loading page

Extensive sympatry and frequent hybridization of ecologically divergent aquatic plants on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
  • +6
  • Zhigang Wu,
  • Zhong Wang,
  • Dong Xie,
  • Juan Zhang,
  • Pengsen Cai,
  • Xing Li,
  • Xinwei Xu,
  • Tao Li,
  • Jindong Zhao
Zhigang Wu
Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Zhong Wang
Wuhan University
Author Profile
Dong Xie
Nanjing Forestry University
Author Profile
Juan Zhang
Wuhan University
Author Profile
Pengsen Cai
Wuhan University
Author Profile
Xing Li
Wuhan University
Author Profile
Xinwei Xu
Wuhan University
Author Profile
Tao Li
Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences
Author Profile
Jindong Zhao
Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences
Author Profile

Abstract

Hybridization has fascinated biologists in recent centuries for its evolutionary importance, especially in plants. Hybrid zones are commonly located in regions across environmental gradients due to more opportunities to contact and ecological heterogeneity. For aquatic taxa, intrazonal character makes broad overlapping regions in intermediate environments between related species. However, we have limited information on the hybridization pattern of aquatic taxa across an altitudinal gradient. In this study, we aimed to test the hypotheses that niche overlap and hybridization might be extensive in related aquatic plants in alpines. We evaluated the niche overlap in three related species pairs on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and assessed the spatial pattern of hybrid populations. Obvious niche overlap and common hybridization were revealed in all three pairs of related aquatic plants. The plateau edge and river basins were broad areas for the sympatry of divergent taxa, where a large proportion of hybrid populations occurred. Hybrids are also discretely distributed in diverse habitats on the plateau. Differences in the extent of niche overlap, genetic incompatibility and phylogeographic history might lead to inconsistences in hybridization patterns among the three species pairs. Our results suggested that plateau areas are a hotspot for ecologically divergent aquatic species to contact and mate and implied that hybridization may be important for the freshwater biodiversity of highlands.
07 Jul 2020Submitted to Molecular Ecology
08 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
08 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
15 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 May 2022Published in Frontiers in Plant Science volume 13. 10.3389/fpls.2022.851151