Is chiropterophily an evolutionary dead end? A phylogenetic test in the pantropical genus Parkia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, mimosoid clade)

Background and aims – Pollination systems often reflect adaptations to specific groups of pollinators, these morphological specialisations have been important in the diversification angiosperms. Here, we study evolution capitulum pollination system pantropical genus Parkia, which comprises 35 species trees distributed largely forests South Central America, Africa, Madagascar, Indo-Pacific. The flowers are grouped into capitula that composed one, two, or three distinct types, principally pollinated either by insects bats. Material methods Using BEAST, estimated ages nodes a phylogeny based on four chloroplast regions (matK, trnL, psbA-trnH, rps16-trnQ) nuclear region ITS/18S/26S. This analysis also enabled us reconstruct ancestral state hence infer system. Euclidean distance-based cluster was performed determine characters consistently related system.Key results Our indicate had types morphology associated with bat-pollination both Paleotropics Neotropics. In one derived Neotropical clade, number floral each reduced two (capitulum bat-pollinated) (insect-pollinated). Thus, entomophily, as seen some has from bat-pollinated ancestor. Cluster showed were mostly consistent systems.Conclusion Chiropterophily is not an evolutionary dead end Parkia because during history there at least transition entomophily. provides unique example transitions chiropterophily entomophily trees.