Hybridization as a facilitator of species range expansion

Creator

Pfennig, Karin S.
- ORCID: 0000-0002-0852-287X
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology
Kelly, Audrey L.
- ORCID: 0000-0003-1783-7678
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology
Pierce, Amanda A.
- ORCID: 0000-0001-9507-0009
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology

Abstract

Explaining the evolution of species geographical ranges is fundamental to understanding how biodiversity is distributed and maintained. The solution to this classic problem in ecology and evolution remains elusive: we still do not fully know how species geographical ranges evolve and what factors fuel range expansions. Resolving this problem is now more crucial than ever with increasing biodiversity loss, global change and movement of species by humans. Here, we describe and evaluate the hypothesis that hybridization between species can contribute to species range expansion. We discuss how such a process can occur and the empirical data that are needed to test this hypothesis. We also examine how species can expand into new environments via hybridization with a resident species, and yet remain distinct species. Generally, hybridization may play an underappreciated role in influencing the evolution of species ranges. Whether—and to what extent—hybridization has such an effect requires further study across more diverse taxa.

Date of publication

Keyword

DOI

Identifier

Resource type

Rights statement

Journal title

Journal volume

Journal issue

Language

ISSN

Relations

Parents:

This work has no parents.

In Collection:

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Visibility	Actions
	PubMedCentral-PMC5046898.pdf	2016	Public	Download