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Evolutionary drivers and consequences of parallel evolution in plants
Konečná, Veronika ; Kolář, Filip (advisor) ; Papadopulos, Alexander (referee) ; Lenhard, Michael (referee)
Parallel adaptation to similar environmental pressures provides ideal model systems to study the repeatability of evolution in nature. Such replicated natural experiments can also provide important insights into the genomic basis of adaptations. However, well-documented examples are rare, particularly in plants. Here, I brought new evidence of parallel evolution from three plant systems facing one of the most challenging selective environments - alpine stands and toxic serpentine soils. Further, I leveraged the cases of naturally replicated parallel adaptation in Arabidopsis arenosa to study the extent of phenotypic and genomic parallelism and to address the evolutionary sources of the parallel genetic underpinnings. By combining population genetic and experimental approaches I documented the complex interplay of adaptive, historical, and ecological processes in parallel evolution. The island-like distribution of high-elevation and serpentine habitats promoted their independent colonizations by distinct genetic lineages of A. arenosa and Primula elatior separately in each geographic region. Further, I showed how challenging environments structure genetic diversity within a species. For instance, I found higher genetic differentiation among (sub)alpine populations than among foothill populations....
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