Why and how the mating system and dispersal mechanisms are correlated

Abstract

Rubio de Casas, R. 2014. Why and how the mating system and dispersal mechanisms are correlated. Ecosistemas 23(3): 31-35. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2014.23-3.05

The mating system and dispersal are intrinsically linked and their respective functions can only be apprehended considering both traits simultaneously. The evolutionary correlation is particularly tight in plants, where the two traits are linked anatomically and ontogenetically through the association between the female reproductive organs and the dispersing propagules (i.e., fruits and seeds). The avoidance of inbreeding and the maximization of local adaptation appear to be two of the selective pressures most relevant for both the mating system and dispersal appear. The equilibrium among evolutionary forces can be regarded as a gradient between two extreme syndromes: the combination of outcrossing and a propensity for dispersal and that of selfing and limited dispersal. However, most plants lie at various points along the gradient, exhibiting mixed strategies with differing rates of outcrossing and dispersal that can provide evolutionary and ecological bet-hedging. The positive correlation between outcrossing and dispersal diminishes the biological validity of verbal models such as Baker’s law. The historical acceptance of this model is probably attributable to the complexity of both mating and dispersal, which often hinders the collection of comprehensive data that could illustrate specific syndromes.