Influence of mating system on FST
Our results provide additional support for the idea that mating system
is a strong predictor of FST (Fig. 1a), even in the
presence of other factors (Duminil et al. , 2007). Mating system
associates with FST because any amount of inbreeding
(through mixed-mating) increases homozygosity within a subpopulation,
and reduces its effective population size, leading to increased
population structure due to genetic drift. In contrast, outcrossing
maintains genetic cohesion within and among subpopulations, decreasing
genetic drift and reducing population structure (Charlesworth, 2003).
Because populations of mixed-mating species are often highly
differentiated, they will likely have populations with unique genetic
diversity. Accordingly, conservation efforts for them should maximize
the number of populations protected to maximize genetic diversity to
increase their chances to adapt to environmental change (Ellstrand &
Elam, 1993).