| Abstract Detail
Reproductive Processes Wang, Yuting [1], Kiel, Carrie [2], Fisher, Amanda [3]. Evolution of Corolla and Pollen Forms in the Justicia ‘Sessile-Axillary Inflorescence’ Clade. Justicia (Acanthaceae) species have a wide variety of flower forms and have adapted to many types of pollinators in the western hemisphere including bees, moths, butterflies, hummingbirds, and bats. Justicia species with the same animal pollinator tend to have similar corolla shapes and colors. Some moth-pollinated Justicia were formerly classified in the genus Siphonoglossa, based on their similar floral morphology. However, a molecular phylogeny of Justicia found that Siphonoglossa is not monophyletic and there have been many transitions between pollinator types among closely related Justicia species. This means that similarities in Justicia corolla morphology evolved through convergence. Other flower characteristics such as pollen size and shape may have also co-evolved with animal pollinators. My objectives are to compare: (1) corolla shape and size and (2) pollen shape and size among Justicia species in the ‘sessile-axillary inflorescence’ and Dianthera/Sarotheca/Plagiacanthus clades. The species in these clades are known to have bee, hummingbird, and lepidopteran pollination. I will use one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test to detect variation in corolla and pollen length, width, and length-to-width ratio among Justicia species. I will compare pollen shape in Justicia species pollinated by different animals using outline analyses. I will also do a phylogenetic comparison by estimating ancestral forms of pollen shape on the phylogeny of these clades. I expect that lepidopteran-pollinated Justicia species will have a larger length-to-width corolla ratio and pollen that is more similar in size and shape compared to their close Justicia relatives that are bird or bee-pollinated. This study will help to advance our knowledge of flower-animal co-evolution and transitions between different animal pollinators in western hemisphere Justicia.
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1 - 1702 Park Ave , Apt.2, Long Beach, CA, 90815, United States
2 - California Botanic Garden, Botany, 1500 North College Ave., Claremont, CA, 91711, United States
3 - California State University, Long Beach, Biological Sciences, Mail Stop 9502, 1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA, 90840, United States
Keywords:
Justicia
plant-pollinator interactions
flowering plant evolution
pollinator shifts
plant reproduction.
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P3, Reproductive Processes Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Wednesday, July 21st, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P3RP003
Abstract ID:647
Candidate for Awards:None |
