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Genotypic selection shapes patterns of within‐species diversity in experimental plant populations
Author(s) -
Stuefer Josef F.,
Anten Niels P. R.,
De Kroon Hans,
Peters Janny L.,
SmitTiekstra Annemiek,
Vermeulen Peter J.,
During Heinjo J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.452
H-Index - 181
eISSN - 1365-2745
pISSN - 0022-0477
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01546.x
Subject(s) - biology , species evenness , dominance (genetics) , ecology , trait , genotype , selection (genetic algorithm) , abundance (ecology) , evolutionary biology , species diversity , genetics , artificial intelligence , gene , computer science , programming language
Summary 1. An increasing body of evidence suggests that within‐species diversity plays an important role for community and ecosystem functioning, alters complex trophic interactions and affects patterns of species diversity and coexistence. Nonetheless, we lack a good understanding of how genotypic trait variation translates into shifts in the relative abundance of genotypes within populations. 2. In this study, we show that genotypic selection strongly alters dominance relationships among genotypes over a period of 5 years. This resulted in remarkably consistent changes in the proportional representation of genotypes, and in a concomitant decline of diversity and evenness in our experimental populations. 3. High growth rates and the production of large offspring were positively associated with genotypic performance. Vegetative abundances of genotypes translated monotonically into flowering frequencies. 4. Synthesis . We conclude that genotypic selection markedly affects patterns of diversity and consistently alters genotypic abundance and mean trait distributions in plant populations over a relatively short period of time.