Abstract
Are bird-pollinated flowers red because bees - which might rob the flower of its nectar - cannot easily detect them, or might it be because of more subtle evolutionary trade-offs?
Highlights
Most bird-pollinated flowers are both red and rich in nectar
Plants face a trade-off between attracting pollinators and remaining hidden from flower parasites
There is often strong selection pressure for highly specific communication channels that can advertise the presence of their flowers to effective pollinators but not to other individuals
Summary
Most bird-pollinated flowers are both red and rich in nectar. The traditional explanation for this association is that, since red is inconspicuous to bees, it evolved to prevent bees from depleting the nectar of bird-pollinated flowers without effecting pollination. To help answer this question, we need to consider how the outcomes of foraging decisions are affected by the community in which individuals live, and by the foraging options of other individuals Why are most bird-pollinated flowers red? To help answer this question, we need to consider how the outcomes of foraging decisions are affected by the community in which individuals live, and by the foraging options of other individuals
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