Environment dependence of the expression of mutational load and species' range limits.

ABSTRACT: Theoretical and empirical research on the causes of species' range limits suggest the contribution of several intrinsic and extrinsic factors, with potentially complex interactions among them. An intrinsic factor proposed by recent theory is mutational load increasing towards range edges because of genetic drift. Furthermore, environmental quality may decline towards range edges and enhance the expression of load. Here, we tested whether the expression of mutational load associated with range limits in the North American plant Arabidopsis lyrata was enhanced under stressful environmental conditions by comparing the performance of within- versus between-population crosses at common garden sites across the species' distribution and beyond. Heterosis, reflecting the expression of load, increa

SUBMITTER: Perrier A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9314787 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature