Evolutinary diversification of the flower tube and ecological speciation in Melampyrum

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24770085
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biodiversity/Systematics
• Research Institution: Osaka Museum of Natural History
• Principal Investigator: HASEGAWA Masahiro 大阪市立自然史博物館, その他部局等, 研究員 (80610542)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ポリネーターシフト / 送粉 / 花形態 / 進化 / ポリネーター / ママコナ属 / 昼行性スズメガ / ハナバチ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pollinator shifts has been considered an important evolutionary events for the ecological speciation of plants, but is uncertain how it progresses under what kind of environment. Melampyrum　 macranthum which distributed in the southern part of Kii peninsula and have long flower tube was pollinated by diurnal hawkmoth although other Melampyrum species was mainly pollinated by long-tongued bees. On the other hand, M. laxum var. yakusimense which distributed in the Yaku Is. and have short flower tube was mainly visited by syrphid flies. These two taxa are closely related in M. laxum which pollinated by long-tongued bees, but these bees were not confirmed in the locality of the both taxa through anthesis. It is thought that both taxa were evolutionarily adapted to nectar or pollen robber of M. laxum under environment having few long-tongued bees.

Free Research Field

送粉生態学