Influence of mating system on FST
Our results provide additional support for the idea that mating system is a strong predictor of FST (Fig. 1a), even in the presence of other factors (Duminil et al. , 2007). Mating system associates with FST because any amount of inbreeding (through mixed-mating) increases homozygosity within a subpopulation, and reduces its effective population size, leading to increased population structure due to genetic drift. In contrast, outcrossing maintains genetic cohesion within and among subpopulations, decreasing genetic drift and reducing population structure (Charlesworth, 2003). Because populations of mixed-mating species are often highly differentiated, they will likely have populations with unique genetic diversity. Accordingly, conservation efforts for them should maximize the number of populations protected to maximize genetic diversity to increase their chances to adapt to environmental change (Ellstrand & Elam, 1993).