Dispersers shape fruit diversity in Ficus (Moraceae)

Abstract

Seed dispersal by vertebrates is one of the most common and important plant-animal mutualisms, involving an enormous diversity of fruiting plants and frugivorous animals. Even though plant reproduction depends largely on seed dispersal, evolutionary ecologists have been unable to link co-occurring traits in fruits with differences in behavior, physiology, and morphology of fruit-eating vertebrates. Hence, the origin and maintenance of fruit diversity remains largely unexplained. Using a multivariate phylogenetic comparative test with unbiased estimates of odor and color in figs, we demonstrate that fruit traits evolve in concert and as predicted by differences in the behavior, physiology (perceptive ability) and morphology of their frugivorous seed dispersers. The correlated evolution of traits results in the convergence of general appearance of fruits in species that share disperser types. Observations at fruiting trees independently confirmed that differences in fig traits predict differences in dispersers. Taken together, these results demonstrate that differences among frugivores have shaped the evolution of fruit traits. More broadly, our results underscore the importance of mutualisms in both generating and maintaining biodiversity.dispersal syndromes | fruit evolution | phylogenetic comparative analysis | plant-animal interactions | seed dispersal

The draft genome of tropical fruit durian (Durio zibethinus)

“…It is possible that linking odor and ripening may provide an evolutionary advantage for durian in facilitating fruit dispersal. Certain plants whose primary dispersal vectors are primates with more advanced olfactory systems show a shift in odor at ripening [50][51][52] . Similarly, durian-by emanating an extremely pungent odor at ripening-appears to have the characteristic of a plant whose main dispersal vectors are odorenticed primates rather than visually enticed animals.…”

Fungal infestation boosts fruit aroma and fruit removal by mammals and birds

“…Many vertebrate frugivores are able to perceive and respond to some odours in the environment through odorant receptors, which are activated by sets of VOCs 24, 25, 34 . In particular, ethanol accumulation in fruits has been long identified as potential signal of high reward 35 and, in our study, infested orange fruit showed a five-fold increase of accumulated ethanol in the endocarp.…”

Frugivore-Mediated Selection in A Habitat Transformation Scenario

“…Plant-animal interactions are strong drivers of reciprocal phenotypic evolution1, leading to coevolved traits that are dynamic through time and space23. However, this complex eco-evolutionary system is challenged by a world in constant change in which many anthropogenic biodiversity-loss drivers are altering natural habitats4.…”