#1
#1 out of 1
21h ago
This odd vine contradicts long-standing evolutionary theory
- New evidence shows Aeschynanthus acuminatus in Taiwan has greenish-yellow flowers, not the typical red.
- DNA analyses suggest the Taiwan plants descended from mainland A. acuminatus, not the other way around.
- Researchers question the Grant-Stebbins model, which links speciation to pollinator changes after regional migration.
- The study proposes natural selection favored generalist birds as pollinators in some mainland populations.
- The authors stress fieldwork and observation as essential to understanding ecological interactions.
- Lu and Ree highlight this as a real-world test of long-standing evolutionary theory.
- The Taiwan-origin question focuses on where a species originates, not just where it migrates.
- The findings imply a historical switch in pollinator efficiency that reshaped the vine’s evolution.
- The study contributes to understanding how regional pollinators influence plant evolution beyond migration patterns.
Vote 0