The influence of genetic factors and population dynamics on the mating system of the hermaphroditic freshwater snailBiomphalaria pfeifferi.

Autor: Charbonnel, Nathalie, Rasatavonjizay, Rondro, Sellin, Elizabeth, Brémond, Philippe, Jarne, Philippe
Předmět:
Zdroj: Oikos; Feb2005, Vol. 108 Issue 2, p283-296, 14p
Abstrakt: Although self-fertilization and its evolutionary consequences have been widely studied, the relative influence of genetic and environmental factors on the determination of mixed-mating systems remains poorly known. In 1999 and 2000, we surveyed the mating system, the population dynamics and some life-history traits of four populations of the freshwater snailBiomphalaria pfeifferi, the major intermediate host ofSchistosoma mansoniin Africa, in two areas of Madagascar (Itasy and Antananarivo). We confirmed thatB. pfeifferiis a predominant selfer, with selfing rates ranging between 80 and 100%. Temporal and geographical variation of the selfing rate was observed at both local and large spatial scale. Historical processes of colonization and invasion ofB. pfeifferiin Madagascar could explain the geographical variation of the mating system observed at regional scale. Pure selfing has probably evolved in the two populations of Antananarivo area as a reproductive assurance strategy in a metapopulation where extinction is frequent and migration rare. The reproductive assurance hypothesis does not explain the spatio-temporal mating system variations observed in Itasy area. However genetic factors including inbreeding depression-the expression of which can be environmentally mediated-and metapopulation dynamics could influence the mating system in both populations sampled in Itasy and lead to different levels of evolutionary stable intermediate selfing rate in this region. Our results therefore highlight the influence of environmental heterogeneity and stochasticity on mating system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index