The evolution of imperfect floral mimicry.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Vereecken NJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2396721 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
The evolution of imperfect floral mimicry.
Vereecken Nicolas J NJ Schiestl Florian P FP
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20080527 21
The theory of mimicry predicts that selection favors signal refinement in mimics to optimally match the signals released by their specific model species. We provide here chemical and behavioral evidence that a sexually deceptive orchid benefits from its mimetic imperfection to its co-occurring and specific bee model by triggering a stronger response in male bees, which react more intensively to the similar, but novel, scent stimulus provided by the orchid. ...[more]
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