# Biotic and Abiotic Drivers of Phenotypic Diversity in the Genus Lupinus (Fabaceae)

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how pollinators and environmental factors shape the diversity of traits in the Lupinus plant genus.

## Contribution

It synthesizes evidence on how biotic and abiotic factors jointly drive phenotypic diversity in Lupinus.

## Key findings

- Pollinators influence floral traits through specialized selection and plasticity for autogamy.
- Abiotic factors drive adaptations via phenotypic plasticity and mutualisms with soil microbes.
- Invasive species like L. polyphyllus disrupt native pollination networks through competitive exclusion.

## Abstract

The genus Lupinus (Fabaceae) represents an exceptional model system for studying evolutionary processes mediated by pollinators and environmental factors. This review synthesizes evidence on phenotypic variability of floral traits, trait selection by biotic and abiotic factors, and the eco-evolutionary implications of these interactions. Pollinators shape floral traits through specialized selection that optimizes pollination efficiency while maintaining plasticity toward autogamy under pollinator scarcity. At the same time, abiotic pressures drive adaptations to climate and elevation, which Lupinus achieves through phenotypic plasticity, such as adjusting flowering time, and through mutualisms with soil microbes that reduce abiotic stress. Ecological implications reveal contrasting dynamics, where native species sustain specialized pollination networks, while invasive species such as L. polyphyllus Lindl. disrupt these interactions through competitive exclusion. Thus, these two factors collectively drive Lupinus phenotypic diversity through specialized adaptations and plasticity. Finally, we emphasize the need for integrated studies combining genomics and ecological modeling to decipher the adaptive mechanisms of this genus.