New research from Monash University investigated this. With computer simulations they revealed the link between bees and the evolution of flower colors. This is how they verified that the bees determined the color of the flowers
The research was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. It simulated the landscape of the first flowering plants from many tens of millions of years ago. They wanted to test its visibility to pollinators such as bees and birds.
Visual perception
Professor Alan Dorin explained it. He said insects like bees developed visual perception long before the first flowers appeared. They could fly and orient themselves among rocks, leaves, sticks and bark.
«The first flowers developed more dazzling colors to distinguish themselves from their dull backgrounds. “They were looking to attract ancient pollinators,” Dorin said in a statement. The researchers tested bees' color perception in simulated prehistoric environments. «Australia is a geologically ancient continent. We used measurements of the color spectrum of Australian bushlands. This way we simulate landscapes from when the first flowers evolved during the Mesozoic era. “between 252 million and 66 million years ago,” Dorin explained.
Scientist Adrian Dyer commented on the study. He sought to confirm a strong link from the visual perception of ancient pollinators and today's bees. He believes this has guided the evolution of flower color.
Ultraviolet
'We can now see that, like their ancestors, bees have ultraviolet (UV), blue and green photoreceptors. Explain why some modern flowers evolved this way. They developed common colors such as yellow in their petals. “It's a response to what bees can easily sense,” Dyer said.
Confirming that bees determined the color of the flowers serves as a starting point for further research. The findings from this research will help inform how plant species are pollinated in contemporary times. And it will be used for the study of smart agriculture. Future research in the field of efficient crop pollination can benefit from these advances.
