Evolutionary ecology of complex floral phenotypes

由于缺乏对花香微观和宏观进化的研究，我们对花卉进化的理解存在偏差。为什么这很重要？植物是大多数相互作用物种网络的基础，被子植物的进化为理解多样性提供了基础。此外，植物与动物的相互作用无处不在，并通过拮抗和互惠的相互作用推动植物和动物的多样化。植物微观和宏观进化的研究在理解植物与传粉者的共同进化、物种形成和相互作用方面取得了重大进展。然而，为了推动这一领域的发展，我们需要进一步跨领域整合，从整体上研究这些复杂的特征。***花香在很大程度上被忽视了，尤其是在开花植物的进化生态学中，部分原因是难以量化大量个体的气味，这是微观和宏观进化研究所必需的。然而，随着方法论的改进，这些基本问题现在可以解决了。在我的提案中，我通过将花香整合到一个经过充分研究的花多样化系统中来解决花进化和种间交流的核心问题。通过采用整体方法研究花的表型，并将气味与花的形态、颜色和奖励等特征结合起来，科学结果将解决复杂性状和交流进化的核心问题。具体而言，我的研究目标是：***[1]通过测量复杂表型的相关选择来研究多方面花性状的进化生态学；***[2]确定传粉者在花香进化中的重要性；***[3]衡量城市化对植物和传粉者相互作用的进化影响；***[4]通过确定植物是否利用邻居的花香信号来获取交配环境的信息，评估花香信号的一种新的生态功能。******当我们面临全球气候变化、传粉媒介减少和农业需求加剧时，有必要清楚地了解负责植物繁殖的复杂器官和生物体。我的研究项目将为这些复杂的特征提供高影响力的科学研究，为未来的基础研究和应用研究奠定基础。

We have a skewed understanding of floral evolution because we lack floral scent micro and macroevolution studies. Why does this matter? Plants form the basis of the majority of interacting species networks and angiosperm evolution has provided a foundation for understanding diversification. Furthermore, plant-animal interactions are ubiquitous and drive the diversification of both plants and animals via antagonistic and mutualistic interactions. Studies of floral micro and macro-evolution have made major advances in understanding co-evolution, speciation and the role of plant-pollinator interactions. Yet to push forward the field we need further integration across fields to study these complex traits holistically. ***Floral scent has been largely ignored especially in the evolutionary ecology of flowering plants, in part because the difficulty to quantify scent for large numbers of individuals necessary for micro and macroevolutionary studies. However, as methodology has improved these fundamental questions can now be addressed. In my proposal, I address central questions to floral evolution and interspecific communication by integrating floral scent into a well-studied system of floral diversification. By taking a holistic approach to floral phenotypes and integrating scent with traits such as floral morphology, colour and rewards, the scientific result will address core questions on evolution of complex traits and communication. Specifically my research objectives are: ***[1] Examine the evolutionary ecology of multifaceted floral traits by measuring correlational selection for complex phenotypes;***[2] Determine the importance of pollinators as drivers of evolution of floral scent;***[3] Measure evolutionary impacts of urbanisation on plants and pollinator interactions;***[4] Assess a novel ecological function of floral scent signals by determining whether plants use neighbours' floral scent signals to gain information about their mating environment.******As we face global climate change, pollinator declines, and intensification of agricultural needs, a clear understanding of the complex organs and organisms responsible for plant reproduction is necessary. My research program will yield high-impact science for these complex traits that will provide the foundation of future basic and applied research.