Abstract Detail

Plant reproductive strategies under environmental stress

Mazer, Susan [1], Dudley, Leah [1], Hove, Alisa [1], Emms, Simon [2], Verhoeven, Amy [2].

The evolution of mating system, life history, and physiology in Clarkia: does selection for drought-avoidance drive the evolution of selfing? .

Plant mating systems are highly evolutionarily labile; in the wildflower genus Clarkia, for example, the shift between outcrossing and self-fertilization has occurred > 12 times among <40 taxa. In addition to exhibiting lower pollen:ovule ratios and smaller flowers, regularly selfing Clarkia taxa flower earlier and have faster floral development rates than their outcrossing counterparts. The most common explanations for the evolution of selfing focus on its direct advantages. For example, selection may favor selfing where pollinators are scarce or unreliable; where plants with large, attractive flowers are at risk of dessication or herbivory; or where short growing seasons require rapid reproduction (whichis promoted by selfing). But selfing could also evolve as a "by-product" of selection on correlated traits, even if there is no direct advantage to selfing. Currently, we're investigating genetic correlations between flowering date and traits that influence mating system (e.g., the degree of herkogamy and dichogamy). If these correlations are sufficiently strong (e.g., if early flowering is associated with rapidly developing flowers with low herkogamy and dichogamy), then selfing may evolve in Clarkia not (only) because of its direct advantages, but as a correlated response to selection favoring earlier flowering (e.g., where the growing season is short). If this is generally the case, then adaptation of annual spring wildflowers to earlier or unpredictable summer drought could involve a rapid increase in selfing rates (and inbreeding depression), potentially reducing their adaptive potential. We're also examining whether the shorter life span of selfing Clarkia is reflected in their physiological performance. Selfing taxa appear to achieve their earlier flowering through faster photosynthetic rates, but this comes with higher rates of evapotranspiration. Consequently, the evolution of selfing may assume both physiological as well as genetic risks, and therefore be restricted to certain habitats or environmental conditions.

Broader Impacts:

Related Links:
Mazer lab home page

1 - University of California, Santa Barbara, Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Life Sciences Building, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
2 - University of St. Thomas, Biology Department, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55105, USA

Keywords:
self-fertilization
mating system
Clarkia
selfing
phenology
life history evolution.

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: SY11
Location: Westminster Room/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
Time: 9:25 AM
Number: SY11003
Abstract ID:11