Distribution, phenology and demography of sympatric sexual and asexual dandelions (Taraxacum officinale s.l.): geographic parthenogenesis on a small scale

M.H. Verduijn, P.J. van Dijk, J.M.M. Van Damme

    Onderzoeksoutput: Bijdrage aan wetenschappelijk tijdschrift/periodieke uitgaveArtikelWetenschappelijkpeer review

    54 Citaten (Scopus)
    1 Downloads (Pure)

    Samenvatting

    In many plant and animal species, sexual and asexual forms have different geographical distributions ('geographic parthenogenesis'). The common dandelion Taraxacum officinale s.l. provides a particularly clear example of differing distributions: diploid sexuals are restricted to southern and central Europe, while triploid asexuals occur across Europe. To get a better understanding of the factors underlying this pattern, we studied the distribution and demography of sexuals and asexuals in a mixed population that was located at the northern distribution limit of the sexuals. In this population three adjacent, contrasting microhabitats were found: a foreland and south and north slopes of a river dike. Comparative analyses of the distribution, phenology and demography indicated that sexuals had a stronger preference for the south slope than did asexuals. We therefore propose that the large-scale geographic parthenogenesis in T. officinale is shaped by an environmental gradient which acts upon the sexuals. [KEYWORDS: agamospermy; apomixis; flowering; microhabitat; polyploidy; triploidy]
    Originele taal-2Engels
    Pagina's (van-tot)205-218
    TijdschriftBiological Journal of the Linnean Society
    Volume82
    Nummer van het tijdschrift2
    DOI's
    StatusGepubliceerd - 2004

    Vingerafdruk

    Duik in de onderzoeksthema's van 'Distribution, phenology and demography of sympatric sexual and asexual dandelions (Taraxacum officinale s.l.): geographic parthenogenesis on a small scale'. Samen vormen ze een unieke vingerafdruk.

    Citeer dit