Abstract Detail

Population Genetics

Brzyski, Jessica [1], Stieha, Christopher [2], McLetchie, Nicholas [3].

Distribution of genotypes and the sexes within and between spatially structured populations of a clonal organism.

In spatially structured populations (SSP), within-population processes and between-population dispersal drive population dynamics. In many species capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction, these processes will be influenced by clonal growth, and sexual and asexual propagule dispersal, but the overall effect on the within- and between-population distribution of genotypes and the sexes are not well studied. Using genetic techniques, this study tests for variation in clumping of genotypes and the sexes to elucidate the effects of reproduction mode (sexual and asexual) and sex (male/female) on SSP dynamics. Because both within and among population dynamics can be largely affected by the size of the habitat patch, we also included patch size in our analyses. We quantified the spatial distribution of the sexes and genotypes within and between five pairs of small-large populations within SSP of Marchantia inflexa, a dioecious plant with both modes of reproduction. Within populations, males were more likely to be near individuals of the same sex relative to females. For both sexes, this likelihood was greater on small patches than on large patches. However, on large patches, male genotypes were almost three times more likely to be near clonemates than female genotypes were. Although we found that asexual reproduction dominates in within population processes, we observed both sexual and asexual dispersal across populations. Our study shows that genotypes and the sexes can be structured differently both within and among populations and that studying only the sexes and not their genotypes (or vice versa) can limit our understanding of the extent that reproductive modes influence the population structure both within and between populations.

1 - Seton Hill University, Biology, 1 Seton Hill Drive, Greensburg, PA, 15601, USA
2 - Case Western Reserve University, Biology, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
3 - University of Kentucky, Biology, 101 T.H. Morgan Building, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA

Keywords:
Bryophyte
population dynamics
sex ratio
asexual.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 39, Population Genetics
Location: 201/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016
Time: 11:30 AM
Number: 39014
Abstract ID:608
Candidate for Awards:None