Topic: Biology
Scientists at the University of Reading found that hummingbirds help pineapple plants evolve into new species twice as fast as other pollinators. This is because hummingbirds visit bromeliad flowers more often, which leads to faster evolution.
Scientists at the University of Reading studied how different animals pollinate bromeliad plants. They looked at records of 403 types of bromeliads and found that three out of four are visited by hummingbirds.
The research team published their findings in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. They discovered that when hummingbirds do the pollinating, bromeliads split into species twice as fast as plants pollinated by bees, bats, or moths. In fact, hummingbird-pollinated plants formed new species at a rate of 2.77 per million years, compared to 1.46 for other plants.
Elizabeth Forward, the lead author of the study, said that hummingbirds and bromeliads are relatively young evolutionary lineages. They have developed their modern diversity over the past 20 million years, which is a short time in evolutionary terms.
Dr. Jamie Thompson, a senior author from the University of Reading, explained that hummingbirds act like an engine for new species. They feed high up in mountains, where plants grow in small patches separated by valleys and peaks. As these groups become isolated, they drift apart over time until they become species in their own right.
Pineapples are part of the bromeliad family, even though they look different from their relatives. They share a common ancestor and key features like strappy leaves and a flower spike, but they grow in the ground and produce large fruits. Most other bromeliads are smaller plants that grow on tree branches or rocks.
The close partnership between hummingbirds and bromeliad flowers has a risk: many bromeliads are being cleared for farming or changed by climate warming. In fact, 81% of bromeliads may be at risk of extinction, as well as 1 in 10 hummingbird species.
Why It Matters
This study is important because it shows how closely connected the evolution of plants and animals can be. If we lose a type of pollinator like the hummingbird, it could lead to the loss of many plant species that rely on them.
Key Facts
- Scientists at the University of Reading studied 403 types of bromeliad plants and found that three out of four are visited by hummingbirds.
- Hummingbird-pollinated plants formed new species at a rate of 2.77 per million years, compared to 1.46 for other plants.
- 81% of bromeliads may be at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and climate change.
- Pineapples are part of the bromeliad family and rely on hummingbirds for pollination.
- The study was published in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.
Key Terms
- pollinator
- An animal that helps plants reproduce by transferring pollen
- bromeliad
- A family of plants that includes pineapples and other tropical plants
Implications
This study is important because it shows how closely connected the evolution of plants and animals can be. If we lose a type of pollinator like the hummingbird, it could lead to the loss of many plant species that rely on them.
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