title: Sympatric diploid and hexaploid cytotypes of Senecio carniolicus (Asteraceae) in the Eastern Alps are separated along an altitudinal gradient.
abstract: We explored the fine-scale distribution of cytotypes of the mountain plant Senecio carniolicus along an altitudinal transect in the Eastern Alps. Cytotypes showed a statistically significant altitudinal segregation with diploids exclusively found in the upper part of the transect, whereas diploids and hexaploids co-occurred in the lower range. Analysis of accompanying plant assemblages revealed significant differences between cytotypes along the entire transect but not within the lower part only, where both cytotypes co-occur. This suggests the presence of ecological differentiation between cytotypes with the diploid possessing the broader ecological niche. No tetraploids were detected, indicating the presence of strong crossing barriers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biogeography and Botanical Garden, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, Vienna, 1030, Austria.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schönswetter
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lachmayer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lettner
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prehsler
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rechnitzer
authors.forename: Dieter S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sonnleitner
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hülber
authors.forename: Gerald M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Schneeweiss
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trávnícek
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suda
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D001317:Austria; D004171:Diploidy; D017753:Ecosystem; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D011123:Polyploidy; D012674:Senecio / Q000235:genetics*