Department NewsEEB events: Thursday seminar: Dynamic evolution in bryophyte sexual systems: Dr. Stuart McDaniel, University of Florida
Stuart McDaniel, Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Florida
Abstract
The evolution of separate sexes (dioecy) has occurred numerous times across the tree of life. Nevertheless, the evolutionary forces that promote and maintain dioecy remain elusive. Here we found evidence for at least 133 transitions between sexual systems in mosses, representing an extremely high level of sexual lability. In sharp contrast to predictions, the transition rate from hermaphroditism to dioecy was twice as high as the reverse transition. These results have important implications for understanding the genomic and macroevolutionary consequences of hermaphroditism and dioecy.
Host: Professor Yin-Long Qiu
Coffee and cookies will be served at 4 p.m.
Location: 1200 Chemistry
Website: http://people.biology.ufl.edu/stuartmcdaniel/
Contact: ylqiu@umich.edu
