Differential survival among genotypes of Daphnia pulex differing in reproductive mode, ploidy level, and geographic origin

The distributional pattern of geographical parthenogenesis has not yet been clearly explained. In Daphnia pulex, asexuals are found at higher latitude and in more marginal habitats than their sexual relatives. In addition, some asexual lineages, especially northern ones, are polyploid. This study aimed to test if polyploid clones are more resistant than sympatric diploid clones to a wide range of environmental factors and if asexual Daphnia (diploid clones) are more tolerant of extreme environmental conditions than sexual ones. We report significant differences in survivorship after short-term exposure to acute pH, conductivities, and temperature in 12 lineages of the Daphnia pulex complex. Ploidy level, reproductive mode, geographic origin, and heterozygosity level had a significant effect on survival but their effect varied depending on environmental factors.