The role of hybridization in the colonization of newly opened habitats
Final Report Abstract
In this project we studied how hybrid-specific traits could facilitate the colonization of novel habitats; namely the small flooded gravel pits which have been created and thus opened for zooplankton colonization only about 20 years ago. As a model hybridizing complex we studied Daphnia galeata, D. longispina and their interspecific hybrids. Based on analyses of microsatellite loci, we concluded that the contemporary structure of hybridizing Daphnia communities is influenced by colonization events from neighbouring habitats as well as by environmental factors. It seems that the constant high level of heterozygosity maintained by clonal reproduction in hybrids might lead to their successful establishment over time, when they are able to escape competition from both parental species. Using experimental approaches, we observed that Daphnia hybrids have superiority in cold-adapted traits, what might further lead to an advantage of overwintering as parthenogenetic lineages and consequently explain the establishment of successful hybrids in natural communities of the D. longispina complex. Finally, using a modelling approach, we showed that hybrids can dominate the Daphnia communities through an increased success in overwintering as asexual females.
Publications
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(2014). Hybridizing Daphnia communities from ten neighbouring lakes: spatio-temporal dynamics, local processes, gene flow and invasiveness. BMC Evol Biol 14:80
Yin, M., S. Giessler, J. Griebel, and J. Wolinska
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(2015). Diversity of the Daphnia longispina species complex in Chinese lakes: a DNA taxonomy approach. J Plankton Res 37:56-65
Ma, X., A. Petrusek, J. Wolinska, S. Giessler, Y. Zhong, W. Hu, and M. Yin
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(2015). Extreme environments facilitate hybrid superiority – the story of a successful Daphnia galeata × longispina hybrid clone. PLoS ONE 10(10)
Griebel, J., S. Giessler, M. Poxleitner, A. Navas Faria, M. Yin, and J. Wolinska
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(2015). Genetic structure of Daphnia galeata populations in Eastern China. PLoS ONE 10(3)
Wei, W, S. Giessler, J. Wolinska, X. Ma, Z. Yang, W. Hu, and M. Yin
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(2016). Parental and hybrid Daphnia from the D. longispina complex: long-term dynamics in genetic structure and significance of overwintering modes. J Evol Biol.
Griebel, J, S. Giessler, M. Yin, and J. Wolinska
