Hybridization as a facilitator of species range expansion

Explaining the evolution of species geographical ranges is fundamental to understanding how biodiversity is distributed and maintained. The solution to this classic problem in ecology and evolution remains elusive: we still do not fully know how species geographical ranges evolve and what factors fu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 2016-09, Vol.283 (1839), p.20161329
Main Authors: Pfennig, Karin S., Kelly, Audrey L., Pierce, Amanda A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Admixture
Animal Distribution
Animals
Biological Evolution
Hybridization
Hybridization, Genetic
Introgression
Invasive Species
Plant Dispersal
Range Expansion
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Summary:Explaining the evolution of species geographical ranges is fundamental to understanding how biodiversity is distributed and maintained. The solution to this classic problem in ecology and evolution remains elusive: we still do not fully know how species geographical ranges evolve and what factors fuel range expansions. Resolving this problem is now more crucial than ever with increasing biodiversity loss, global change and movement of species by humans. Here, we describe and evaluate the hypothesis that hybridization between species can contribute to species range expansion. We discuss how such a process can occur and the empirical data that are needed to test this hypothesis. We also examine how species can expand into new environments via hybridization with a resident species, and yet remain distinct species. Generally, hybridization may play an underappreciated role in influencing the evolution of species ranges. Whether—and to what extent—hybridization has such an effect requires further study across more diverse taxa.
ISSN:0962-8452
1471-2954
DOI:10.1098/rspb.2016.1329