Biology & Medicine Case Reports

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Biology & Medicine Case Reports 44 7897 074717

Evolutionary Biology Journal

 

It is commonly observed that plant species’ range margins are enriched for increased selfing rates and, in otherwise self‐incompatible species, for self‐compatibility (SC). This has often been attributed to a response to selection under mate and/or pollinator limitation. However, range expansion also can cause reduced inbreeding depression, and this might facilitate the evolution of selfing within the absence of mate or pollinator limitation. Here, we explore this concept using spatially explicit individual‐based simulations of a variety expansion, during which inbreeding depression, variation in self‐incompatibility (SI), and mate availability evolve. Under a good range of conditions, the simulated range expansion caused the evolution of selfing after the loss of SI in range‐marginal populations. Under conditions of high recombination between the self‐incompatibility locus (S‐locus) and viability loci, SC remained marginal within the expanded metapopulation and will not invade the range core, which remained self‐incompatible. In contrast, under low recombination and migration rates, SC was frequently ready to displace SI within the range core by maintaining its association with a genomic background with purged genetic load. We conclude that the evolution of inbreeding depression during a variety expansion promotes the evolution of SC at range margins, especially under high rates of recombination.

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