tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post3641625941300686649..comments2024-03-14T09:06:12.900-04:00Comments on Eco-Evo Evo-Eco: Genetic diversity effects on population performance in dandelionsBen Hallerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17875404974157070805noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post-4248135453292370442012-06-12T15:17:00.932-04:002012-06-12T15:17:00.932-04:00Our paper explains the seed germination trials in ...Our paper explains the seed germination trials in much greater detail, for your reference.<br /><br />In brief, we observed differences in average seed production (a measure of fitness) between genotypes in our different treatments. Looking at Fig 4 in our paper, for example, genotypes 2 and 9 have higher seed production than the other genotypes in the Fallow Field, and they produce even more seeds in mixture than in monoculture.<br /><br />We wondered if this meant they would also leave more descendants in the next generation. Even if a genotype produces more seeds than another, this does not necessarily translate into more offspring if the seeds are of lower quality (and e.g. fewer germinate or survive).<br /><br />Our germination trials (where we planted seeds of each genotype in both environments) revealed no differences in germination success among genotypes in the Mowed Lawn. Hence, more seeds should equal more descendants. In the Fallow Field, genotypes that produced more seeds also tended to have higher germination success - here, differences in seed number should be exaggerated in the number of descendants.<br /><br />This all means that a specific dandelion genotype, depending on its local environment (both who its neighbours are as well as the habitat type), will have a higher or lower fitness. Does this make sense? <br /><br />- Emily Drummondedrummondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02677799987026627050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post-64465352376309233542012-06-12T14:52:03.407-04:002012-06-12T14:52:03.407-04:00We only used apomictic, triploid dandelions in thi...We only used apomictic, triploid dandelions in this study, with the genotypes collected locally in Vancouver, British Columbia. There are however sexual, diploid dandelions in the native range in Eurasia. But for our purposes, manipulating the number of clonal genotypes, or "genotypic richness", was the only practical way to do this study. <br /><br />The use of clonal species is almost universal in ecological studies of genetic diversity of this sort, owing to logistics. It is an interesting question as to what would be found if we were able to use sexual species, for example creating diversity treatments based on genetic variances, or some other more direct measure of diversity. You can check out Hughes et al. 2008 (Ecol Lett 11:609-623) for a discussion of this issue. Clearly more research is needed in this area.<br /><br />I hope that answers your question; I wasn't quite sure if that's what you meant by "the role of apomixis".<br /><br />- Emily Drummondedrummondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02677799987026627050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post-76639709839760016192012-06-07T08:33:11.867-04:002012-06-07T08:33:11.867-04:00Did you investigate the role of apomixis in any of...Did you investigate the role of apomixis in any of the effects seen?Rhizowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13898344291012563139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456348657596914237.post-17226731444209978162012-06-06T20:35:53.503-04:002012-06-06T20:35:53.503-04:00IS that bit at the end about seed counts a lamarki...IS that bit at the end about seed counts a lamarkian sort of inheritance or just selective pressures acting quickly? I could see smaller seeds having some permanent impact on the plants that grow out of them but can't quite decide if that's what was being described.Shokuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12107696954466417617noreply@blogger.com