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Can varying inbreeding depression select for intermediary selfing rates?
1Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France.
The American Naturalist
|August 19, 2008
Summary
Environmental variability can select for intermediate selfing rates in plants. Spatiotemporal variation in inbreeding depression may also maintain diverse selfing rates within plant populations.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Plant reproductive strategies
- Population genetics
Background:
- Classical models assume constant inbreeding depression.
- Empirical studies show inbreeding depression varies with environmental changes.
- Understanding variable inbreeding depression is crucial for plant evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the evolution of self-fertilization under variable inbreeding depression.
- To investigate the impact of spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal variability.
- To compare results with classical predictions.
Main Methods:
- Developed a simple phenotypic model.
- Incorporated variable inbreeding depression.
- Analyzed three models with different variability types.
Main Results:
- Fluctuating environments can select for evolutionarily stable intermediate selfing rates.
- Spatiotemporal variation can lead to the maintenance of polymorphic selfing rates.
- Findings differ from classical population genetic predictions.
Conclusions:
- Variable inbreeding depression significantly impacts the evolution of selfing.
- Environmental fluctuations favor intermediate selfing.
- Habitat heterogeneity can promote selfing rate diversity.
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