Floral isolation

An example of morphological isolation in Salvia mellifera where the stigma and anther positioning determines the location of pollen contact on the bumblebee, promoting transfer within the species.
An example of ethological isolation in Ophrys apifera where the orchids structure mimics that of a female bee to attract the male counterparts.

Floral Isolation is a form of reproductive isolation found in angiosperms. Reproductive isolation is the process of species evolving mechanisms to prevent reproduction with other species. In plants, this is accomplished through the manipulation of the pollinator’s behavior (ethological isolation) or through morphological characteristics of flowers that favor intraspecific pollen transfer (morphological isolation). Preventing interbreeding prevents hybridization and gene flow between the species (introgression), and consequently protects genetic integrity of the species. Reproductive isolation occurs in many organisms, and floral isolation is one form present in plants.[1] Floral isolation occurs prior to pollination, and is divided into two types of isolation: morphological isolation and ethological isolation.[2] Floral isolation was championed by Verne Grant in the 1900s as an important mechanism of reproductive isolation in plants. [3]

  1. ^ Hodges, Scott A.; Fulton, Michelle; Yang, Ji Y.; Whittall, Justen B. (2003-11-17). "Verne Grant and evolutionary studies of Aquilegia: Research review". New Phytologist. 161 (1): 113–120. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00950.x.
  2. ^ Schiestl, Florian P.; Schlüter, Philipp M. (2009). "Floral isolation, specialized pollination, and pollinator behavior in orchids". Annual Review of Entomology. 54: 425–446. doi:10.1146/annurev.ento.54.110807.090603. ISSN 0066-4170. PMID 19067636.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).