The origin of floral colors was investigated using computer simulations in a study led by Monash University researchers. Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the study aimed to understand the connection between bees and the evolution of flower colors by simulating the landscapes of early flowering plants millions of years ago to test their visibility to pollinators like bees and birds.
Lead author Associate Professor Alan Dorin, from the Faculty of Information Technology, explained that insects such as bees developed visual perception before the appearance of the first flowers in order to navigate among rocks, leaves, sticks, and bark. The study’s results indicated that the first flowers evolved vibrant colors to stand out from their dull backgrounds and attract ancient pollinators.
To assess whether bees perceived their environment similarly to their ancestors, the researchers tested bees’ color perception against simulated prehistoric environments. The color spectrum measurements from the Australian bushland were used to simulate landscapes from the Mesozoic era, between 252 million and 66 million years ago.
Research co-author Associate Professor Adrian Dyer highlighted the significance of the study, stating that it demonstrates a strong link between the visual perception of ancient pollinators and modern bees, shedding light on the evolution of flower colors. The study revealed that bees have ultraviolet (UV), blue, and green photoreceptors, which explains why modern flowers have evolved common colors like yellow in response to bees’ visual perception.
The findings of the research can contribute to the understanding of plant species pollination in contemporary times and advance the study of smart agriculture, ultimately informing research in efficient crop pollination. This research, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, is titled “Ancient insect vision tuned for flight among rocks and plants underpins natural flower color diversity.”
