Can varying inbreeding depression select for intermediary selfing rates?

We study the evolution of the self-fertilization of an annual hermaphroditi c plant under varying inbreeding depression. While classical population gen etic models treat inbreeding depression as a constant parameter, recent emp irical research has shown that changing environmental conditions can make i nbreeding depression vary. Here, we create a simple phenotypic model, assum ing variable inbreeding depression. We investigate how different types of v ariability (spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal variability) affect the e volution of selfing rates in three models. Two main results, which differ f rom the classical predictions, emerge from this study First, we find that f luctuating environments, which influence the magnitude of inbreeding depres sion, are able to select for evolutionarily stable intermediary selling rat es. Second, we show that spatiotemporal variation of inbreeding depression can lead to the development and the maintenance of polymorphic selfing rate s within a population.