductive output assessments, molecular phylogenetics, gene flow analyses, and species distribution modeling-we revealed a significant pollination niche displacement in and its variety, var. These taxa transitioned from a hummingbird-pollinated system prevalent in the sect. , characteristic of their sister species , to a bee-pollination strategy akin to that of the co-occurring species . This shift highlights a simultaneous convergence of toward and divergence from in pollination strategies, providing adaptive advantages by reducing pollen limitation and enhancing seed production. The morphological and flowering phenological similarities between and suggest the evolution of a shared advertising display, potentially indicative of floral mimicry, wherein both species benefit from attracting shared bee pollinators. Genomic analyses reveal distinct pollinator-driven selection pressures, with exhibiting traits that promote reproductive isolation from , supporting a scenario of rapid speciation occurring within the past half of million years in the absence of geographic barriers. These findings underscore the pivotal role of pollinator interactions in shaping angiosperm speciation and biodiversity, highlighting their dynamic influence on ecological and evolutionary processes.
传粉生态位涵盖了影响被子植物间花粉交换的各种因素，对于理解植物的繁殖成功以及复杂的生态进化动态至关重要。在本研究中，我们调查了南美地中海地区分布受限的四种同域仙人掌的传粉生态位转移情况。通过综合运用包括传粉生态位分析、传粉者颜色感知研究、繁殖输出评估、分子系统发育学、基因流分析以及物种分布建模等方法，我们揭示了[具体物种]及其变种[变种名称]存在显著的传粉生态位位移。这些分类群从其姐妹物种[姐妹物种名称]所在的[具体组名]中普遍存在的蜂鸟传粉系统，转变为类似于同域分布物种[同域分布物种名称]的蜜蜂传粉策略。这种转变凸显了[具体物种]在传粉策略上同时向[同域分布物种名称]趋同以及与[姐妹物种名称]分化的现象，通过减少花粉限制和提高种子产量提供了适应性优势。[具体物种]与[同域分布物种名称]之间的形态和开花物候相似性表明存在一种共享的广告展示进化，这可能暗示着花的拟态，即两个物种都从吸引共享的蜜蜂传粉者中受益。基因组分析揭示了不同的传粉者驱动的选择压力，[具体物种]表现出促进与[姐妹物种名称]生殖隔离的特征，支持了在过去五十万年内在没有地理隔离的情况下快速物种形成的情景。这些发现强调了传粉者相互作用在塑造被子植物物种形成和生物多样性中的关键作用，突出了它们对生态和进化过程的动态影响。
