Mating system and historical climate conditions affect population mean seed mass: Evidence for adaptation and a new component of the selfing syndrome in Clarkia

TitleMating system and historical climate conditions affect population mean seed mass: Evidence for adaptation and a new component of the selfing syndrome in Clarkia
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsMazer, Susan J., Isaac M. Park, Matthew Kimura, Emma M. Maul, Aaron M. Yim, and Kristen Peach
JournalJournal of Ecology
VolumeDOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.13338
Abstract

1. The evolution of seed size may be influenced by intrinsic attributes of populations,

such as mating system and extrinsic factors, such as climate. Several hypotheses

propose that the evolution of self-fertilization from an outcrossing progenitor will

be accompanied by a reduction in seed size, but this prediction has not been rigorously

tested. Many studies report that the mean seed size of populations or taxa

is associated with long-term climate conditions. Here, we examined the effects on

seed size of both mating system and climate within a single genus.

2. In the California wildflower genus, Clarkia (Onagraceae), we sampled seeds from

58 populations representing three pairs of sister taxa; each pair included a predominantly

outcrossing and a facultatively selfing taxon. We then examined the

independent effects on population mean seed size of mating system, elevation,

long-term (30-year) climate conditions, and climate anomalies (the deviation between

conditions in the year of collection and the long-term mean), focusing on

maximum monthly temperature (Tmax), cumulative moisture deficit and cumulative

precipitation (PPT) during Clarkia's growing season (fall, winter and spring).

3. In each taxon pair, the selfing taxon had smaller seeds than the outcrosser. Local,

long-term (1921–1980 and 1981–2000) mean Tmax, PPT and elevation were independently

and negatively associated with seed size. Long-term means for Tmax and

PPT explain geographical variation in seed size better than climate anomalies in

the year of collection.

4. Synthesis. We corroborated two key hypotheses concerning the drivers of geographical

variation in mean seed size. Small seeds in Clarkia co-evolve with selfing

(although the mechanism remains elusive) and in response to chronically warm

and wet conditions. The effect of long-term mean precipitation on seed size differs

qualitatively from the effect of precipitation anomalies; relatively large seeds

are produced in populations experiencing wetter-than-normal years. Ongoing climate

change may therefore generate conflicting selection on seed size in Clarkia:

intensifying drought is likely to lead to an evolutionary increase in seed size due

to its effects on seedling survivorship, while climate-driven declines in pollinators 

or selection favouring more rapid reproduction may promote the evolution of self-pollination,

facilitating the evolution of smaller seeds.