Rapid evolution of seed dispersal in an urban environment in the weed Crepis sancta

Abstract

Dispersal is a ubiquitous trait in living organisms. Evolutionary theory postulates that the loss or death of propagules during dispersal episodes (cost of dispersal) should select against dispersal. The cost of dispersal is expected to be a strong selective force in fragmented habitats. We analyzed patchy populations of the weed Crepis sancta occupying small patches on sidewalks, around trees planted within the city of Montpellier (South of France), to investigate the recent evolutionary consequences of the cost of dispersal. C. sancta produces both dispersing and nondispersing seeds. First, we showed that, in urban patches, dispersing seeds have a 55% lower chance of settling in their patch compared with nondispersing seeds and, thus, fall on a concrete matrix unsuitable for germination. Second, we showed that the proportion of nondispersing seeds in urban patches measured in a common environment is significantly higher than in surrounding, unfragmented populations. Third, by using a quantitative genetic model, we estimated that the pattern is consistent with short-term evolution that occurs over approximately 5-12 generations of selection, which is generated by a high cost of dispersal in urban populations. This study shows that a high cost of dispersal after recent fragmentation causes rapid evolution toward lower dispersal.

Fig. 1.

Mean proportion estimates (and standard error) of nondispersing seed (R-ratio) in unfragmented and fragmented “patchy” populations measured in a common environment in a greenhouse(see Materials and Methods).

Fig. 2.

Increase of the ratio of nondispersing seeds (R-ratio) in urban patches as a function of the probability of staying within the patch, P_stay (see text). Results are obtained for 12 generations of selection (thin line), 5 generation of selection (thick line), and 2 generations of selection (dotted line).