Sex chromosome evolution

The evolution of separate sexes is of fundamental importance in biology. Sex determining mechanisms are highly variable and labile and sex chromosomes often degenerate; however, the underlying evolutionary mechanisms are unclear. Theoretical studies predict that sex chromosome evolution is governed by sex ratio selection and/or by different forms of genetic conflict, for example between males and females or between cytoplasm and nucleus. Empirical evidence for these predictions is scarce, in part because the best-studied systems are animals with ancient sex chromosomes.  This project investigates a plant family with separate sexes (Salicaeae, willows and poplars) where a high turnover of nascent sex chromosomes has been suggested and sex ratio bias is common, to understand the evolution of sex determining region and sex chromosomes.  We use mostly genomic approaches but also field survey and greenhouse experiments. 

Earlier publications on Salix (prior to the sex chromosome project):

Sedlacek, Janosch; Cortés, Andrés; Wheeler, Julia; Bossdorf, Oliver et al.: Evolutionary potential in the Alpine: trait heritabilities and performance variation of the dwarf willow Salix herbacea from different elevations and microhabitats. Ecology and Evolution, s. 3940-3952, 2016. DOI Uppladdad fulltext Till DiVA

Wheeler, Julia A.; Cortes, Andres J.; Sedlacek, Janosch; Karrenberg, Sophie et al. The snow and the willows: earlier spring snowmelt reduces performance in the low-lying alpine shrub Salix herbacea. Journal of Ecology, p. 1041-1050, 2016. DOI To DiVA

Sedlacek, Janosch; Wheeler, Julia A.; Cortes, Andres J.; Bossdorf, Oliver et al. ...The Response of the Alpine Dwarf Shrub Salix herbacea to Altered Snowmelt Timing: Lessons from a Multi-Site Transplant Experiment. PLOS ONE, 2015. DOI Uploaded full-text To DiVA

Cortes, Andres J.; Waeber, S.; Lexer, C.; Sedlacek, J. et al. ... Karrenberg, S. Small-scale patterns in snowmelt timing affect gene flow and the distribution of genetic diversity in the alpine dwarf shrub Salix herbacea Heredity, s. 233-239, 2014. DOI Till

Karrenberg S, Blaser S, Kollmann J, Speck T, Edwards P. 2003. Root anchorage of saplings and cuttings of woody pioneer species in a riparian environment. Functional Ecology 17: 170-177.

Karrenberg S, Kollmann J, Edwards PJ, Gurnell AM, Petts GE. 2003. Patterns in woody vegetation along the active zone of a near-natural Alpine river. Basic and Applied Ecology 4: 157-166.

Last modified: 2022-02-01