DOI: 10.5061/dryad.dh178
title: Data from: Ecological differentiation, lack of hybrids involving diploids, and asymmetric gene flow between polyploids in narrow contact zones of Senecio carniolicus (syn. Jacobaea carniolica, Asteraceae)

description: Areas of immediate contact of different cytotypes offer a unique
 opportunity to study evolutionary dynamics within heteroploid species and
 to assess isolation mechanisms governing coexistence of cytotypes of
 different ploidy. The degree of reproductive isolation of cytotypes, i.e.,
 the frequency of heteroploid crosses and subsequent formation of viable
 and (partly) fertile hybrids, plays a crucial role for the long-term
 integrity of lineages in contact zones. Here, we assessed fine-scale
 distribution, spatial clustering and ecological niches as well as patterns
 of gene-flow in parental and hybrid cytotypes in zones of immediate
 contact of di-, tetra- and hexaploid Senecio carniolicus (Asteraceae) in
 the Eastern Alps. Cytotypes were spatially separated also at the
 investigated micro-scale; the strongest spatial separation was observed
 for the fully interfertile tetra- and hexaploids. The three main cytotypes
 showed highly significant niche differences, which were, however, weaker
 than across their entire distribution ranges in the Eastern Alps.
 Individuals with intermediate ploidy levels were found neither in the
 diploid/tetraploid nor in the diploid/hexaploid contact zones indicating
 strong reproductive barriers. In contrast, pentaploid individuals were
 frequent in the tetraploid/hexaploid contact zone, albeit limited to a
 narrow strip in the immediate contact zone of their parental cytotypes.
 AFLP fingerprinting data revealed introgressive gene flow mediated by
 pentaploid hybrids from tetra- to hexaploid individuals, but not vice
 versa. The ecological niche of pentaploids differed significantly from
 that of tetraploids but not from hexaploids.
description: AFLP matrix 4x-6x
 contact zone of Senecio carniolicusAFLP matrix of 183
 individuals in a 4x-6x contact zone of Senecio carniolicus (Hoazhoehe,
 Styria, Austria) with singular and homogenous markers removed. ID:
 Individual name; PloidyLevel: cytotype; NewHybridClass: New Hybrid
 classification; Remaining columns: Presence (1)/Absence (0) of AFLP
 markers.AFLPMatrixSenecioCarniolicusForDryad.txtMean Landolt indicator valuesMean Landolt indicator values of all vascular plant species occurring within a radius of 0.2 m around each Senecio carniolicus individual in three interploidy contact zones in Austria. ID: individual name; Population: Rosennock (2x-4x contact zone), Sadnig (2x-6x contact zone) and Hoazhoehe (4x-6x contact zone); PloidyLevel: cytotype; Landolt indicator values: T = temperature, L = light, F = soil moisture, R = soil reaction, N = nutrients, H = soil humus content.MeanLandoltValues.txtPresence-absence matrix of vascular plant species accompanying Senecio carniolicus individualsPresence-absence matrix of vascular plant species occurring within a radius of 0.2 m around each Senecio carniolicus individual in three interploidy contact zones in Austria. ID: individual name; Population: Rosennock (2x-4x contact zone), Sadnig (2x-6x contact zone) and Hoazhoehe (4x-6x contact zone); Remaining columns: Presence (1)/Absence (0) of vascular plant species.PlantSpeciesAccompanyingSenecioCarniolicus.txt