Data from: Dynamics of mixed-ploidy populations under demographic and environmental stochasticities

The population dynamics of autopolyploids – organisms with more than two
genome copies of a single species – and their diploid progenitors have
been extensively studied. The acquisition of multiple genome copies is
heavily influenced by stochasticity, which strongly suggests the efficacy
of a probabilistic approach to examine the long-term dynamics of a
population with multiple cytotypes. Yet, our current understanding of the
dynamics of autopolyploid populations has not incorporated stochastic
population dynamics and coexistence theory. To investigate the factors
contributing to the probability and stability of coexisting cytotypes, we
designed a new population dynamics model that incorporates demographic and
environmental stochasticities to simulate the formation, establishment,
and persistence of diploids, triploids, and autotetraploids in the face of
gene flow among cytotypes. Contrary to previous theoretical research,
increased selfing rates and pronounced reproductive isolation promote
coexistence of multiple cytotypes. In stressful environments and with
strong competitive effects among cytotypes, these dynamics are more
complex; our stochastic modeling approach reveals the resulting
intricacies that give autotetraploids competitive advantage over their
diploid progenitors. Our work is fundamental to a better understanding of
the dynamics of coexistence of multiple cytotypes.