Available online: explore how life cycle variation shapes the genetic diversity of the brown seaweed Dictyota across its European range. In this study, we investigate how populations respond to environmental variation by shifting not only the timing of reproduction, but also their mode of reproduction from sexual to asexual. Our findings show that at the warm edge of the species’ distribution, populations persist through a combination of rare sexual events and extended longevity, with important consequences for reproductive success, gene flow, and genetic diversity. These results highlight how life cycle plasticity contributes to the resilience of marginal populations and shapes the evolutionary trajectory of seaweed species under environmental stress.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.70219