Evolution in situ: hybrid origin and establishment of willows (Salix L.) on alpine glacier forefields.

ABSTRACT: Little attention has been paid to the evolutionary consequences of the colonizing dynamics and succession processes following glacier retreat. Here we studied hybrid populations that have recently formed and established on glacier forefields of the European Alps owing to secondary contact of a lowland colonizer with a subalpine species. We analyzed the composition of two hybrid populations between Salix purpurea and Salix helvetica with nine microsatellite markers by using Bayesian methods (structure and NewHybrids), and simulations. We also studied niche differentiation between the hybrids and the parental species based on indicator values, soil pH and water retention potential measurements. Allelic structure of hybrids confirms the assumed parentage and in situ origin of the crosses on t

SUBMITTER: Gramlich S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4868266 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature