Comparative Population Dynamics of Two Closely Related Species Differing in Ploidy Level

Abstract

BackgroundMany studies compare the population dynamics of single species within multiple habitat types, while much less is known about the differences in population dynamics in closely related species in the same habitat. Additionally, comparisons of the effect of habitat types and species are largely missing.Methodology and Principal FindingsWe estimated the importance of the habitat type and species for population dynamics of plants. Specifically, we compared the dynamics of two closely related species, the allotetraploid species Anthericum liliago and the diploid species Anthericum ramosum, occurring in the same habitat type. We also compared the dynamics of A. ramosum in two contrasting habitats. We examined three populations per species and habitat type. The results showed that single life history traits as well as the mean population dynamics of A. liliago and A. ramosum from the same habitat type were more similar than the population dynamics of A. ramosum from the two contrasting habitats.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that when transferring knowledge regarding population dynamics between populations, we need to take habitat conditions into account, as these conditions appear to be more important than the species involved (ploidy level). However, the two species differ significantly in their overall population growth rates, indicating that the ploidy level has an effect on species performance. In contrast to what has been suggested by previous studies, we observed a higher population growth rate in the diploid species. This is in agreement with the wider range of habitats occupied by the diploid species.

Higher seed size and germination rate may favour autotetraploids ofVicia craccaL. (Fabaceae)

“…High inter‐population differences in germination rates may have been further caused by some populations being favoured over others by local climate and soil in the common garden. In fact, Černá & Münzbergová () demonstrated that habitat conditions may be more important determinants of plant performance than plant cytotype. A diminished germination rate in the D1 and T5 populations might indeed have been caused by a less fertile soil used in the experiment (pseudogley and cambisol occur in the Ostrava basin and in Kozlovice, respectively; Weissmannová et al ., ) compared with the brown soil occurring in the White Carpathians (http://www.bilekarpaty.cz/strazci/img/mapy/pedologie.pdf), where these two populations originate.…”

Trait responses of invasive aquatic macrophyte congeners: colonizing diploid outperforms polyploid

“…However, results of other studies suggest that this ability is not universal among polyploid invaders ( Münzbergová 2007 a , b ; Černá and Münzbergová 2013 ; Godsoe et al . 2013 ), and in a few instances, diploids tolerated a wider range of ecological conditions than closely related polyploids ( Buggs and Pannell 2007 ; Černá and Münzbergová 2013 ). Studies comparing the ecological responses of diploid and polyploid congeners to contrasting environments are rare ( Soltis et al .…”

Intraspecific variation in surface water uptake in a perennial desert shrub

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