Differential role of a persistent seed bank for genetic variation in early vs. late successional stages.

ABSTRACT: Persistent seed banks are predicted to have an important impact on population genetic processes by increasing effective population size and storing past genetic diversity. Accordingly, persistent seed banks may buffer genetic effects of disturbance, fragmentation and/or selection. However, empirical studies surveying the relationship between aboveground and seed bank genetics under changing environments are scarce. Here, we compared genetic variation of aboveground and seed bank cohorts in 15 populations of the partially cleistogamous Viola elatior in two contrasting early and late successional habitats characterized by strong differences in light-availability and declining population size. Using AFLP markers, we found significantly higher aboveground than seed bank genetic diversity in ea

SUBMITTER: Schulz B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6306206 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature