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Sgambelluri LR, Jarvis JC, Kamel SJ. Multiple paternity, fertilization success, and male quality: Mating system variation in the eelgrass, Zostera marina. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11608. [PMID: 38919644 PMCID: PMC11197038 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity can modulate a population's response to a changing environment and plays a critical role in its ecological function. While multiple processes act to maintain genetic diversity, sexual reproduction remains the primary driving force. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is an important habitat-forming species found in temperate coastal ecosystems across the globe. Recent increases in sea surface temperatures have resulted in shifts to a mixed-annual life-history strategy (i.e., displaying characteristics of both annual and perennial meadows) at its southern edge-of-range. Given that mating systems are intimately linked to standing levels of genetic variation, understanding the scope of sexual reproduction can illuminate the processes that shape genetic diversity. To characterize edge-of-range eelgrass mating systems, developing seeds on flowering Z. marina shoots were genotyped from three meadows in Topsail, North Carolina. In all meadows, levels of multiple mating were high, with shoots pollinated by an average of eight sires (range: 3-16). The number of fertilized seeds (i.e., reproductive success) varied significantly across sires (range: 1-25) and was positively correlated with both individual heterozygosity and self-fertilization. Outcrossing rates were high (approx. 70%) and varied across spathes. No clones were detected, and kinship among sampled flowering shoots was low, supporting observed patterns of reproductive output. Given the role that genetic diversity plays in enhancing resistance to and resilience from ecological disturbance, disentangling the links between life history, sexual reproduction, and genetic variation will aid in informing the management and conservation of this key foundation species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren R. Sgambelluri
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine ScienceUniversity of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmingtonNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Jessie C. Jarvis
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine ScienceUniversity of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmingtonNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Stephanie J. Kamel
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine ScienceUniversity of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmingtonNorth CarolinaUSA
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2
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Montazeaud G, Keller L. Greenbeards in plants? THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:870-877. [PMID: 38403933 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Greenbeards are selfish genetic elements that make their bearers behave either altruistically towards individuals bearing similar greenbeard copies or harmfully towards individuals bearing different copies. They were first proposed by W. D. Hamilton over 50 yr ago, to illustrate that kin selection may operate at the level of single genes. Examples of greenbeards have now been reported in a wide range of taxa, but they remain undocumented in plants. In this paper, we discuss the theoretical likelihood of greenbeard existence in plants. We then question why the greenbeard concept has never been applied to plants and speculate on how hypothetical greenbeards could affect plant-plant interactions. Finally, we point to different research directions to improve our knowledge of greenbeards in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germain Montazeaud
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- AGAP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, 34000, France
| | - Laurent Keller
- Social Evolution Unit, Cornuit 8, BP 855, Chesières, Switzerland
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3
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Moreira-Saporiti A, Teichberg M, Garnier E, Cornelissen JHC, Alcoverro T, Björk M, Boström C, Dattolo E, Eklöf JS, Hasler-Sheetal H, Marbà N, Marín-Guirao L, Meysick L, Olivé I, Reusch TBH, Ruocco M, Silva J, Sousa AI, Procaccini G, Santos R. A trait-based framework for seagrass ecology: Trends and prospects. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1088643. [PMID: 37021321 PMCID: PMC10067889 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1088643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In the last three decades, quantitative approaches that rely on organism traits instead of taxonomy have advanced different fields of ecological research through establishing the mechanistic links between environmental drivers, functional traits, and ecosystem functions. A research subfield where trait-based approaches have been frequently used but poorly synthesized is the ecology of seagrasses; marine angiosperms that colonized the ocean 100M YA and today make up productive yet threatened coastal ecosystems globally. Here, we compiled a comprehensive trait-based response-effect framework (TBF) which builds on previous concepts and ideas, including the use of traits for the study of community assembly processes, from dispersal and response to abiotic and biotic factors, to ecosystem function and service provision. We then apply this framework to the global seagrass literature, using a systematic review to identify the strengths, gaps, and opportunities of the field. Seagrass trait research has mostly focused on the effect of environmental drivers on traits, i.e., "environmental filtering" (72%), whereas links between traits and functions are less common (26.9%). Despite the richness of trait-based data available, concepts related to TBFs are rare in the seagrass literature (15% of studies), including the relative importance of neutral and niche assembly processes, or the influence of trait dominance or complementarity in ecosystem function provision. These knowledge gaps indicate ample potential for further research, highlighting the need to understand the links between the unique traits of seagrasses and the ecosystem services they provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Moreira-Saporiti
- Faculty for Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Algae and Seagrass Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mirta Teichberg
- Algae and Seagrass Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Eric Garnier
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Mats Björk
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Emanuela Dattolo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Nuria Marbà
- Global Change Research Group, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), Esporles Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Lukas Meysick
- Åbo Akademi University, Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo, Finland
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Irene Olivé
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Thorsten B. H. Reusch
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Division of Marine Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Miriam Ruocco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - João Silva
- Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Ana I. Sousa
- CESAM – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Rui Santos
- Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
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4
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Kinship and Breeding Site Philopatry Drive Fine-Scale Genetic Structure in Fragmented Populations of the Gopher Frog (Rana capito) in North Carolina. J HERPETOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1670/20-140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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5
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Gomaa NH, Picó FX. Depicting the phenotypic space of the annual plant Diplotaxis acris in hyperarid deserts. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:15708-15719. [PMID: 34824784 PMCID: PMC8601918 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenotypic space encompasses the assemblage of trait combinations yielding well-suited integrated phenotypes. At the population level, understanding the phenotypic space structure requires the quantification of among- and within-population variations in traits and the correlation pattern among them. Here, we studied the phenotypic space of the annual plant Diplotaxis acris occurring in hyperarid deserts. Given the advance of warming and aridity in vast regions occupied by drylands, D. acris can indicate the successful evolutionary trajectory that many other annual plant species may follow in expanding drylands. To this end, we conducted a greenhouse experiment with 176 D. acris individuals from five Saudi populations to quantify the genetic component of variation in architectural and life history traits. We found low among-population divergence but high among-individual variation in all traits. In addition, all traits showed a high degree of genetic determination in our study experimental conditions. We did not find significant effects of recruitment and fecundity on fitness. Finally, all architectural traits exhibited a strong correlation pattern among them, whereas for life history traits, only higher seed germination implied earlier flowering. Seed weight appeared to be an important trait in D. acris as individuals with heavier seeds tended to advance flowering and have a more vigorous branching pattern, which led to higher fecundity. Population divergence in D. acris might be constrained by the severity of the hyperarid environment, but populations maintain high among-individual genetic variation in all traits. Furthermore, D. acris showed phenotypic integration for architectural traits and, to a lesser extent, for life history traits. Overall, we hypothesize that D. acris may be fine-tuned to its demanding extreme environments. Evolutionary speaking, annual plants facing increasing warming, aridity, and environmental seasonality might modify their phenotypic spaces toward new phenotypic configurations strongly dominated by correlated architectural traits enhancing fecundity and seed-related traits advancing flowering time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasr H. Gomaa
- Department of Botany and MicrobiologyFaculty of ScienceBeni‐Suef UniversityBeni‐SuefEgypt
- Biology DepartmentCollege of ScienceJouf UniversitySakakaSaudi Arabia
| | - F. Xavier Picó
- Departamento de Ecología Integrativa, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD)Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)SevillaSpain
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6
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Gribben PE, Bishop MJ, O’Connor WA, Bradley DJ, Hughes AR. Intraspecific diversity in prey body size influences survivorship by conferring resistance to predation. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paul E. Gribben
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science 19 Chowder Bay Road Mosman New South Wales 2088 Australia
| | - Melanie J. Bishop
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales 2109 Australia
| | - Wayne A. O’Connor
- NSW Department of Primary Industries Nelson Bay New South Wales 2315 Australia
| | - Daniel J. Bradley
- School of Life Sciences University of Technology Sydney New South Wales 2007 Australia
| | - A. Randall Hughes
- Northeastern University Marine Science Centre 430 Nahant Raod Nahant Massachusetts 01908 USA
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7
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Hughes AR, Hanley TC, Byers JE, Grabowski JH, McCrudden T, Piehler MF, Kimbro DL. Genetic diversity and phenotypic variation within hatchery-produced oyster cohorts predict size and success in the field. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01940. [PMID: 31148283 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The rapid growth of the aquaculture industry to meet global seafood demand offers both risks and opportunities for resource management and conservation. In particular, hatcheries hold promise for stock enhancement and restoration, yet cultivation practices may lead to enhanced variation between populations at the expense of variation within populations, with uncertain implications for performance and resilience. To date, few studies have assessed how production techniques impact genetic diversity and population structure, as well as resultant trait variation in and performance of cultivated offspring. We collaborated with a commercial hatchery to produce multiple cohorts of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) from field-collected broodstock using standard practices. We recorded key characteristics of the broodstock (male : female ratio, effective population size), quantified the genetic diversity of the resulting cohorts, and tested their trait variation and performance across multiple field sites and experimental conditions. Oyster cohorts produced under the same conditions in a single hatchery varied almost twofold in genetic diversity. In addition, cohort genetic diversity was a significant positive predictor of oyster performance traits, including initial size and survival in the field. Oyster cohorts produced in the hatchery had lower within-cohort genetic variation and higher among-cohort genetic structure than adults surveyed from the same source sites. These findings are consistent with "sweepstakes reproduction" in oysters, even when manually spawned. A readily measured characteristic of broodstock, the ratio of males to females, was positively correlated with within-cohort genetic diversity of the resulting offspring. Thus, this metric may offer a tractable way both to meet short-term production goals for seafood demand and to ensure the capacity of hatchery-produced stock to achieve conservation objectives, such as the recovery of self-sustaining wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Randall Hughes
- Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, 01908 , USA
| | - Torrance C Hanley
- Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, 01908 , USA
| | - James E Byers
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
| | - Jonathan H Grabowski
- Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, 01908 , USA
| | - Tom McCrudden
- Research Aquaculture, Inc., Tequesta, Florida, 33469, USA
| | - Michael F Piehler
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, North Carolina, 28557, USA
| | - David L Kimbro
- Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, 01908 , USA
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8
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Drury C, Greer JB, Baums I, Gintert B, Lirman D. Clonal diversity impacts coral cover in Acropora cervicornisthickets: Potential relationships between density, growth, and polymorphisms. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:4518-4531. [PMID: 31031924 PMCID: PMC6476746 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
As coral reefs decline, cryptic sources of resistance and resilience to stress may be increasingly important for the persistence of these communities. Among these sources, inter- and intraspecific diversity remain understudied on coral reefs but extensively impact a variety of traits in other ecosystems. We use a combination of field and sequencing data at two sites in Florida and two in the Dominican Republic to examine clonal diversity and genetic differentiation of high- and low-density aggregations of the threatened coral Acropora cervicornisin the Caribbean. We find that high-density aggregations called thickets are composed of up to 30 genotypes at a single site, but 47% of genotypes are also found as isolated, discrete colonies outside these aggregations. Genet-ramet ratios are comparable for thickets (0.636) and isolated colonies after rarefaction (0.569), suggesting the composition of each aggregation is not substantially different and highlighting interactions between colonies as a potential influence on structure. There are no differences in growth rate, but a significant positive correlation between genotypic diversity and coral cover, which may be due to the influence of interactions between colonies on survivorship or fragment retention during asexual reproduction. Many polymorphisms distinguish isolated colonies from thickets despite the shared genotypes found here, including putative nonsynonymous mutations that change amino acid sequence in 25 loci. These results highlight intraspecific diversity as a density-dependent factor that may impact traits important for the structure and function of coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crawford Drury
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric ScienceUniversity of MiamiMiamiFlorida
| | - Justin B. Greer
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric ScienceUniversity of MiamiMiamiFlorida
| | - Iliana Baums
- Department of BiologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania
| | - Brooke Gintert
- Department of Marine Geoscience, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric ScienceUniversity of MiamiMiamiFlorida
| | - Diego Lirman
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric ScienceUniversity of MiamiMiamiFlorida
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9
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Abbott JM, DuBois K, Grosberg RK, Williams SL, Stachowicz JJ. Genetic distance predicts trait differentiation at the subpopulation but not the individual level in eelgrass, Zostera marina. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:7476-7489. [PMID: 30151164 PMCID: PMC6106171 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological studies often assume that genetically similar individuals will be more similar in phenotypic traits, such that genetic diversity can serve as a proxy for trait diversity. Here, we explicitly test the relationship between genetic relatedness and trait distance using 40 eelgrass (Zostera marina) genotypes from five sites within Bodega Harbor, CA. We measured traits related to nutrient uptake, morphology, biomass and growth, photosynthesis, and chemical deterrents for all genotypes. We used these trait measurements to calculate a multivariate pairwise trait distance for all possible genotype combinations. We then estimated pairwise relatedness from 11 microsatellite markers. We found significant trait variation among genotypes for nearly every measured trait; however, there was no evidence of a significant correlation between pairwise genetic relatedness and multivariate trait distance among individuals. However, at the subpopulation level (sites within a harbor), genetic (FST) and trait differentiation were positively correlated. Our work suggests that pairwise relatedness estimated from neutral marker loci is a poor proxy for trait differentiation between individual genotypes. It remains to be seen whether genomewide measures of genetic differentiation or easily measured "master" traits (like body size) might provide good predictions of overall trait differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M. Abbott
- Center for Population BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCalifornia
- Department of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCalifornia
- Institute for Wildlife StudiesArcataCalifornia
| | - Katherine DuBois
- Department of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCalifornia
- Bodega Marine LaboratoryBodega BayCalifornia
| | - Richard K. Grosberg
- Center for Population BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCalifornia
- Department of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCalifornia
| | - Susan L. Williams
- Department of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCalifornia
- Bodega Marine LaboratoryBodega BayCalifornia
| | - John J. Stachowicz
- Center for Population BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCalifornia
- Department of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCalifornia
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10
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Abbott JM, Grosberg RK, Williams SL, Stachowicz JJ. Multiple dimensions of intraspecific diversity affect biomass of eelgrass and its associated community. Ecology 2017; 98:3152-3164. [PMID: 28983913 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Genetic diversity within key species can play an important role in the functioning of entire communities. However, the extent to which different dimensions of diversity (e.g., the number of genotypes vs. the extent of genetic differentiation among those genotypes) best predicts functioning is unknown and may yield clues into the different mechanisms underlying diversity effects. We explicitly test the relative influence of genotypic richness and genetic relatedness on eelgrass productivity, biomass, and the diversity of associated invertebrate grazers in a factorial field experiment using the seagrass species, Zostera marina (eelgrass). Genotypic richness had the strongest effect on eelgrass biomass accumulation, such that plots with more genotypes at the end of the experiment attained a higher biomass. Genotypic diversity (richness + evenness) was a stronger predictor of biomass than richness alone, and both genotype richness and diversity were positively correlated with trait diversity. The relatedness of genotypes in a plot reduced eelgrass biomass independently of richness. Plots containing eelgrass with greater trait diversity also had a higher abundance of invertebrate grazers, while the diversity and relatedness of eelgrass genotypes had little effect on invertebrate abundance or richness. Our work extends previous findings by explicitly relating genotypic diversity to trait diversity, thus mechanistically connecting genotypic diversity to plot-level yields. We also show that other dimensions of diversity, namely relatedness, influence eelgrass performance independent of trait differentiation. Ultimately, richness and relatedness captured fundamentally different components of intraspecific variation and should be treated as complementary rather than competing dimensions of biodiversity affecting ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Abbott
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA.,Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Richard K Grosberg
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA.,Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Susan L Williams
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA.,Bodega Marine Laboratory, Bodega Bay, California, 94923, USA
| | - John J Stachowicz
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA.,Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA
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11
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Jormalainen V, Danelli M, Gagnon K, Hillebrand H, Rothäusler E, Salminen JP, Sjöroos J. Genetic variation of a foundation rockweed species affects associated communities. Ecology 2017; 98:2940-2951. [PMID: 28869777 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Genetic variation in a foundation species may affect the composition of associated communities as well as modify ecosystem function. While the ecological consequences of genetic diversity of foundation species have been widely reported, the ability of individual genotypes to support dissimilar communities has been documented only in forest ecosystems. Here, for the first time in a marine ecosystem, we test whether the different genotypes of the rockweed Fucus vesiculosus harbor distinct community phenotypes and whether the genetic similarity of individual genotypes or their defensive compound content can explain the variation of the associated communities. We reared replicated genotypes in a common garden in the sea and analyzed their associated communities of periphytic algae and invertebrates as well as determined their contents of defense compounds, phlorotannins, and genetic distance based on neutral molecular markers. The periphytic community was abundant in mid-summer and its biovolume, diversity and community composition varied among the rockweed genotypes. The diversity of the periphytic community decreased with its increasing biovolume. In autumn, when grazers were abundant, periphytic community biomass was lower and less variable among rockweed genotypes, indicating different relative importance of bottom-up regulation through heritable variation of the foundation species and top-down regulation through grazing intensity. Similarly, composition of the invertebrate community varied among the rockweed genotypes. Although the genotype explained about 10-18% of the variation in associated communities, the variation was explained neither by the genetic distance nor the phlorotannin content. Thus, neither neutral genetic markers nor a single phenotypic trait could provide a mechanistic understanding of the genetic basis of community specificity. Therefore, a more comprehensive mapping of quantitative trait variation is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms. The community specificity implies that genetic variation within a foundation species is crucial for the biodiversity and assembly of associated organisms and, thus, for the functioning of associated communities. The result highlights the importance of ensuring the genetic variation of foundation species as a conservation target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veijo Jormalainen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Maria Danelli
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of Marine Environments, Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, 26382, Germany
| | - Karine Gagnon
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Helmut Hillebrand
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of Marine Environments, Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, 26382, Germany
| | - Eva Rothäusler
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Juha-Pekka Salminen
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20014, Finland
| | - Joakim Sjöroos
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
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12
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Ettinger CL, Williams SL, Abbott JM, Stachowicz JJ, Eisen JA. Microbiome succession during ammonification in eelgrass bed sediments. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3674. [PMID: 28828269 PMCID: PMC5563154 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a marine angiosperm and foundation species that plays an important ecological role in primary production, food web support, and elemental cycling in coastal ecosystems. As with other plants, the microbial communities living in, on, and near eelgrass are thought to be intimately connected to the ecology and biology of eelgrass. Here we characterized the microbial communities in eelgrass sediments throughout an experiment to quantify the rate of ammonification, the first step in early remineralization of organic matter, also known as diagenesis, from plots at a field site in Bodega Bay, CA. METHODS Sediment was collected from 72 plots from a 15 month long field experiment in which eelgrass genotypic richness and relatedness were manipulated. In the laboratory, we placed sediment samples (n = 4 per plot) under a N2 atmosphere, incubated them at in situ temperatures (15 °C) and sampled them initially and after 4, 7, 13, and 19 days to determine the ammonification rate. Comparative microbiome analysis using high throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes was performed on sediment samples taken initially and at seven, 13 and 19 days to characterize changes in the relative abundances of microbial taxa throughout ammonification. RESULTS Within-sample diversity of the sediment microbial communities across all plots decreased after the initial timepoint using both richness based (observed number of OTUs, Chao1) and richness and evenness based diversity metrics (Shannon, Inverse Simpson). Additionally, microbial community composition changed across the different timepoints. Many of the observed changes in relative abundance of taxonomic groups between timepoints appeared driven by sulfur cycling with observed decreases in predicted sulfur reducers (Desulfobacterales) and corresponding increases in predicted sulfide oxidizers (Thiotrichales). None of these changes in composition or richness were associated with variation in ammonification rates. DISCUSSION Our results showed that the microbiome of sediment from different plots followed similar successional patterns, which we infer to be due to changes related to sulfur metabolism. These large changes likely overwhelmed any potential changes in sediment microbiome related to ammonification rate. We found no relationship between eelgrass presence or genetic composition and the microbiome. This was likely due to our sampling of bulk sediments to measure ammonification rates rather than sampling microbes in sediment directly in contact with the plants and suggests that eelgrass influence on the sediment microbiome may be limited in spatial extent. More in-depth functional studies associated with eelgrass microbiome will be required in order to fully understand the implications of these microbial communities in broader host-plant and ecosystem functions (e.g., elemental cycling and eelgrass-microbe interactions).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susan L Williams
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America.,Bodega Marine Lab, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, CA, United States of America
| | - Jessica M Abbott
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - John J Stachowicz
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Jonathan A Eisen
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America.,Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
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13
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Rode NO, Soroye P, Kassen R, Rundle HD. Air-borne genotype by genotype indirect genetic effects are substantial in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Heredity (Edinb) 2017; 119:1-7. [PMID: 28295032 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2017.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Genotype by genotype indirect genetic effects (G × G IGEs) occur when the phenotype of an individual is influenced by an interaction between its own genotype and those of neighbour individuals. Little is known regarding the relative importance of G × G IGEs compared with other forms of direct and indirect genetic effects. We quantified the relative importance of IGEs in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, a species in which IGEs are likely to be important as air-borne social interactions are known to affect growth. We used a collection of distantly related wild isolates, lab strains and a set of closely related mutation accumulation lines to estimate the contribution of direct and indirect genetic effects on mycelium growth rate, a key fitness component. We found that indirect genetic effects were dominated by G × G IGEs that occurred primarily between a focal genotype and its immediate neighbour within a vertical stack, and these accounted for 11% of phenotypic variation. These results indicate that G × G IGEs may be substantial, at least in some systems, and that the evolutionary importance of these interactions may be underappreciated, especially in microbes. We advocate for a wider use of the IGE framework in both applied (for example, choice of varietal mixtures in plant breeding) and evolutionary genetics (kin selection/kin competition studies).
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Affiliation(s)
- N O Rode
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - P Soroye
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - R Kassen
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - H D Rundle
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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14
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Fernandez-Conradi P, Jactel H, Hampe A, Leiva MJ, Castagneyrol B. The effect of tree genetic diversity on insect herbivory varies with insect abundance. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Fernandez-Conradi
- Biogeco; INRA; University of Bordeaux; F-33610 Cestas France
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Universidad de Sevilla; Apdo, 1095 41080 Sevilla Spain
| | - Hervé Jactel
- Biogeco; INRA; University of Bordeaux; F-33610 Cestas France
| | - Arndt Hampe
- Biogeco; INRA; University of Bordeaux; F-33610 Cestas France
| | - Maria José Leiva
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología; Universidad de Sevilla; Apdo, 1095 41080 Sevilla Spain
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15
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Reynolds LK, Stachowicz JJ, Hughes AR, Kamel SJ, Ort BS, Grosberg RK. Temporal stability in patterns of genetic diversity and structure of a marine foundation species (Zostera marina). Heredity (Edinb) 2016; 118:404-412. [PMID: 28029151 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2016.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity and population structure reflect complex interactions among a diverse set of processes that may vary temporally, limiting their potential to predict ecological and evolutionary outcomes. Yet, the stability of these patterns is rarely tested. We resampled eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows from published studies to determine variability in genetic diversity and structure within and between meadows over 5-12 years. The meadows sampled (San Francisco, Tomales and Bodega Bays in California and the Virginia coastal bays) represent a range of life histories (annual vs perennial), age (well-established vs restored) and environments (rural vs urbanized). In all of these systems, neither diversity nor differentiation (FST) changed over time. Differences among tidal heights within Bodega Bay were also remarkably consistent, with the high intertidal being more diverse than the subtidal, and tidal height differentiation being modest but significant at both time points. Historical studies used only a few microsatellite loci; therefore, our temporal comparisons were based on 4-5 loci. However, analysis of the current data using a set of 12 loci show that 4-5 loci are sufficient to describe diversity and differentiation patterns in this system. This temporal consistency was not because of the resampling of large clones, underscoring the feasibility and relevance of understanding drivers of the differences. Because seagrasses are declining at rapid rates, restoration and conservation are increasingly a coastal management priority. Our results argue that surveys of eelgrass genetic structure and diversity at decadal scales can provide accurate depictions of populations, increasing the utility of published genetic data for restoration and designing networks of reserves.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Reynolds
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - J J Stachowicz
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - A R Hughes
- Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, MA, USA
| | - S J Kamel
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - B S Ort
- Olofson Environmental, Inc., Oakland, CA, USA
| | - R K Grosberg
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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16
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Zhao J, Bodner G, Rewald B. Phenotyping: Using Machine Learning for Improved Pairwise Genotype Classification Based on Root Traits. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:1864. [PMID: 27999587 PMCID: PMC5138212 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Phenotyping local crop cultivars is becoming more and more important, as they are an important genetic source for breeding - especially in regard to inherent root system architectures. Machine learning algorithms are promising tools to assist in the analysis of complex data sets; novel approaches are need to apply them on root phenotyping data of mature plants. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in large, sand-filled columns to differentiate 16 European Pisum sativum cultivars based on 36 manually derived root traits. Through combining random forest and support vector machine models, machine learning algorithms were successfully used for unbiased identification of most distinguishing root traits and subsequent pairwise cultivar differentiation. Up to 86% of pea cultivar pairs could be distinguished based on top five important root traits (Timp5) - Timp5 differed widely between cultivar pairs. Selecting top important root traits (Timp) provided a significant improved classification compared to using all available traits or randomly selected trait sets. The most frequent Timp of mature pea cultivars was total surface area of lateral roots originating from tap root segments at 0-5 cm depth. The high classification rate implies that culturing did not lead to a major loss of variability in root system architecture in the studied pea cultivars. Our results illustrate the potential of machine learning approaches for unbiased (root) trait selection and cultivar classification based on rather small, complex phenotypic data sets derived from pot experiments. Powerful statistical approaches are essential to make use of the increasing amount of (root) phenotyping information, integrating the complex trait sets describing crop cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangsan Zhao
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life SciencesVienna, Austria
| | - Gernot Bodner
- Division of Agronomy, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life SciencesVienna, Austria
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life SciencesVienna, Austria
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17
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Randall Hughes A, Hanley TC, Schenck FR, Hays CG. Genetic diversity of seagrass seeds influences seedling morphology and biomass. Ecology 2016; 97:3538-3546. [PMID: 27912018 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Genetic diversity can influence ecological processes throughout ontogeny, yet whether diversity at early life history stages is important in long-lived taxa with overlapping generations is unclear. Seagrass systems provide some of the best evidence for the ecological effects of genetic diversity among adult shoots, but we do not know if the genetic diversity of seeds and seedlings also influences seagrass ecology. We tested the effects of seagrass (Zostera marina) seed diversity and relatedness on germination success, seedling morphology, and seedling production by comparing experimental assemblages of seeds collected from single reproductive shoots ("monocultures") to assemblages of seeds collected from multiple reproductive shoots ("polycultures"). There was no difference in seedling emergence, yet seedlings from polycultures had larger shoots above and below ground than seedlings from monocultures at the end of the 1-yr experiment. Genetic relatedness of the seedlings predicted some aspects of shoot morphology, with more leaves and longer roots and shoots at intermediate levels of relatedness, regardless of seed diversity. Our results suggest that studies of only adult stages may underestimate the importance of genetic diversity if the benefits at early life history stages continue to accrue throughout the life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Randall Hughes
- Marine and Environmental Science, Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, 01908, USA
| | - Torrance C Hanley
- Marine and Environmental Science, Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, 01908, USA
| | - Forest R Schenck
- Marine and Environmental Science, Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, 01908, USA
| | - Cynthia G Hays
- Biology Department, Keene State College, Keene, New Hampshire, 03431, USA
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18
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Hanley TC, Hughes AR, Williams B, Garland H, Kimbro DL. Effects of intraspecific diversity on survivorship, growth, and recruitment of the eastern oyster across sites. Ecology 2016; 97:1518-29. [DOI: 10.1890/15-1710.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Torrance C. Hanley
- Marine Science Center Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts 01908 USA
| | - A. Randall Hughes
- Marine Science Center Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts 01908 USA
| | - Bethany Williams
- Department of Biological Science Florida State University Tallahassee Florida 32304 USA
| | - Hanna Garland
- Department of Biological Science Florida State University Tallahassee Florida 32304 USA
| | - David L. Kimbro
- Marine Science Center Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts 01908 USA
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19
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Abbott JM, Stachowicz JJ. The relative importance of trait vs. genetic differentiation for the outcome of interactions among plant genotypes. Ecology 2016; 97:84-94. [PMID: 27008778 DOI: 10.1890/15-0148.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Functional trait differences and genetic distance are increasingly used as metrics to predict the. outcome of species interactions and the maintenance of diversity. We apply these ideas to intraspecific diversity for the seagrass Zostera marina (eelgrass), by explicitly testing the influence of trait distance and genetic relatedness on the outcome of pairwise interactions among eelgrass genotypes. Increasing trait distance (but not relatedness) between eelgrass genotypes decreased the likelihood that both would persist over a year-long field experiment, contrary to our expectations based on niche partitioning. In plots in which one genotype excluded another, the biomass and growth of the remaining genotype increased with the trait distance and genetic relatedness of the initial pair, presumably due to a legacy of past interactions. Together these results suggest that sustained competition among functionally similar genotypes did not produce a clear winner, but rapid exclusion occurred among genotypes with distinct trait combinations. Borrowing from coexistence theory, we argue that fitness differences between genotypes with distinct traits overwhelmed any stabilizing effects of niche differentiation. Previously observed effects of eelgrass genetic diversity on performance may rely on nonadditive interactions among multiple genotypes or sufficient environmental heterogeneity to increase stabilizing forces and/or interactions.
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20
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Lloret F, García C. Inbreeding and neighbouring vegetation drive drought‐induced die‐off within juniper populations. Funct Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Lloret
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallés Barcelona 08193 Spain
- Unitat d'Ecologia Department of Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia Universitat Autonòma Barcelona Cerdanyola del Vallés Barcelona 08193 Spain
| | - Cristina García
- Investigação em Biodiversidade e Biología Evolutiva (CIBIO/InBIO‐UP) Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas Vairão 4485‐661 Porto Portugal
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21
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Crutsinger GM, Rudman SM, Rodriguez-Cabal MA, McKown AD, Sato T, MacDonald AM, Heavyside J, Geraldes A, Hart EM, LeRoy CJ, El-Sabaawi RW. Testing a ‘genes-to-ecosystems’ approach to understanding aquatic-terrestrial linkages. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:5888-903. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M. Crutsinger
- Department of Zoology; University of British Columbia; 4200-6270 University Blvd. Vancouver BC V6T1Z4 Canada
| | - Seth M. Rudman
- Department of Zoology; University of British Columbia; 4200-6270 University Blvd. Vancouver BC V6T1Z4 Canada
| | - Mariano A. Rodriguez-Cabal
- Department of Zoology; University of British Columbia; 4200-6270 University Blvd. Vancouver BC V6T1Z4 Canada
| | - Athena D. McKown
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences; University of British Columbia; 2424 Main Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Takuya Sato
- Department of Biology; Graduate school of Science; Kobe University; 1-1 Rokkodai Nada-ku Kobe 657-8501 Japan
| | - Andrew M. MacDonald
- Department of Zoology; University of British Columbia; 4200-6270 University Blvd. Vancouver BC V6T1Z4 Canada
| | - Julian Heavyside
- Department of Zoology; University of British Columbia; 4200-6270 University Blvd. Vancouver BC V6T1Z4 Canada
| | - Armando Geraldes
- Department of Botany; University of British Columbia; 3529-6270 University Blvd. Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Edmund M. Hart
- Department of Zoology; University of British Columbia; 4200-6270 University Blvd. Vancouver BC V6T1Z4 Canada
| | - Carri J. LeRoy
- Environmental Studies Program; The Evergreen State College; 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW Olympia WA 98505 USA
| | - Rana W. El-Sabaawi
- Department of Biology; University of Victoria; Cunningham 202, 3800 Finnerty Rd. Victoria BC V8P 5C2 Canada
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22
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Kettenring KM, Mercer KL, Reinhardt Adams C, Hines J. EDITOR'S CHOICE: Application of genetic diversity-ecosystem function research to ecological restoration. J Appl Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karin M. Kettenring
- Ecology Center and Department of Watershed Sciences; Utah State University; Logan UT USA
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; Edgewater MD USA
| | - Kristin L. Mercer
- Department of Horticulture and Crop Science; The Ohio State University; Columbus OH USA
| | | | - Jes Hines
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; Edgewater MD USA
- Department of Experimental Limnology; Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries; Neuglobsow Germany
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23
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Massa SI, Paulino CM, Serrão EA, Duarte CM, Arnaud-Haond S. Entangled effects of allelic and clonal (genotypic) richness in the resistance and resilience of experimental populations of the seagrass Zostera noltii to diatom invasion. BMC Ecol 2013; 13:39. [PMID: 24152760 PMCID: PMC3818440 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-13-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between species diversity and components of ecosystem stability has been extensively studied, whilst the influence of the genetic component of biodiversity remains poorly understood. Here we manipulated both genotypic and allelic richness of the seagrass Zostera noltii, in order to explore their respective influences on the resistance of the experimental population to stress. Thus far intra-specific diversity was seldom taken into account in management plans, and restoration actions showed very low success. Information is therefore needed to understand the factors affecting resistance and resilience of populations. RESULTS Our results show a positive influence of both allelic and genotypic richness on the resistance of meadows to environmental perturbations. They also show that at the low genotypic (i.e. clonal) richness levels used in prior experimental approaches, the effects of genotypic and allelic richness could not be disentangled and allelic richness was a likely hidden treatment explaining at least part of the effects hitherto attributed to genotypic richness. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these results emphasize the need to acknowledge and take into account the interdependency of both genotypic and allelic richness in experimental designs attempting to estimate their importance alone or in combination. A positive influence of allelic richness on resistance to perturbations, and of allelic richness combined with genotypic richness on the recovery (resilience) of the experimental populations is supported by differential mortality. These results, on the key species structuring of one of the most threatened coastal ecosystem worldwide, seagrass meadows, support the need to better take into account the distinct compartments of clonal and genetic diversity in management strategies, and in possible restoration plans in the future.
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Abstract
Until recently, little attention has been paid to the existence of kin structure in the sea, despite the fact that many marine organisms are sessile or sedentary. This lack of attention to kin structure, and its impacts on social evolution, historically stems from the pervasive assumption that the dispersal of gametes and larvae is almost always sufficient to prevent any persistent associations of closely related offspring or adults. However, growing evidence, both theoretical and empirical, casts doubt on the generality of this assumption, not only in species with limited dispersal, but also in species with long dispersive phases. Moreover, many marine organisms either internally brood their progeny or package them in nurseries, both of which provide ample opportunities for kinship to influence the nature and outcomes of social interactions among family members. As the evidence for kin structure within marine populations mounts, it follows that kin selection may play a far greater role in the evolution of both behaviours and life histories of marine organisms than is presently appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J Kamel
- Center for Population Biology, Department of Evolution and Ecology, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, , 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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