Section of Plant Ecology and Systematics  /  People   /   Lund University

 

Åsa Lankinen, PhD

Section of Plant Ecology and Systematics

Department of ecology

Lund University

 

Ecology Building, 22362, Lund, Sweden

Tel: +46 (0)46 222 9293

Fax: +46 (0)46 222 471

asa.lankinen@ekol.lu.se

§         Research interests

§         Research group and collaborators

§         CV

§         Publications

Research interests

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I am interested in evolutionary ecology. My main aim is to understand selection pressures during the prezygotic stage, in particular during pollen competition. To study this I use both mathematical models and greenhouse experiments currently involving the plant species Collinsia heterophylla and Viola tricolor. In my ongoing research projects I focus on pollen competition in relation to sexual selection/sexual conflict and evolution of mating systems.

 

I study delayed stigma receptivity in Collinsia heterophylla in order to evaluate why plants possess this trait. The genus Collinsia (ca 20 species, Plantaginaceae) show extensive variation in mating system as a consequence of when during floral development flowers self pollinate. More selfing species (early anther-stigma contact) produce small flowers that become receptive immediately, while more outcrossing species (later anther-stigma contact) have large flowers with delayed stigma receptivity. Because delayed stigma receptivity occurs at about the time of anther-stigma contact in large-flowered species, this trait is puzzling as it might impair outcrossing.  We have shown, however, that pollen arriving prior to stigma receptivity, can lodge on the stigma and fertilise the ovules upon receptivity   (Lankinen, Armbruster and Antonsen, in press).   

Even so, why do plants possess delayed stigma receptivity and how is this connected with mating system? In a recent study we showed that more intense pollen competition among self pollen could mitigate the negative effects of inbreeding (Lankinen and Armbruster, 2007). Since delaying stigma receptivity enhances pollen competition this might be one explanation for why plants possess this trait. 

   

 

Together with Josefin Madjidian (PhD student), I investigate if pollen can "manipulate" onset of stigma receptivity, and if this can give rise to a sexual conflict between the male and female reproductive functions. So far, we have found (in collaboration with Sam Kiboi, a previous PhD student) that both recipient plants and pollen donors can influence how early during floral development the stigma becomes receptive. Thus, “female control” of onset of stigma receptivity is not complete. Furthermore, seed production decreased the earlier during floral development crosses succeeded, possibly indicating a cost for the female function of early seed production.

In a model, we recently showed that pollen traits with a capacity to manipulative receptivity of flowers should be expected to evolve (Lankinen, Hellriegel and Bernasconi, 2006). 

 

I am also doing research on how intra-specific interactions can affect pollen competition. I am particularly interested in the hypothesis that plants can make strategic changes to improve competitive ability in the presence of a competitor. In an experiment on Viola tricolor I found that when two unrelated plants were grown together in the soil, pollen competitive ability of both competitors either increased, decreased or was unaffected compared to growing alone in equal amount of resources. This unexpected result suggests that not only nutrients, but also presence of a competitor can influence pollen competitive ability.  

 

In my previous work I studied sexual selection of pollen tube growth rate in Viola tricolor. I

also investigated how environmental factors influenced this trait.  

 

Suggestions for honour thesis:

 

§        Breakdown of incompatibility system in Plantago maritima: a consequence of sexual conflict?

§      Chemical communication in Viola tricolor?: effects of root contact on pollen competitive ability

§         Floral scents in different colour morphs of Viola tricolor

Research group

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Josefin Madjidian (PhD student) 

 

 

Collaborators

 

Scott Armbruster (University of Alaska, USA, University of Portsmouth, UK and NTNU, Trondheim, Norway), Giorgina Bernasconi (University of Lausanne, Switzerland), Mattias Larsson (Alnarp, Sweden) and Johanne Maad (NTNU, Trondheim, Norway).

CV

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1995-2000

 PhD in theoretical ecology, Department of Ecology, Lund University, Sweden. PhD thesis: Pollen Competition as a Target for Sexual Selection in Plants. Supervisor: Dr Io Skogsmyr.

2001-2003

  

Post-doctoral visit to Professor Scott Armbruster’s lab at the Department of Botany, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.

 

2003-

 Assistant professor at Plant Ecology and Systematics, Lund University, Sweden (funded by the Swedish Research Council).

Publications

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§         Lankinen, Å. and Kiboi, S. 2005. Pollen donor identity affects timing of stigma receptivity in Collinsia heterophylla (Plantaginaceae): A sexual conflict during pollen competition? in Kiboi, S., Male and female selective mechanisms, reproductive success and gene flow, PhD thesis, Lund University.

§         Lankinen, Å., Armbruster, W. S. and Antonsen, L. Delayed stigma receptivity in Collinsia heterophylla (Plantaginaceae): genetic variation and possible adaptive significance in relation to pollen competition, delayed self-pollination, and mating-system evolution. American Journal of Botany. (in press).

§         Lankinen, Å. and Armbruster, W. S. 2007. Pollen competition reduces inbreeding depression in Collinsia heterophylla (Plantaginaceae). Journal of Evolutionary Ecology. 20: 737-749.

§         Lankinen, Å., Hellriegel, B. and Bernasconi, G. 2006. Sexual conflict over floral receptivity. Evolution. 60: 2454-2465.

§         Skogsmyr, I. and Lankinen, Å. 2002. Sexual selection: An evolutionary force in plants? Biological Reviews. 77: 537-562.

§         Lankinen, Å. and Skogsmyr, I. 2002. Pollen competitive ability: The effect of proportion in two-donor crosses. Evolutionary Ecology Research. 4: 687-700.

§         Lankinen, Å. 2001. In vitro pollen competitive ability in Viola tricolor: Temperature and pollen donor effects. Oecologia. 128: 492-498.

§         Lankinen, Å. and Skogsmyr, I. 2001. The effect of pollen competition on maintenance of variation in fertilisation ability. Oikos. 93: 459-469.               

§         Lankinen, Å. and Skogsmyr, I. 2001. Evolution of pistil length as a choice mechanism for pollen quality. Oikos. 92: 81-90.

§        Lankinen, Å. 2000. Effects of soil pH and phosphorus on in vitro pollen competitive ability and sporophytic traits in clones of Viola tricolor. International Journal of Plant Sciences. 161: 885-893.

§        Skogsmyr, I. and Lankinen, Å. 2000. Potential selection for female choice in Viola tricolor. Evolutionary Ecology Research. 2: 1-15.

§         Skogsmyr, I. and Lankinen, Å. 1999. Selection on pollen competitive ability in relation to stochastic factors influencing pollen deposition. Evolutionary Ecology Research. 1: 971-985.

 

 

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