title: Ecological differentiation of diploid and polyploid cytotypes of Senecio carniolicus sensu lato (Asteraceae) is stronger in areas of sympatry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ecological differentiation is recognized as an important factor for polyploid speciation, but little is known regarding whether the ecological niches of cytotypes differ between areas of sympatry and areas where single cytotypes occur (i.e. niche displacement).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ecological niches of four groups of Senecio carniolicus sensu lato (s.l.) (western and eastern diploid lineages, tetraploids and hexaploids) were characterized via Landolt indicator values of the accompanying vascular plant species and tested using multivariate and univariate statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The four groups of S. carniolicus s.l. were ecologically differentiated mainly with respect to temperature, light and soil (humus content, nutrients, moisture variability). Niche breadths did not differ significantly. In areas of sympatry hexaploids shifted towards sites with higher temperature, less light and higher soil humus content as compared with homoploid sites, whereas diploids and tetraploids shifted in the opposite direction. In heteroploid sites of tetraploids and the western diploid lineage the latter shifted towards sites with lower humus content but higher aeration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Niche displacement can facilitate the formation of stable contact zones upon secondary contact of polyploids and their lower-ploid ancestors and/or lead to convergence of the cytotypes' niches after they have attained non-overlapping ranges. Niche displacement is essential for understanding ecological consequences of polyploidy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sonnleitner
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, A-1030 Vienna, Austria, Vienna Institute for Nature Conservation & Analyses, Giessergasse 6/7, A-1090 Vienna, Austria, karl.huelber@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hülber
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestrasse 15, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flatscher
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Escobar García
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, A-1030 Vienna, Austria, GLORIA co-ordination, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Center for Global Change and Sustainability & Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Silbergasse 30/3, A-1190 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, Prague, CZ-128 01, Czech Republic and Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice 1, CZ-252 43, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestrasse 15, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schönswetter
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerald M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Schneeweiss
mesh_terms: D004171:Diploidy; D017753:Ecosystem; D060146:Ecotype; D005060:Europe; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011123:Polyploidy; D012674:Senecio / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D061350:Sympatry
keywords: Senecio carniolicus s.l.; autopolyploidy; biodiversity; coexistence; contact zones; ecological differentiation; range-wide niche displacement; speciation.