A5030150615- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Flowering Plant Growth and Cultivation
- Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Biological Control of Invasive Species
- Growth and nutrition in plants
- Leaf Properties and Growth Measurement
- Silkworms and Sericulture Research
Queen's University
2015-2024
University of Toronto
1993-2013
Carleton University
1987
▪ Abstract Mixed mating, in which hermaphrodite plant species reproduce by both self- and cross-fertilization, presents a challenging problem for evolutionary biologists. Theory suggests that inbreeding depression, the main selective factor opposing evolution of selfing, can be purged with self-fertilization, process is expected to yield pure strategies either outcrossing or selfing. Here we present updated evidence suggesting mixed mating systems are frequent seed plants. We outline floral...
Recent biological invasions provide opportunities to investigate microevolution during contemporary timescales. The tempo and scope of local adaptation will be determined by the intensity natural selection amounts kinds genetic variation within populations. In flowering plants, diversity is strongly affected interactions between reproductive systems stochastic forces associated with immigration history range expansion. Here, we explore significance system for evolution plant invasion. We...
Hermaphroditic individuals can produce both selfed and outcrossed progeny, termed mixed mating. General theory predicts that mixed-mating populations should evolve quickly toward high rates of selfing, driven by rapid purging genetic load loss inbreeding depression (ID), but the substantial number species observed in nature calls this prediction into question. Lower average ID reported for selfing than outcrossing is consistent with suggests taxa evolutionary transition will have...
The fitness consequences of self-fertilization are largely determined by how self-pollination occurs. Within-flower (autogamy) may be advantageous, since it can provide reproductive assurance without much seed or pollen discounting. In contrast, between-flower (geitonogamy) provides no and cause severe I used floral emasculations with marker-gene analysis to estimate the components in a tristylous, self-compatible, clonal, mass-flowering plant, Decodon verticillatus. This species produces...
Reduced allocation to structures for pollinator attraction is predicted in selfing species. We explored the association between outcrossing and floral display a broad sample of angiosperms. used demonstrated relationship test bias against species rate distribution, shape which has relevance stability mixed mating. Relationships rate, flower size, number display, measured as product size number, were examined using phylogenetically independent contrasts. The distribution displays among...
Biological invasions may expose populations to strong selection for local adaptation along geographical gradients in climate. However, evolution during contemporary timescales can be constrained by low standing genetic variation and correlations among life-history traits. We examined limits associated with northern migration of the invasive wetland plant purple loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria ) using a model incorporating trade-off between flowering time size at reproduction, common garden...
Abstract Latitudinal gradients in biotic interactions have been suggested as causes of global patterns biodiversity and phenotypic variation. Plant biologists long speculated that outcrossing mating systems are more common at low than high latitudes owing to a greater predictability plant–pollinator the tropics; however, these ideas not previously tested. Here, we present first biogeographic analysis plant based on 624 published studies from 492 taxa. We found weak decline rate towards...
Understanding the causes and limits of population divergence in phenotypic traits is a fundamental aim evolutionary biology, with potential to yield predictions adaptation environmental change. Reciprocal transplant experiments evaluation optimality models suggest that local common but not universal, some studies trait highly constrained by genetic variances covariances complex phenotypes. We analyze large database plants evaluate whether scales positively standing variation within...
Inbreeding depression is a major selective force favoring outcrossing in flowering plants. Some self-fertilization, however, should weaken the harmful effects of inbreeding by exposing genetic load to selection. This study examines maintenance partially self-fertilizing populations long-lived, herbaceous wetland plant, Decodon verticillatus (L.) Ell. (Lythraceae). Estimates from ten indicate that 30% offspring are produced through self-fertilization. Population-genetic estimates (δ = 1 -...
Most perennial plants combine sexual reproduction with some form of clonal propagation. These mixed strategies may produce considerable variation among populations in levels diversity response to ecological factors limiting one or other reproductive mode. Surveys style morph frequencies 163 the eastern North American, clonal, tristylous aquatic, Decodon verticillatus (L.) Ell. (Lythraceae) suggested a wide range populations. Populations consisting single were most common at northern margin...
1. The effect of variation in floral morphology and display on the level outcrossing was investigated a Rocky Mountain population self‐compatible, protandrous, perennial herb, Aquilegia caerulea . ANOVA revealed substantial among 36 plants traits including herkogamy (CV = 35%), protandry (23%), pollen production (12%), flower size (8%), daily number flowers male phase (58%) autofertility, seed absence pollinators (192%). 2. Whether this affected rates individual assessed using both...
Biogeographic models predict that geographically peripheral populations should be smaller, more sparsely distributed, and have a lower per-capita reproductive rate than near the center of species' range. Plants in may, therefore, receive less pollinator visitation outcross pollination, which may select for self-fertilization to provide assurance. We tested these predictions by comparing population size, plant density, seed production, floral traits, mating system parameters between 10...
Genome sizes vary widely among species, but comprehensive explanations for the emergence of this variation have not been validated. Lynch and Conery (2003) hypothesized that genome expansion is maladaptive, lineages with small effective population size (Ne) evolve larger genomes than those large Ne as a consequence lowered efficacy natural selection in populations. In addition, mating systems likely affect evolution via effects on both spread transposable elements (TEs). We present...
Despite the theoretical importance of stochastic processes in evolution there have been few empirical studies interaction between genetic drift and selection on maintenance polymorphisms plant populations. We used computer models to investigate frequency-dependent affecting style morph frequencies populations tristylous species. Drift produces a distinct pattern frequency variation involving: 1) loss S and, lesser extent, M morph; 2) no consistent bias within populations; 3) restricted...
Abstract That trade-offs result from the allocation of limited resources is a central concept life history evolution. We quantified between sexual and clonal reproduction in aquatic plant, Butomus umbellatus, by experimentally manipulating investment two distinct nutrient environments. Increasing seed production caused significant but nonlinear trade-off. Pollinating half all flowers strongly reduced bulbil production, pollinating remaining did not cause any further Trade-offs were stronger...
The ability to produce seeds when pollinators or potential mates are scarce is thought be one of the main advantages self-fertilization in flowering plants. However, whether autonomous selfing increases seed set natural populations has seldom been tested, and even fewer studies have evaluated advantage across a gradient pollen availability. This study examines fertility consequences Aquilegia canadensis (Ranunculaceae), short-lived, spring-flowering perennial typically found small, patchy on...