Comparing Variational Properties of Homologous Floral and Vegetative Characters in Dalechampia scandens : Testing the Berg Hypothesis

摘要: The Berg hypothesis posits that, in plants with specialized pollination systems, floral characters should evolve to become integrated each other and decoupled from vegetative characters. We test this by comparing serially homologous morphologically similar leaves involucral bracts the Neotropical vine Dalechampia scandens, which has a system based on resin-collecting bees. serve number of functions, including signaling protection, that may put them under stronger selection for precision than less leaves. homology morphological similarity allow us make sharper Berg’s is possible most systems. found support had lower coefficients variation comparable traits. Also hypothesis, we essentially zero phenotypic correlations between at same time moderate different bracts. In contradiction however, did not find higher among traits within leaves, no evidence being more developmentally stable