Plant mating systems in a changing world.
There is increasing evidence that human disturbance can negatively impact plant-pollinator interactions such as outcross pollination. We present a meta-analysis of 22 studies involving 27 plant species showing a significant reduction in the proportion of seeds outcrossed in response to anthropogenic habitat modifications. We discuss the evolutionary consequences of disturbance on plant mating systems, and in particular whether reproductive assurance through selfing effectively compensates for reduced outcrossing. The extent to which disturbance reduces pollinator versus mate availability could generate diverse selective forces on reproductive traits. Investigating how anthropogenic change influences plant mating will lead to new opportunities for better understanding of how mating systems evolve, as well as of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of human activities and how to mitigate them.
Eckert
Christopher G
CG
Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada. chris.eckert@queensu.ca
Kalisz
Susan
S
Geber
Monica A
MA
Sargent
Risa
R
Elle
Elizabeth
E
Cheptou
Pierre-Olivier
PO
Goodwillie
Carol
C
Johnston
Mark O
MO
Kelly
John K
JK
Moeller
David A
DA
Porcher
Emmanuelle
E
Ree
Richard H
RH
Vallejo-Marín
Mario
M
Winn
Alice A
AA
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans; D007178:Inbreeding; D010944:Plants; D054817:Pollination