DOI: 10.5061/dryad.jm63xsjg6
title: Data from: Components of local adaptation and divergence in pollination efficacy in a coevolving species interaction

description: Selection leading to adaptation to interactions may generate rapid
 evolutionary feedbacks and drive diversification of species interactions.
 The challenge is to understand how the many traits of interacting species
 combine to shape local adaptation in ways directly or indirectly resulting
 in diversification. We used the well-studied interactions between
 Lithophragma plants (Saxifragaceae) and Greya moths (Prodoxidae) to
 evaluate how plants and moths together contribute to local divergence in
 pollination efficacy. Specifically, we studied L. bolanderi and its two
 specialized Greya moth pollinators in two contrasting environments in the
 Sierra Nevada, California. Both moths pollinate L. bolanderi during
 nectaring, and one of them – G. politella – also while ovipositing through
 the floral corolla into the ovary. Firstly, field surveys of floral
 visitors and the presence of G. politella eggs and larvae in developing
 capsules showed that one population is visited only by G. politella and
 few other pollinators, whereas the other is visited by both Greya species
 and other pollinators. Secondly, L. bolanderi in these two natural
 populations differed in several floral traits putatively important for
 pollination efficacy. Thirdly, laboratory experiments with
 greenhouse-grown plants and field-collected moths showed that L. bolanderi
 is more efficiently pollinated by local compared to non-local nectaring
 moths of both species. Pollination efficacy of ovipositing G. politella
 was also higher for local moths for the L. bolanderi population that
 relies more heavily on this species in nature. Finally, time-lapse
 photography in the laboratory showed that G. politella from different
 populations differ in oviposition behavior, suggesting the potential for
 local adaptation also among Greya populations. Collectively, our results
 are a rare example of components of local adaptation contributing to
 divergence in pollination efficiency in a coevolving interaction and,
 thus, provide insights into how geographic mosaics of coevolution may lead
 to coevolutionary diversification in species interactions.
description: In two natural populations of the plant <em>Lithophragma
 bolanderi</em> in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA, developing
 capsules of <em>L. bolanderi</em> were collected and stored in
 68% ethanol. These capsules were dissected and, using a dissection
 microscope, the number of developing seeds, the number of undeveloping
 seeds, the number of <em>Greya politella</em> eggs, the number
 of <em>G. politella</em> larvae, and the number of partly
 eaten seeds were counted. In addition, the
 corolla-opening diameter of <em>L. bolanderi</em> flowers in
 these two natural populations was measured using digital
 calipers. In the laboratory, pollination efficacy
 experiments were conducted with field-collected <em>Greya</em>
 moths nectaring (<em>G. obscura</em> and <em>G.
 politella</em>) or ovipositing (<em>G. politella</em>)
 on greenhouse-grown <em>L. bolanderi</em> plants from their
 local and the non-local population. The capsules of the flowers involved
 in these experiments were dissected and counted as described
 above. In addition, in the laboratory, time-lapse
 photography was used to observe oviposition behavior of field-collected
 female <em>G. politella</em> on greenhouse-grown <em>L.
 bolanderi</em> plants from their local and the non-local population.
 To enable these observations, small windows were cut into the side of the
 calyx of the flowers. A pollination experiment with
 greenhouse-grown <em>L. bolanderi</em> plants from the two
 study populations was used in the pollination experiment with the
 following three treatments: (1) control flowers that were not treated and
 from which pollinators were excluded, (2) self-pollination treatment
 (hand-pollinated with pollen from the same plant) and (3)
 cross-pollination treatment (hand-pollinated with pollen from another
 plant of another seed family of the same population). The capsules of
 these crosses were dissected and the number of developing seeds per
 capsule was counted under a stereoscope. For details,
 see:<br>Karin Gross, Malin Undin, John N. Thompson, Magne Friberg.
 2023. Components of local adaptation and divergence in pollination
 efficacy in a coevolving species interaction. Ecology.