Skip to main content
Dryad

Data from: Phenotypic selection on floral traits in an urban landscape

Cite this dataset

Irwin, Rebecca E.; Warren, Paige S.; Adler, Lynn S. (2018). Data from: Phenotypic selection on floral traits in an urban landscape [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.81k9m23

Abstract

Native species are increasingly living in urban landscapes associated with abiotic and biotic changes that may influence patterns of phenotypic selection. However, measures of selection in urban and non-urban environments, and exploration of the mechanisms associated with such changes, are uncommon. Plant-animal interactions have played a central role in the evolution of flowering plants and are sensitive to changes in the urban landscape, and thus provide opportunities to explore how urban environments modify selection. We evaluated patterns of phenotypic selection on floral and resistance traits of Gelsemium sempervirens in urban and non-urban sites. The urban landscape had increased florivory and decreased pollen receipt, but showed only modest differences in patterns of selection. Directional selection for one trait, larger floral display size, was stronger in urban compared to non-urban sites. Neither quadratic nor correlational selection significantly differed between urban and non-urban sites. Pollination was associated with selection for larger floral display size in urban compared to non-urban sites, due to differences in the translation of pollination into seeds rather than pollinator selectivity. Thus, our data suggest that urban landscapes may not result in sweeping differences in phenotypic selection but rather modest differences for some traits, potentially mediated by species interactions.

Usage notes

Funding

National Science Foundation, Award: DEB-0743535 and DEB-0742923

Location

North Carolina