Much of what we know about the drivers of plant phenotypic divergence and fitness stems from studies that focus on specialized pollination systems. Much less is known about these dynamics in generalized pollination systems, where a single plant species interacts with a broad taxonomic and functional diversity of pollinators. The main focus of this project is to address this research gap and understand how spatial and temporal variation in the ecological process of pollination drives the phenotypic divergence and fitness of plant populations. We focus on Viscaria vulgaris, a perennial herb distributed across northern and central Europe that interacts with a wide diversity of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators. We are particularly interested in understanding how variation in the composition of local pollinator assemblages can drive the evolution of floral traits involved the pollination process. This project will also identify the mechanistic underpinnings that link variation in floral traits to plant fitness. That is, understanding how phenotypic variation determines plant fitness, individually for distinct pollinator functional groups.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: We are searching for a motivated student interested in studying the process of pollination as a driver of plant evolution. Basic knowledge of pollination ecology and plant evolution is preferred, as well as quantitative skills and basic coding skills in R. The projects described below involve the analysis of previously collected data and the implementation of greenhouse experiments. The student will also be involved in the collection of new data from future field campaigns.
PROJECT EXAMPLES:
- Linking pollinators to plant phenotypes and fitness.
This project will assess whether the composition of the local pollinator assemblage can predict variation in plant phenotypes, with a focus on floral traits involved in the pollination process. The student will quantify variation across multiple pollinator assemblages and test whether visitation by distinct pollinator functional groups can drive the phenotypic divergence of plant populations. Through work in the greenhouse, the student will also assess whether differences in plant fitness (seed germination rate, plant growth rate) can be predicted by variation in the composition of the local pollinator assemblage.
- Variation in phenotypic selection across space and time.
This project will estimate phenotypic selection on a suite of floral traits and assess the extent of spatial and temporal variation. The student will capitalize on a rich ecological data set to assess how variation in floral traits determines variation in plant fitness and test whether this relationship changes across space and time. The student will identify which floral traits are under substantial phenotypic selection and evaluate the extent to which this can be predicted by the composition of the local pollinator assemblage.
- The landscape as a predictor of the local pollinator assemblage
This project will test whether the composition and structure of the landscape can predict the composition of the local pollinator assemblage. The student will quantify distinct land cover types at different spatial scales and evaluate the association among particular land cover types and the composition of the local pollinator assemblage. This project will provide insights to better understand how land use can alter the composition of pollinator assemblages.
CONTACT DETAILS: Felipe Torres-Vanegas felipe.torres@biol.lu.se, Øystein Opedal oystein.opedal@biol.lu.se