UV coloration in flowers

UV coloration is a natural phenomenon that leads to unique interactions between organisms that have evolved the ability to perceive these wavelengths of light.

[5] For the plant, it is important to share and receive pollen so they can reproduce, maintain their ecological role, and guide the evolutionary history of the population.

[6] Also it can be used in microscopy as a tag known by Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) to track development and movement of structures within the cell when shined under UV emitting lightbulbs.

[1] This example of directional selection leads to convergent evolution of flower size, structure, and coloring patterns.

Pollinators demonstrate local environmental adaptations in their visual sensory response systems to the amount of light.

[10] Also, bees have preferential treatment towards flowers that use small guides and combine both UV reflectance and absorption has been documented many times in many locations.

[5] The interactions are very precise and slight changes in the intensity or size of UV reflectance and/or absorbance affects pollinator behavior along with rate of visitors.

[7] Therefore, decreased UV coloration on the petals leads to few exchanges of pollen with pollinators causing a reduction in an individual's evolutionary fitness.

[4] While angiosperms take advantage of ultraviolet patterns to be seen, primitive gymnosperms have pollen that reflects UV light.

[10] This is understandable as UV wavelengths can mutate and even destroy organic structures like DNA and skin tissue which is why humans experience sunburn.

Butterflies, a common insect pollinator, use UV coloration in their wing patterns to achieve an extra level of modelling their fitness to potential mates.