Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 78 (4): 665-672, 2005
RESEARCH ARTICLE
The modular structure of the floral phenotype in Mimulus luteus
var. luteus (Phrymaceae)
Most studies of multivariate evolution on the floral phenotype assume
that traits evolve independently one from each other, ignoring the modular structure that results from genetic correlations or
developmental constraints. In this paper we describe the interdependence of nine floral traits in the herb Mimulus luteus
var. luteus (Phrymaceae), as an attempt to characterize functional modules on which natural selection can
potentially act upon. Using edge exclusion deviance analysis, we detected four modules: (a) an attractiveness module, (b) a stigma
behavior module, (c) a stigma surface module, and (d) a herkogamy module. Consequences of these findings for future studies of
natural selection in this species are discussed.
Key words:
correlational
evolution, edge exclusion deviance, phenotypic integration, plant-pollinator, interaction, selfing avoidance
