Deception in plants: mimicry or perceptual exploitation?

• Published in: Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam) Vol. 24; no. 12; pp. 676 - 685
• Main Authors: Schaefer, H. Martin, Ruxton, Graeme D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Evolution; Flowers - anatomy & histology; Flowers - genetics; Flowers - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Perception; Plants - anatomy & histology; Plants - genetics; Plants and fungi; Flower; Biological evolution; Environmental factor; Review; Coevolution; Mimetism; Exploitation; Pollination; Natural selection; Plant; Animal plant relation; Selection pressure; Models; Interspecific relation; Adaptation; Biotic factor

Mimicry involves adaptive resemblance between a mimic and a model. However, despite much recent research, it remains contentious in plants. Here, we review recent progress on studying deception by flowers, distinguishing between plants relying on mimicry to achieve pollination and those relying on t...