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Relationships between adaptive and neutral genetic diversity and ecological structure and functioning: a
1Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.
The Journal of Ecology
|September 12, 2014
Summary
Intraspecific genetic diversity impacts ecological communities, but findings vary. Adaptive genetic diversity shows small positive effects on community and ecosystem structure, while neutral diversity has no consistent association.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary ecology
- Conservation biology
Background:
- Intraspecific genetic diversity's effect on ecological communities is crucial for evolutionary ecology and conservation.
- Previous studies show mixed results on the relationship between genetic diversity and ecological structure.
- Discrepancies arise from varied measures of genetic variation (adaptive vs. neutral) and ecological responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically synthesize the relationship between genetic diversity and ecological structure.
- To quantify the strength and direction of this relationship.
- To differentiate the ecological relevance of adaptive versus neutral genetic diversity.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis of 70 studies with 423 effect sizes.
- Bayesian meta-analyses to assess relationships.
- Examination of different measures of ecological structure and contexts.
Main Results:
- Small, significant positive effect sizes for adaptive diversity (genotypic richness) on community and ecosystem responses.
- Adaptive diversity linked to increased species richness and productivity.
- No overall association for neutral genetic diversity, with positive correlations only under specific demographic conditions.
Conclusions:
- Adaptive and neutral genetic diversity are not ecologically equivalent.
- The relationship between genetic diversity and ecological structure is context-dependent, varying with diversity measures and ecological settings.
- Provides a framework for future synthesis between genetics and ecology.
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