Reproductive character displacement allows two sexually deceptive orchids to coexist and attract the same specific pollinator

Abstract An increased divergence in characters between species secondary contact can be shaped by selection against competition for a common resource (ecological character displacement, ECD) or maladapted hybridization (reproductive RCD). These selective pressures act incipient (reinforcement) well-separated that already completed the speciation process, but still hybridize and produce hybrids. Here, we investigated two sexually deceptive orchid that, unusually, share their specific pollinator. Sympatric individuals of these are more divergent than allopatric ones floral involved mechanical isolating barrier, pattern suggestive RCD. To experimentally test this scenario, built an artificial sympatric population with individuals. We measured flower characters, genotyped offspring natural sympatry estimated fertility Different from naturally individuals, hybridized widely. Hybrids showed lower pollination success seed viability parentals. Character displacement did not affect plant success. findings suggest RCD evolved to avoid on reinforcement may very strong even plants highly specialized pollination.