Pollination by sexual deception and the evolution of specialisation

专门的授粉系统具有全球科学重要性，因为它们提供了对物种形成的独特见解，并且特别容易受到人为变化的影响。对于专门化所需的适应、有利于专门化进化的生态过程，以及专门化是促进还是限制花卉进化，我们的知识仍然存在根本的差距。这个项目旨在通过性模仿授粉的一组独特和多样化的澳大利亚兰花来解决这些问题。这项工作将应用实验、生态学和系统发育的方法来理解有性模仿的视觉和化学适应及其对物种多样性、花卉进化和保护的影响。

Specialised pollination systems are of global scientific importance because they offer unique insights into speciation and are exceptionally vulnerable to anthropogenic change. Fundamental gaps remain in our knowledge of the adaptations required for specialisation, the ecological processes favouring its evolution, and whether specialisation facilitates or constrains floral evolution. This project aims to address these questions in a unique and diverse group of Australian orchids that are pollinated by sexual mimicry. This work will apply experimental, ecological and phylogenetic approaches to understand the visual and chemical adaptations to sexual mimicry and their consequences for species diversification, floral evolution and conservation.