Biology subjects

Vaca-Benito, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Vaca-Benito, C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Plant-animal below-ground interaction modifies plant phenotype and its above-ground interaction: a review and a new case study

Ecological interactions play a role in promoting and maintaining biodiversity. These interactions form complex networks of interconnected species. Therefore, changes resulting from an interaction in one of the partners can have indirect consequences on subsequent interactions with other species. Since the mutualism-antagonism continuum is a gradient, a shift in the strength and sign of an interaction is possible, highlighting the dynamic nature of interaction networks. In flowering plants, a wide variety of below- and above-ground interactions are established with a single host plant. Changes in the host, derived from such interactions, can modulate the outcome of the remaining connections in both strength and sign, and the overall configuration of the network. Thus, a species can mediate community-wide consequences through its interaction with the host by altering the plant phenotype. We present a case study where a root infection has unexpected consequences on the pollination host, driving phenotypic changes. This study provides new data on the dynamism of species interactions and the importance of obtaining a global view of interaction networks. Disentangling the direct and indirect effects of interactions and their impact on the rest of the interactions in wild communities is essential for a good understanding of the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms that promote and maintain biodiversity.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

Can changes in ploidy drive the evolution to allogamy in a selfing species complex?

O_LIThe evolution of mating systems in plants is central for understanding the rise of their diversity on Earth. The transition towards self-fertilization is a well-known example of convergent evolution although the opposite direction is expected to be forbidden according to evolutionary theories. We suggest that the ploidy level could promote changes in the reproductive strategies through its effect on traits related to pollination. C_LIO_LIWe performed controlled crosses on several populations from the polyploid Erysimum incanum species complex, described as predominantly selfing, to evaluate the inbreeding depression. Additionally, we measured mating traits such as floral size, herkogamy, anther exertion, the relative investment in male and female components (P:O ratio) and genetic diversity. C_LIO_LIWe described three ploidy levels in the complex - hexaploids were unknown until now. We found significant differences in the self-pollination success among ploidies and even among populations within the same ploidy. Inbreeding depression was present in higher ploidies, accompanied by bigger flowers with higher anther exposure, increased herkogamy and P:O and genetic diversity. C_LIO_LIThese findings suggest that ploidy could be promoting alternative reproductive strategies to selfing, driving mating system diversification within a selfing species, which has not been previously described in the wild. C_LI

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Ploidy effects on the relationship between floral phenotype, reproductive investment and fitness exhibited by an autogamous species complex

PremiseThe relationships between reproductive investment, phenotype and fitness have been broadly studied in cross-pollinated plants in contrast to selfing species, which are considered less interesting in this area because they are supposed to be a dead-end in any evolutionary pathway. Still, selfing plants are unique systems to study these questions since the position of reproductive structures and traits related to flower size play an important role in female and male pollination success. MethodErysimum incanum s.l. is a selfing species complex exhibiting three levels of ploidy: diploids, tetraploids and hexaploids. This species complex shows traits typically associated with the selfing syndrome. Here, we used 1609 plants belonging to these three ploidies to characterize floral phenotype and spatial configuration of reproductive structures, reproductive investment (pollen and ovules production) and plant fitness. Then, we explored the relationship between all these variables using structural equation modelling across ploidy levels. Key ResultsAn increase in ploidy level leads to bigger flowers with more exerted stamens and a greater amount of pollen and ovules. In addition, hexaploid plants exhibit higher absolute values for herkogamy which is positively correlated with fitness. Phenotypic traits and pollen production are indirectly selected by the relationship among ovules and fitness, maintained across ploidies. ConclusionsChanges in floral phenotypes, reproductive investment and fitness with the ploidy level suggests that genome duplication can be a driver for the reproductive strategy transitions by modifying the investment in pollen and ovules and linking them with plant phenotype and fitness.

evolutionary biology↗