Ecological niche differentiation mediates near complete premating reproductive isolation within the Gladiolus carneus (Iridaceae) species complex.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Ecological niche differentiation is well associated with intraspecific divergence of functional traits, which may lead to the evolution of premating reproductive isolation. However, the link between the ecological niches, trait divergence and premating isolation remains poorly understood. This is particularly pertinent in hyperdiverse areas, such as the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, where fine-scale ecological heterogeneity has been hypothesized as a major driver of speciation. Using the polymorphic geophyte Gladiolus carneus, endemic to the Cape Floristic Region, we test whether ecological niche differentiation mediates premating reproductive isolation.

Methods

We first tested whether putative ecotypes of G. carneus were distinct based on their

SUBMITTER: Khoury KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12718009 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature