Dispersal and establishment traits provide a colonization advantage for a polyploid apomictic plant

Premise Apomictic plants (reproducing asexually through seed) often have larger ranges and occur at higher latitudes than closely related sexuals, a pattern known as geographical parthenogenesis (GP). Explanations for GP include differences in colonizing ability due to reproductive assurance and dir...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	American journal of botany Vol. 110; no. 4; pp. e16149 - n/a
Main Authors:	Hersh, Evan Whitney, Medina, Alberto Ruiz‐Larrea, Whitton, Jeannette
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Botanical Society of America, Inc 01-04-2023
Subjects:	Apomixis Apomixis - genetics Assurance Asteraceae autopolyploidy Colonization Diploids Dispersal Dispersion Ecological effects geographical parthenogenesis Germination Life history life history traits Parthenogenesis Plants Polyploidy Range extension reproductive assurance Seed dispersal Seedlings Seeds Seeds - genetics Survival Terminal velocity Tolerances trade‐offs apomixis autopolyploidy reproductive assurance polyploidy trade-offs colonization Asteraceae life history traits dispersal geographical parthenogenesis
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Summary:	Premise Apomictic plants (reproducing asexually through seed) often have larger ranges and occur at higher latitudes than closely related sexuals, a pattern known as geographical parthenogenesis (GP). Explanations for GP include differences in colonizing ability due to reproductive assurance and direct/indirect effects of polyploidy (most apomicts are polyploid) on ecological tolerances. While life history traits associated with dispersal and establishment also contribute to the potential for range expansion, few studies compare these traits in related apomicts and sexuals. Methods We investigated differences in early life history traits between diploid‐sexual and polyploid‐apomictic Townsendia hookeri (Asteraceae), which displays a classic pattern of GP. Using lab and greenhouse experiments, we measured seed dispersal traits, germination success, and seedling size and survival in sexual and apomictic populations from across the range of the species. Results While theory predicts that trade‐offs between dispersal and establishment traits should be common, this was largely not the case in T. hookeri. Apomictic seeds had both lower terminal velocity (staying aloft longer when dropped) and higher germination success than sexual seeds. While there were no differences in seedling size between reproductive types, apomicts did, however, have slightly lower seedling survival than sexuals. Conclusions These differences in early life history traits, combined with reproductive assurance conferred by apomixis, suggest that apomicts achieve a greater range through advantages in their ability to both spread and establish.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0002-9122 1537-2197
DOI:	10.1002/ajb2.16149