Effects of soil resources on expression of a sexual conflict over timing of stigma receptivity in a mixed-mating plant

While environmental factors strongly influence plant growth and reproduction, less is known about environmental effects on sexual selection and sexual conflict. In this study on mixed-mating Collinsia heterophylla we investigated whether soil resource environment affected traits associated with sexual conflict. In C. heterophylla a sexual conflict over timing of stigma receptivity occurs. Early stigma receptivity benefits pollen parents by securing paternity while late stigma receptivity benefits female fitness in terms of increased seed production. We performed hand-pollinations combining recipients and donors grown either in high or low resource environments and asked whether these treatments influenced sexual conflict traits – recipient- and donor-based influence on timing of stigma receptivity – and conflict costs related to reduced early seed production. We also asked whether resource environment affected nine traits related to general fitness and mating system. Sexual conflict-ass...