DEEP at Stockholm University on Instagram: "DEEP researchers have identified that flowering time in the Marsh gentian (sv. Klockgentiana) might depend on presence or absence of the Alcon blue (sv. Alkonblåvinge). Sometimes it´s an evolutionary advantage (i.e. increased chance of survival or reproductive success) to flower early and sometimes it´s an advantage to flower late. However, the causes of this variation in natural selection among plant populations are often unknown. Alicia Valdés and Johan Ehrlén have found that when the seed-eating butterfly is present it is an evolutionary advantage for the host plant to flower late in the summer in order to escape predation from the butterfly. “Both the Marsh gentian and the Alcon blue are threatened species in Sweden and this knowledge is therefore of great importance in conservation biology and management” – says Alicia Valdés, postdoc at DEEP. @stockholmuniversity . Photo credit: Alicia Valdés. Photo: plant Gentiana pneumonanthe & butterfly Phengaris alcon . . #stockholmsuniversitet #stockholmuniversity #research #scicomm #floweringtime #evolution #evolutionaryadvantage #naturalselection #marshgentian #klockgentiana #gentiana #alconblue #plants #butterfly #hostplant #threatened #rödlistad #Sweden #conservation #conservationbiology #savetheplanet #plantsciences #postdoctoralstudies #postdoc #gentiana #blåvinge #adaptation #selection #munching #flowering" 104 likes, 9 comments - deepsthlmuni on March 27, 2017: "DEEP researchers have identified that flowering time in the Marsh gentian (sv. Klockgentiana) might depend on presence or absence of the Alcon blue (sv. Alkonblåvinge). Sometimes it´s an evolutionary advantage (i.e. increased chance of survival or reproductive success) to flower early and sometimes it´s an advantage to flower late. However, the causes of this variation in natural selection among plant populations are often unknown. Alicia Valdés and Johan Ehrlén have found that when the seed-eating butterfly is present it is an evolutionary advantage for the host plant to flower late in the summer in order to escape predation from the butterfly. “Both the Marsh gentian and the Alcon blue are threatened species in Sweden and this knowledge is therefore of great importance in conservation biology and management” – says Alicia Valdés, postdoc at DEEP. @stockholmuniversity . Photo credit: Alicia Valdés. Photo: plant Gentiana pneumonanthe & butterfly Phengaris alcon . . #stockholmsuniversitet #stockholmuniversity #research #scicomm #floweringtime #evolution #evolutionaryadvantage #naturalselection #marshgentian #klockgentiana #gentiana #alconblue #plants #butterfly #hostplant #threatened #rödlistad #Sweden #conservation #conservationbiology #savetheplanet #plantsciences #postdoctoralstudies #postdoc #gentiana #blåvinge #adaptation #selection #munching #flowering".

My research @DEEP_Sthlm_Uni@Stockholm_Uni #phenology #selection #klockgentiana #butterflies #alkonblåvinge #scicomm

instagram.com/p/BSI3M3yAsDd/

Browsing through field pictures #klockgentiana #phengaris #myrmica #butterflies #ants - Such a nice study system :

First flowers in the common garden! #klockgentiana #phenology @DEEP_Sthlm_Uni