Abstract Detail

Geology and Plant Life: the growing legacy of Arthur Kruckeberg

OSTEVIK, KATE [1], ANDREW, ROSE [2], RIESEBERG, LOREN H [3].

The Ecology and Genetics of Adaptation and Speciation in Dune Sunflowers.

Sister sunflower taxa are often found in divergent habitats. For example, both H. neglectus and an ecotype of H. petiolaris inhabit active sand dunes while their closest relative is found on sand sheets. We explore ecological divergence in these two dune systems and asses their progress towards speciation. We find that larger seeds have evolved in both dune habitats but that the genetic basis of those differences are unlikely to be the same. We also find that assortative mating via conspecific pollen precedence arose surprisingly early between the H. petiolaris ecotypes while major chromosomal change is associated with the evolution of H. neglectus. Ultimately, understanding the similarities and differences between these systems will help answer the question - how predictable is speciation?

1 - Duke University, Department of Biology, Durham, NC, USA
2 - University of New England, School of Environmental and Rural Science, Armidale, NSW, Australia
3 - University Of British Columbia, Department Of Botany, 6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

Keywords:
Local adaptation
speciation
Sand Dunes
Sunflowers
Helianthus
Genetics
QTL Mapping
Comparative mapping
Chromosomal Rearrangments
Reciprocal Transplants.

Presentation Type: Symposium Presentation
Session: SY4, Geology and plant life: the growing legacy of Arthur Kruckeberg
Location: Fort Worth Ballroom 5/Omni Hotel
Date: Tuesday, June 27th, 2017
Time: 4:45 PM
Number: SY4009
Abstract ID:263
Candidate for Awards:None