Diversification, evolution of floral traits and integrative taxonomy of the Pseudophrys section (Orchidaceae)
Nina Joffard  1@  , Bruno Buatois  1@  , Véronique Arnal  1@  , Claudine Montgelard  1@  , Bertrand Schatz  1@  
1 : Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive  (CEFE)  -  Website
CNRS : UMR5175
1919 route de Mende 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5 -  France

The Orchidaceae family is famous for its great taxonomic and floral diversity. This is particularly true for species of the genus Ophrys, which are also known for their specific interactions with pollinators and their insect-mimicking flowers. In the genus Ophrys, floral scents mimic sexual pheromones of female insects and speciation is supposed to occur when a mutation on one of the genes controlling for floral scent emission induce the attraction of a new pollinator species. Diversification and evolution of floral traits are therefore thought to be primarily pollinator-driven in the genus Ophrys. However, few studies have addressed this question using a macroevolutive approach and multiple datasets to investigate both phylogenetic patterns and floral divergence between Ophrys species. Here, we used molecular phylogeny, morphometry, chemical ecology and pollinator records to investigate the role of pollinators in the diversification of the monophyletic Pseudophrys section and in the evolution of floral traits in some Pseudophrys species from Western Europe. More specifically, we aimed to answer two questions: (i) Is speciation always associated with pollinator shifts? (ii) Are pollinator shifts correlated with shifts in floral traits? In addition, we used our multiple datasets to clarify the taxonomic status of some narrow endemics in the framework of integrative taxonomy, in order to allow for a better conservation of these charismatic but endangered orchids.


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