Search

Floral colors are widely believed to be an adaptation to attract pollinators. Recently, our understanding of floral reflectance has broadened to include colors that are beyond the spectrum that human eyes can perceive (such as ultraviolet (UV) reflectance), yet we still know relatively little about which plant species reflect UV light or its effectiveness in attracting pollinators. We investigated the effect of UV reflectance in Mimulus guttatus in a number of different populations in British Columbia, Canada. We found that M. guttatus had distinct regions of the corolla where UV light was reflected and absorbed. When we manipulated the degree of contrast between the reflection and absorption area, we found that pollinator visitation was severely disrupted, in terms of frequency and foraging patterns observed. Despite the bright yellow (bee-green) coloration and visible nectar guides in M. guttatus, we conclude that UV reflectance is critical in pollinator attraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Peer review is pivotal to science and academia, as it represents a widely accepted strategy for ensuring quality control in scientific research. Yet, the peer-review system is poorly adapted to recent changes in the discipline and current societal needs. We provide historical context for the cultural lag that governs peer review that has eventually led to the system's current structural weaknesses (voluntary review, unstandardized review criteria, decentralized process). We argue that some current attempts to upgrade or otherwise modify the peer-review system are merely sticking-plaster solutions to these fundamental flaws, and therefore are unlikely to resolve them in the long term. We claim that for peer review to be relevant, effective, and contemporary with today's publishing demands across scientific disciplines, its main components need to be redesigned. We propose directional changes that are likely to improve the quality, rigour, and timeliness of peer review, and thereby ensure that this critical process serves the community it was created for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]