种子寄生性传粉互利共生关系是植物与昆虫之间的一种互惠合作关系，即昆虫为植物传粉，植物提供部分种子作为昆虫幼虫发育的食物，是研究协同进化的模式系统。但是，在种间相互作用中，种子寄生性传粉互利共生关系是一种极端的演化方式，仅在少数几类植物中发现。在青年科学基金项目的资助下，我们发现，喜马拉雅-横断山冰缘带最具代表性的两种“温室植物”——蓼科大黄属的塔黄和苞叶大黄分别与两种蕈蚊形成种子寄生性传粉互利共生关系。但是，我们对其进化机制并不清楚。在前期研究的基础上，本项目拟从进化生态学理论入手，结合多学科手段，揭示塔黄和苞叶大黄与传粉蕈蚊之间互利共生关系的进化机制。重点回答的问题是：1）该种互利共生关系的演化动态及其影响因素有哪些？2）两种植物与各自传粉蕈蚊的专一性如何维持？3）植物与传粉蕈蚊的繁殖利益冲突如何调控？研究结果能丰富我们对互利共生关系的理解，并为生物多样性的保护提供基础数据。

Pollinating seed-consuming mutualisms involving insects rearing their offspring on the seeds of flowers they pollinate have been regarded as exemplary models for studying coevolution, but they are extremely rare in nature. Rheum nobile and R. alexandrae (Polygonaceae), which are endemic to the subnival zone of Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains, have been chosen as the model species for investigating ‘glasshouse’ plants in these areas. Our previous studies confirmed that pollination of the two plants depends on two obligate fly species (Bradysia sp1 and Bradysia sp2; Sciaridae), and whose larvae complete their development in the ripening seeds, which represents a new pollinating seed-consuming mutualism. Therefore, the evolution of the Rheum - Bradysia mutualisms deserve to be studied deeply. We will uncover the evolutionary mechanisms of pollinating seed-consuming mutualisms between the two plants and two Bradysia species using evolutionary-ecological theories and multidisciplinary methods. The following three specific questions will be addressed: 1) what are the evolutionary dynamics of the mutualisms? and what are the determinant factors ? 2) what are the mechanisms of pollinator specificity between the two plant species? 3) why do not pollinating flies oviposit into all the flowers and destroy all ovules? The results will help us to understand the evolutionary mechanisms of mutualism, and also provide basic data for the conservation of biodiversity.