Floral herbivory: a possible mechanism maintaining a flower color polymorphism in a selfing species, Boechera stricta.

Abstract

Many studies have shown that pollinators are largely responsible for changing and maintaining flower color morph frequencies in nature. However, the preferences of pollinators do not always reflect observed frequencies in nature, especially in self-pollinating species. Thus, non-pollinator forces could be acting to change color morph frequencies. To test this hypothesis I used two species of Lepidopteran larvae and exposed them to floral and foliar tissue from white and purple Boechera stricta plants using choice and no-choice tests. I also observed natural populations for damage to leaves and reproductive structures. In the choice and no-choice tests, I found that both generalist larvae and specialist on Brassicaceae larvae preferred tissue from white over purple color morphs. In nature there was no difference in damage to plants of either color across all sites. Observed natural damage did not depend on the frequency of the purple morph, nor did frequencies differ between sites. There was also no relationship between florivory and folivory. As specialist and generalists differed in their preferences, this suggests that herbivores may be able to alter color morph frequencies in nature if they have the ability to distinguish among a plant’s secondary chemicals. These findings may provide insight into herbivore preference affecting observed color morph frequencies in nature of a selfing species.

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