Data from: Recent admixture generates heterozygosity-fitness correlations during the range expansion of an invading species

Admixture, the mixing of historically isolated gene pools, can have immediate consequences for the genetic architecture of fitness traits. Admixture may be especially important for newly colonized populations, such as during range expansion and species invasions, by generating heterozygosity that can boost fitness through heterosis. Despite widespread evidence for admixture during species invasions, few studies have examined the demographic history leading to admixture, how admixture affects the heterozygosity and fitness of invasive genotypes, and whether such fitness effects are maintained through time. We address these questions using the invasive plant Silene vulgaris, which shows evidence of admixture in both its native Europe and in North America where it has invaded. Using multilocus genotype data in conjunction with approximate Bayesian computation analysis of demographic history, we showed that admixture during the invasion of North America was independent from and much younger than admixture in the native range of Europe. We tested for fitness consequences of admixture in each range and detected a significant positive heterozygosity–fitness correlation (HFC) in North America; in contrast, no HFC was present in Europe. The lack of HFC in Europe may reflect the longer time since admixture in the native range, dissipating associations between heterozygosity at markers and fitness loci. Our results support a key short-term role for admixture during the early stages of invasion by generating HFCs that carry populations past the threat of extinction from inbreeding and demographic stochasticity.heterozygosity-fitness data for Silene vulgarisThese data provide sampling meta-data, genetic summary statistics (multi-locus heterozygosity and STRUCTURE Q-scores), and common garden fitness data for 163 families of Silene vulgaris collected from across Europe (native) and North America (introduced)Keller_etal_JEB2014_HFC_DRYAD.xlsxMicrosatellite genotypes from 15 loci for Silene vulgarisThese data are diploid microsatellite genotypes, in units of allele size (bp), for 15 co-dominant loci. Data are formatted as an input file for STRUCTURE, with missing values are coded as '-9'.Keller_etal_JEB2014_MICROSATS_STR.txtGenotype data for DIYABC analysis of demographic history for Silene vulgarisThese data provide sampling meta-data, microsatellite genotypes, and input file formatting for the DIYABC approximate Bayesian computation analysis. Two sheets are provided: sheet "data, K=2" provides the genotype data and accompanying metadata used to produce the input file for DIYABC; sheet "forDIYABC" provides the formatted input file for the DIYABC analysisKeller_etal_JEB2014_DIYABC_DRYAD.xlsxDIYABC reftable.header for ABC demographic analysis in Silene vulgarisThis file contains the metadata necessary to run approximate Bayesian computation in DIYABC for 2 historical demographic scenarios in Silene vulgaris.Keller_etal_JEB2014_DIYABC_reftable.heade