Figure 11.

The evolutionary process of the sexual–asexual distribution pattern of brackish Ulva prolifera based on the FNV model. (A) A sexual population that separated from the marine U. linza population started to adapt to lower saline waters; (B) multiple asexuals arising from genetically variable sexual ancestors provided frozen genotypic variation on the low salinity adaptation; (C) selection eliminates asexuals that significantly overlap the niches of established asexuals and the sexual progenitors, and fixes an array of specialized asexuals that efficiently occupy the habitats.