Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants

Abstract

The term "Geographical parthenogenesis" describes the phenomenon that asexual organisms usually occupy larger and more northern distribution areas than their sexual relatives, and tend to colonize previously glaciated areas. Several case studies on alpine and arctic plants confirm the geographical pattern, but the causal factors behind the phenomenon are still unclear. Research of the last decade in several plant families has shed light on the question and evaluated some of the classical evolutionary theories. Results confirmed, in general, that the advantages of uniparental reproduction enable apomictic plants to re-colonize faster in larger and more northern distribution areas. Associated factors like polyploidy seem to contribute mainly to the spatial separation of sexual and asexual cytotypes. Ecological studies suggest a better tolerance of apomicts to colder climates and temperate extremes, whereby epigenetic flexibility and phenotypic plasticity play an important role in occupying ecological niches under harsh conditions. Genotypic diversity appears to be of lesser importance for the distributional success of asexual plants. Classical evolutionary theories like a reduced pressure of biotic interactions in colder climates and hence an advantage to asexuals (Red Queen hypothesis) did not gain support from studies on plants. However, it is also still enigmatic why sexual outcrossing remains the predominant mode of reproduction also in alpine floras. Constraints for the origin of apomixis might play a role. Interestingly, some studies suggest an association of sexuality with abiotic stresses. Light stress in high elevations might explain why most alpine plants retain sexual reproduction despite other environmental factors that would favor apomixis. Directions for future research will be given.

Keywords: DNA methylation; apomixis; biogeography; ecology; hybridization; polyploidy; stress response.

Figure 1

Percentages of taxa (no. of respective total cases in parentheses, based on presence/absence matrix of occurrences in Supplementary Table S1) with (at least partial) arctic/alpine distribution, geographical separation of apomicts and sexuals, autonomous apomixis, ploidy difference between sexuals and apomicts, larger areas of apomicts than sexuals, apomicts with a more polar (northern/southern) distribution than sexuals, and exclusive occurrence of apomicts in previously glaciated areas (see references in Table 1).