Evolution of insect-mediated pollination indicated by Palaeogene flowers and insects from Central Europe

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Torsten Wappler
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2010 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 162121370

Interactions among species are one of the most important drivers of the ecology and evolution of species. Throughout the last years, interesting insights into Palaeogene plant/insect associations from selected European localities (Messel, Eckfeld, Enspel) have been obtained. However, one component that was completely disregarded in all of these studies so far are the insect/flower associations. Because of their outstanding preservation quality of not just flowers and insects, but also direct evidence such as pollen-matching and gut content, the investigated localities offer world-wide unique requirements to study insect/flower associations. These are multifaceted and can be examined from botanical, entomological, ecological and evolutionary viewpoints that are often summarised under the heading of pollination biology. Given the fact that insect pollination is the dominant method of reproduction of flowering plants, which themselves comprise the bulk of the Palaeogene and modern flora, the role of insects in shaping major ecosystems cannot be underestimated. In this project, will combine for the first time quantitative studies of Palaeogene antagonistic and mutualistic associations between insects and their consumed/visited fowers from temperate ecosystems to answer following questions: To which extend does the fossil record of Palaeogene flowers reveal patterns relevant to insect pollination and angiosperm radiation and angiosperm success? Can the fossil data support an evaluation of mutualism in deep time coupled with morphological traits of the insects and flowers themselves? How stable are specific mutualistic relationships over geological time? Finally, estimates for special palaeobiological or palaeoecological adjustments for pollinator relationships in the Palaeogene will be obtained.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants