Plant speciation across environmental gradients and the occurrence and nature of hybrid zones
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07/2017Author
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Abstract
Environmental gradients are very common and many plant species respond to them through adaptive genetic change. This can be a first step along a continuum of change that leads ultimately to the origin of fully reproductively isolated forms, i.e., ‘biological species’. Before complete reproductive isolation is achieved, hybrid zones may form between divergent lineages either through primary intergradation or secondary contact. Here, I review the literature on plant hybrid zones between native species and highlight: mode of origin (primaryintergradation versus secondary contact); distribution among plant families, genera and life form; type and genotypic composition related to strength and type of reproductive isolation between parental lineages; nature of prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive barriers; level and direction of gene flow; and the stability of hybrid zones in the face of climate change. The total number of plant hybrid zones detected in a literature search was surprisingly small (137). This was the case even for areas of the world with a long history of research into plant evolution, ecology and systematics. Reasons for this are discussed, including the possibility that plant hybrid zones are naturally rare inthe wild. Only for a few hybrid zones have attempts been made to distinguish between formation by primary intergradation or secondary contact, and it is assumed that most hybrid zones originate through secondary contact.From the limited information available, it appears that plant hybrid zones may frequently move in response to climate change, but long-term studies are required to confirm this.
Citation
Abbott , R J 2017 , ' Plant speciation across environmental gradients and the occurrence and nature of hybrid zones ' , Journal of Systematics and Evolution , vol. 55 , no. 4 , pp. 238-258 . https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12267
Publication
Journal of Systematics and Evolution
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1674-4918Type
Journal item
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© 2017, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at onlinelibrary.wiley.com / https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12267
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Funding: Natural Environment Research Council (Grant: NE/D014166/1)Collections
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