Fungal Mimicry And It's Consequences In The Unique Deceptive Pollination Of Dracula Orchids

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。模仿，一种生物与另一种生物的适应性相似性，是自然选择进化的最引人注目的例子之一。虽然大多数模仿的例子涉及动物的防御策略，但花的模仿也会发生。德古拉兰花（约150种）似乎是植物中一个非凡但鲜为人知的模仿性例子：它们的花看起来和闻起来都像蘑菇。然而，德古拉兰花模仿的关键成分，即与蘑菇的相似性实际上对植物有益，从未被测试过。本项目旨在通过授粉实验、兰花和蘑菇香味的化学分析，以及通过实地实验和遗传分析对厄瓜多尔德古拉兰花自然种群的传粉者特异性进行测试，了解德古拉兰花的生态和进化。这个项目将有助于一般的拟态理论，特别是将其扩展到非动物系统。此外，它还将加强传粉生态学中关于专一传粉者与通才传粉者及其进化的生态力量和遗传机制的讨论，这些讨论有时是有争议的。该项目还对自然选择的力量在局部尺度上塑造生物体的生物学以及物种之间相互作用产生的创造和维持生物多样性的进化力量具有广泛的影响。该项目的更广泛影响将包括对学生和一名博士后的高级培训，以及与瑞士科学家和两名厄瓜多尔女科学家的国际合作。负责任的、可持续的生态旅游将通过提供吸引好奇游客的自然历史故事，以及与Fundación Los Cedros（一个保护生物多样性热点地区1.7万英亩原始雨林的私人组织）密切合作来促进。除了它对保护的内在价值之外，关于迷人生物的杰出生物叙事还激励着新的科学家，提高了公众对科学的参与。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Mimicry, the adaptive resemblance of one organism to another, is one of the most compelling examples of evolution by natural selection. Although most examples of mimicry concern defense strategies of animals, floral mimicry also occurs. Dracula orchids (about 150 species) appear to be a remarkable but poorly known example of mimicry in plants: their flowers look and smell like mushrooms. However, the key component of mimicry in Dracula orchids, that the similarity to mushrooms actually benefits the plants, has never been tested. This project is designed to understand the ecology and evolution of mushroom mimicry in Dracula orchids through pollination experiments, chemical analysis of orchid and mushroom fragrances, and testing for pollinator specificity using field experiments and genetic analysis in natural populations of the orchids in Ecuador.This project will contribute to mimicry theory in general and specifically its extension to non-animal systems. Furthermore, it will enhance the current, and sometimes contentious, discussions in pollination ecology about specific versus generalist pollinators and the ecological forces and genetic mechanisms responsible for their evolution. This project also has broad implications for the power of natural selection in shaping the biology of organisms at local scales and the evolutionary forces resulting from interactions among species that create and maintain biological diversity.Broader impacts of this project will include advanced training for students and a postdoctoral fellow, and international collaborations with Swiss scientists and two Ecuadorian women scientists. Responsible, sustainable ecotourism will be promoted by providing the kind of natural history story that draws inquisitive visitors and by working closely with Fundación Los Cedros, a private organization that protects 17,000 acres of primary rainforest in a biodiversity hotspot. Beyond its intrinsic value to conservation, remarkable biological narratives about fascinating organisms inspire new scientists and improve public engagement in science.