10.5061/DRYAD.1JN5887
Rushworth, Catherine A.
Duke University
Windham, Michael D.
Duke University
Keith, Rose A.
Duke University
Mitchell-Olds, Tom
Duke University
Data from: Ecological differentiation facilitates fine-scale coexistence
of sexual and asexual Boechera
Dryad
dataset
2019
Apomixis
geographic parthenogenesis
Boechera stricta
Environmental variability
Boechera
Boechera retrofracta
Asexual reproduction
Brassicaceae
Ecological Differentiation
National Science Foundation
https://ror.org/021nxhr62
DEB-1311269, DEB-0816560
2019-09-11T00:00:00Z
2019-09-11T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.1201
803028 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Premise of the study: Ecological differentiation (ED) between sexual and
asexual organisms may permit the maintenance of reproductive polymorphism.
Several studies of sexual/asexual ED in plants have shown that the
geographic ranges of asexuals extend beyond those of sexuals, often in
areas of higher latitude or elevation. But very little is known about ED
at fine scales, wherein coexistence of sexuals and asexuals may be
permitted by differential niche occupation. Methods: We used 149
populations of sexual and apomictic lineages in the genus Boechera (rock
cress) collected across a portion of this mustard’s vast range. We
characterized reproductive mode, ploidy, and species identity or hybrid
parentage of each individual, and then used a multi-pronged statistical
approach to 1) identify ED between sexuals and asexuals; 2) investigate
the impacts of two confounding factors, polyploidy and hybridization, on
ED; and 3) determine the environmental variables underlying ED. Key
results: We found that sexuals and asexuals are significantly ecologically
differentiated across the landscape, despite fine-scale interdigitation of
these two reproductive forms. Asexual reproduction was strongly associated
with greater disturbance, reduced slope, and greater environmental
variability. Although ploidy had little effect on the patterns observed,
hybridization has a unique impact on the relationships between asexual
reproduction and specific environmental variables. Conclusions: Ecological
differentiation along the axes of disturbance, slope, and climatic
variability, as well as the effects of heterozygosity, may contribute to
the maintenance of sexuality and asexuality across the landscape,
ultimately impacting the establishment and spread of asexual lineages.
MicrosatelliteData_Rushworthetal_AJB_2018This data file includes
microsatellite allele calls for all individuals in this
publication.EnvironmentAnalyses_Rushworthetal_AJB_2018This R code can
perform all environmental analyses from this manuscript using the
environmental data sets.FullEnvironmentalData_Rushworthetal_AJB_2018This
data file contains identifying information for each individual and
environmental variables for each population. Each individual is
represented by a single row, and multiple rows represent a single
population.PopEnvironmentalData_Rushworthetal_AJB_2018This data file
contains environmental variables and identifying information for each
population in the study. Each population is represented by a single
row.FC3FullEnvironmentalData_Rushworthetal_AJB_2018This data file contains
identifying information and environmental variables for the individuals
relevant to FC3. Each row represents a single individual, and multiple
rows make up a single
population.FC3PopEnvironmentalData_Rushworthetal_AJB_2018This data file
contains identifying information and environmental variables for the
populations relevant to FC3. Each row represents a single population.
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