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Data and code from: Leveraging modern coexistence theory to understand how stress modifies outcomes of diploid-polyploid competition: A demonstration and review

Ashman, Tia-Lynn1; Rzodkiewicz, Lacey1; Turcotte, Martin1

Published Jul 21, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bvq83bkr9

Data files

Jul 21, 2026 version files 2.09 MB

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Abstract

Polyploid plants are overrepresented in harsh environments, leading to the speculation that stress tolerance is key to polyploid evolutionary and ecological success despite the challenges faced by new (neo) polyploids. Stress tolerance advantages often focus on individuals, but polyploid persistence, coexistence, or competitive exclusion involves populations. We review how Modern Coexistence Theory (MCT) provides a robust framework to understand how stress modifies outcomes of diploid-polyploid competition at the population level. We present a roadmap of the effective application of MCT highlighting considerations when deriving niche and competitive ability differences, and predicting the effect of stress on competitive outcomes. We review the handful of published studies and add new results from reciprocal invasion experiments with two pairs of synthetically derived neotetraploid and progenitor diploid cytotypes of Spirodela polyrhiza under stress and non-stress conditions. Together, studies reveal that stress can increase stabilizing niche differences and modify relative fitness differences in ways that alter coexistence predictions, but that results are species-, genotype-, or study-specific. Furthermore, studies point to body size and stress physiology as potential drivers, but much more work is needed. On balance, the emerging body of work serves as a strong motivator for applying MCT to more systems, more stresses, and more functional traits.