Genetic variation in flowering phenology and avoidance of seed predation in native populations of Ulex europaeus.
J Evol Biol
; 23(2): 362-71, 2010 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20021551
ABSTRACT
The genetic variation in flowering phenology may be an important component of a species' capacity to colonize new environments. In native populations of the invasive species Ulex europaeus, flowering phenology has been shown to be bimodal and related to seed predation. The aim of the present study was to determine if this bimodality has a genetic basis, and to investigate whether the polymorphism in flowering phenology is genetically linked to seed predation, pod production and growth patterns. We set up an experiment raising maternal families in a common garden. Based on mixed analyses of variance and correlations among maternal family means, we found genetic differences between the two main flowering types and confirmed that they reduced seed predation in two different ways escape in time or predator satiation. We suggest that this polymorphism in strategy may facilitate maintain high genetic diversity for flowering phenology and related life-history traits in native populations of this species, hence providing high evolutionary potential for these traits in invaded areas.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Comportamento Predatório
/
Ulex
/
Flores
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Evolução Biológica
/
Frutas
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article