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Chao YS, Yang YW, Sheue CR, Lai IL. Niche and phenotypic differentiation in fern hybrid speciation, a case study of Pteris fauriei (Pteridaceae). ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 134:71-84. [PMID: 38470192 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcae037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Niche differentiation is a crucial issue in speciation. Although it has a well-known role in adaptive processes of hybrid angiosperms, it is less understood in hybrid ferns. Here, we investigate whether an intermediate ecological niche of a fern hybrid is a novel adaptation that provides insights into fern hybrid speciation. METHODS Pteris fauriei (Pteridaceae) is a natural hybrid fern, occurring in environments between its parent species. The maternal Pteris minor is found in sunny areas, but the habitat of the paternal Pteris latipinna is shady. We combined data from morphology, leaf anatomy and photosynthetic traits to explore adaptation and differentiation, along with measuring the environmental features of their niches. We also performed experiments in a common garden to understand ecological plasticity. KEY RESULTS The hybrid P. fauriei was intermediate between the parent species in stomatal density, leaf anatomical features and photosynthetic characteristics in both natural habitats and a common garden. Interestingly, the maternal P. minor showed significant environmental plasticity and was more similar to the hybrid P. fauriei in the common garden, suggesting that the maternal species experiences stress in its natural habitats but thrives in environments similar to those of the hybrid. CONCLUSIONS Based on the similar niche preferences of the hybrid and parents, we propose hybrid superiority. Our results indicate that the hybrid P. fauriei exhibits greater fitness and can compete with and occupy the initial niches of the maternal P. minor. Consequently, we suggest that the maternal P. minor has experienced a niche shift, elucidating the pattern of niche differentiation in this hybrid group. These findings offer a potential explanation for the frequent occurrence of hybridization in ferns and provide new insights into fern hybrid speciation, enhancing our understanding of fern diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Shan Chao
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Wei Yang
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chiou-Rong Sheue
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Global Change Biology Research Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - I-Ling Lai
- Graduate Institute of Bioresources, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
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Sepúlveda‐Espinoza F, Bertin‐Benavides A, Hasbún R, Toro‐Núñez Ó, Varas‐Myrik A, Alarcón D, Guillemin M. The impact of Pleistocene glaciations and environmental gradients on the genetic structure of
Embothrium coccineum. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9474. [DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Sepúlveda‐Espinoza
- Laboratorio de Epigenética Vegetal, Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas Universidad Austral de Chile Valdivia Chile
| | - Ariana Bertin‐Benavides
- Laboratorio de Epigenética Vegetal, Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
- ONG Conciencia Sur Concepción Chile
- Laboratorio de Genómica Forestal, Centro de Biotecnología Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
| | - Rodrigo Hasbún
- Laboratorio de Epigenética Vegetal, Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
| | - Óscar Toro‐Núñez
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
| | - Antonio Varas‐Myrik
- Laboratorio de Epigenética Vegetal, Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
| | - Diego Alarcón
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad Universidad de Chile Ñuñoa Chile
| | - Marie‐Laure Guillemin
- Núcleo Milenio MASH, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Austral de Chile Valdivia Chile
- IRL 3614 Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, CNRS Sorbonne Université, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Austral de Chile Roscoff France
- Centro FONDAP de Investigación en Dinámica de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL) Valdivia Chile
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3
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Kosová V, Hájek T, Hadincová V, Münzbergová Z. The importance of ecophysiological traits in response of Festuca rubra to changing climate. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2022; 174:e13608. [PMID: 34837234 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of the ability of plants to respond to climate change via phenotypic plasticity or genetic adaptation in ecophysiological traits and of the link of these traits to fitness is still limited. We studied the clonal grass Festuca rubra from 11 localities representing factorially crossed gradients of temperature and precipitation and cultivated them in growth chambers simulating temperature and moisture regime in the four extreme localities. We measured net photosynthetic rate, Fv /Fm , specific leaf area, osmotic potential and stomatal density and length and tested their relationship to proxies of fitness. We found strong phenotypic plasticity in photosynthetic traits and genetic differentiation in stomatal traits. The effects of temperature and moisture interacted (either as conditions of origin or growth chambers), as were effects of growth and origin. The relationships between the ecophysiological and fitness-related traits were significant but weak. Phenotypic plasticity and genetic differentiation of the species indicate the potential ability of F. rubra to adapt to novel climatic conditions. The most important challenge for the plants seems to be increasing moisture exposing plants to hypoxia. However, the plants have the potential to respond to increased moisture by changes in stomatal size and density and adjustments of osmotic potential. Changes in ecophysiological traits translate into variation in plant fitness, but the selection on the traits is relatively weak and depends on actual conditions. Despite the selection, the plants do not show strong local adaptation and local adaptation is thus likely not restricting species ability to adjust to novel conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kosová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Hájek
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Zuzana Münzbergová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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4
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Gianoli E, Molina-Montenegro MA. Evolution of physiological performance in invasive plants under climate change. Evolution 2021; 75:3181-3190. [PMID: 34324706 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is expected to promote biological invasions. Invasive species often undergo adaptive evolution, but whether invasive species show greater evolutionary potential than their native counterparts under climate change has rarely been evaluated. We conducted experimental evolution trials comparing the evolution of physiological performance (light-saturated photosynthetic rate, Amax ) of coexisting and closely related (1) invasive-native species pairs from Arid, Alpine, and Antarctic ecosystems, and (2) an invasive-naturalized species pair from a Mediterranean ecosystem differing in invasiveness. Experiments were conducted over three generations and under four environments of temperature and water availability resembling typical and climate change conditions in each ecosystem. Amax increased across generations for most species. Invasive species from Arid, Alpine, and Antarctic ecosystems showed similar, greater, and lesser evolution of Amax than their native counterparts, respectively. The Mediterranean invasive species showed greater evolution of Amax than its naturalized congener. Similar patterns were observed in all four experimental environments for each ecosystem, suggesting that comparable responses may be expected under climate change scenarios. All study species showed a positive association between Amax and reproductive output. Results suggest that invasive plants and their native (or naturalized) counterparts would show similar evolutionary responses of physiological performance to global warming and drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Gianoli
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, Chile.,Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Marco A Molina-Montenegro
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile.,CEAZA, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
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5
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Dani KGS, Mathew J, Nila-Mohan TM, Antony R, Suresh S, Kodandaramaiah U. Competition between photosynthesis and reproduction is constrained by leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in ferns. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Diversity in plant life histories is primarily that found in the rate and duration of photosynthetic (vegetative) and reproductive growth. However, direct evidence for an anticipated trade-off between photosynthesis and reproduction is lacking in any plant lineage. Ferns allocate leaf space and resources to both photosynthesis and reproduction, potentially leading to competition for leaf resources between stomatal pores and reproductive spores. We hypothesized that a trade-off between stomatal density (StD; a proxy for photosynthetic capacity) and sporangial density (SpD; a measure of fertility) has evolved in monomorphic ferns due to the common space, time and resource constraints imposed by a highly conserved and globally low leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in ferns, where any increase in LMA indicated greater construction cost and longer leaf lifespan. We measured LMA, StD and SpD in 40 fern species in India that represented both monomorphic and dimorphic conditions from both terrestrial and epiphytic habits. Both StD and SpD showed a 50-fold range in monomorphic species whereas LMA was more conserved (six-fold range). LMA of terrestrial ferns was significantly lower than that of epiphytic ferns. Linear regression between LMA and StD was significantly positive in dimorphic terrestrial ferns (showing the lowest LMA among all ferns) and significantly negative in monomorphic epiphytic ferns (showing the highest LMA among all ferns). Dimorphic terrestrial ferns were highly fecund on their fertile leaves and showed a significantly higher StD to LMA ratio on their sterile leaves compared to monomorphic terrestrial ferns. Dimorphic ferns seem to maximize both StD and SpD by physical separation of photosynthesis and reproduction, and their characteristically low LMA (shorter leaf lifespan = smaller time window) potentially selects for high StD and high fertility. The regression between StD and SpD in monomorphic ferns was significantly linear and positive, although comparisons among closely related species (within families) showed negative correlations when both StD and SpD were high, captured also by a significant quadratic regression between StD and SpD in monomorphic ferns. Monomorphic terrestrial species bearing more spores per stomata showed relatively low LMA whereas those producing fewer spores per stomata possessed leaves with relatively high LMA. Monomorphic epiphytes produced as many spores as terrestrial species but showed significantly low StD for their high LMA. We discuss the evolutionary reasons behind these trends and conclude that monomorphic terrestrial ferns with high LMA (long leaf lifespan) tend to prioritize photosynthesis over reproduction, while monomorphic epiphytes (always high LMA) are significantly more fertile for lower photosynthesis. The role of LMA in framing the rules of competition between stomata and sporangia in monomorphic ferns provides a template for how photosynthesis may directly or indirectly influence reproductive strategies (and vice versa) in all land plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- K G Srikanta Dani
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- The National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Via Madonna del Piano, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Jose Mathew
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - T M Nila-Mohan
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Raju Antony
- Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Kerala, India
| | - S Suresh
- Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Kerala, India
| | - Ullasa Kodandaramaiah
- IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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6
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Lusk CH, Grierson ERP, Laughlin DC. Large leaves in warm, moist environments confer an advantage in seedling light interception efficiency. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 223:1319-1327. [PMID: 30985943 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Leaf size varies conspicuously along environmental gradients. Small leaves help plants cope with drought and frost, because of the effect of leaf size on boundary layer conductance; it is less clear what advantage large leaves confer in benign environments. We asked if large leaves give species of warm climates an advantage in seedling light interception efficiency over small-leaved species from colder environments. We measured seedling leaf, architectural and biomass distribution traits of 18 New Zealand temperate rainforest evergreens; we then used a 3-D digitiser and the Yplant program to model leaf area display and light interception. Species associated with mild climates on average had larger leaves and larger specific leaf areas (SLA) than those from cold climates, and displayed larger effective foliage areas per unit of aboveground biomass, indicating higher light interception efficiency at whole-plant level. This reflected differences in total foliage area, rather than in self-shading. Our findings advance the understanding of leaf size by showing that large leaves enable seedlings of species with highly conductive (but frost-sensitive) xylem to deploy large foliage areas without increasing self-shading. Leaf size variation along temperature gradients in humid forests may therefore reflect a trade-off between seedling light interception efficiency and susceptibility to frost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher H Lusk
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Ella R P Grierson
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research, Sandringham 1142, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Daniel C Laughlin
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
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7
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Chen Q, Sun J, Song L, Liu W, Yu F, Li S, Gong H, Lu H. Trait acclimation of the clonal fern
Selliguea griffithiana
to forest epiphytic and terrestrial habitats. Ecol Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Quan Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of Sciences Mengla China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jing‐Qi Sun
- School of GeographySouthwest Forestry University Kunming China
| | - Liang Song
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of Sciences Mengla China
| | - Wen‐Yao Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of Sciences Mengla China
| | - Fei‐Hai Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and ConservationTaizhou University Taizhou China
| | - Su Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of Sciences Mengla China
| | - He‐De Gong
- School of GeographySouthwest Forestry University Kunming China
| | - Hua‐Zheng Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of Sciences Mengla China
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8
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Ge XM, Scholl JP, Basinger U, Huxman TE, Venable DL. Functional trait trade‐off and species abundance: insights from a multi‐decadal study. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:583-592. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xing‐Yue M. Ge
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Arizona Tucson AZ85721USA
| | - Joshua P. Scholl
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Arizona Tucson AZ85721USA
| | - Ursula Basinger
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Arizona Tucson AZ85721USA
| | - Travis E. Huxman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Irvine CA92697 USA
| | - D. Lawrence Venable
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Arizona Tucson AZ85721USA
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9
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Damián X, Fornoni J, Domínguez CA, Boege K. Ontogenetic changes in the phenotypic integration and modularity of leaf functional traits. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xóchitl Damián
- Instituto de EcologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México Mexico
| | - Juan Fornoni
- Instituto de EcologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México Mexico
| | - César A. Domínguez
- Instituto de EcologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México Mexico
| | - Karina Boege
- Instituto de EcologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México Mexico
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10
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Salgado-Luarte C, Gianoli E. Shade tolerance and herbivory are associated with RGR of tree species via different functional traits. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2017; 19:413-419. [PMID: 27995703 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Relative growth rate (RGR) plays an important role in plant adaptation to the light environment through the growth potential/survival trade-off. RGR is a complex trait with physiological and biomass allocation components. It has been argued that herbivory may influence the evolution of plant strategies to cope with the light environment, but little is known about the relation between susceptibility to herbivores and growth-related functional traits. Here, we examined in 11 evergreen tree species from a temperate rainforest the association between growth-related functional traits and (i) species' shade-tolerance, and (ii) herbivory rate in the field. We aimed at elucidating the differential linkage of shade and herbivory with RGR via growth-related functional traits. We found that RGR was associated negatively with shade-tolerance and positively with herbivory rate. However, herbivory rate and shade-tolerance were not significantly related. RGR was determined mainly by photosynthetic rate (Amax ) and specific leaf area (SLA). Results suggest that shade tolerance and herbivore resistance do not covary with the same functional traits. Whereas shade-tolerance was strongly related to Amax and to a lesser extent to leaf mass ratio (LMR) and dark respiration (Rd ), herbivory rate was closely related to allocation traits (SLA and LMR) and slightly associated with protein content. The effects of low light on RGR would be mediated by Amax , while the effects of herbivory on RGR would be mediated by SLA. Our findings suggest that shade and herbivores may differentially contribute to shape RGR of tree species through their effects on different resource-uptake functional traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Salgado-Luarte
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Casilla La Serena, Chile
| | - E Gianoli
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Casilla La Serena, Chile
- Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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11
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Kimball S, Funk JL, Spasojevic MJ, Suding KN, Parker S, Goulden ML. Can functional traits predict plant community response to global change? Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kimball
- Center for Environmental Biology University of California Irvine California 92697 USA
| | - Jennifer L. Funk
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences Chapman University Orange California 92866 USA
| | - Marko J. Spasojevic
- Department of Biology and Tyson Research Center Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis Missouri 63130 USA
| | - Katharine N. Suding
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Colorado Boulder Colorado 80303 USA
| | - Scot Parker
- Department of Earth System Science University of California Irvine California 92697 USA
| | - Michael L. Goulden
- Department of Earth System Science University of California Irvine California 92697 USA
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12
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Zhu SD, Li RH, Song J, He PC, Liu H, Berninger F, Ye Q. Different leaf cost-benefit strategies of ferns distributed in contrasting light habitats of sub-tropical forests. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2016; 117:497-506. [PMID: 26684751 PMCID: PMC4765538 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcv179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Ferns are abundant in sub-tropical forests in southern China, with some species being restricted to shaded understorey of natural forests, while others are widespread in disturbed, open habitats. To explain this distribution pattern, we hypothesize that ferns that occur in disturbed forests (FDF) have a different leaf cost-benefit strategy compared with ferns that occur in natural forests (FNF), with a quicker return on carbon investment in disturbed habitats compared with old-growth forests. METHODS We chose 16 fern species from contrasting light habitats (eight FDF and eight FNF) and studied leaf functional traits, including leaf life span (LLS), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations (N and P), maximum net photosynthetic rates (A), leaf construction cost (CC) and payback time (PBT), to conduct a leaf cost-benefit analysis for the two fern groups. KEY RESULTS The two groups, FDF and FNF, did not differ significantly in SLA, leaf N and P, and CC, but FDF had significantly higher A, greater photosynthetic nitrogen- and phosphorus-use efficiencies (PNUE and PPUE), and shorter PBT and LLS compared with FNF. Further, across the 16 fern species, LLS was significantly correlated with A, PNUE, PPUE and PBT, but not with SLA and CC. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that leaf cost-benefit analysis contributes to understanding the distribution pattern of ferns in contrasting light habitats of sub-tropical forests: FDF employing a quick-return strategy can pre-empt resources and rapidly grow in the high-resource environment of open habitats; while a slow-return strategy in FNF allows their persistence in the shaded understorey of old-growth forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Dan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Rong-Hua Li
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, China, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan road, Beijing 100049, China and
| | - Juan Song
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, China, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan road, Beijing 100049, China and
| | - Peng-Cheng He
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, China, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan road, Beijing 100049, China and
| | - Hui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Frank Berninger
- Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, 224 Helsingin Yliopisto, Finland
| | - Qing Ye
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Guangzhou 510650, China,
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13
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Riaño K, Briones O. Sensitivity of three tree ferns during their first phase of life to the variation of solar radiation and water availability in a Mexican cloud forest. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2015; 102:1472-1481. [PMID: 26373979 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1500228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY Regeneration niche differentiation promotes species coexistence and diversity; however, the ecological implications for the initial life phases of the majority of pteridophytes are unknown. We analyzed the sensitivity of gametophytes and juvenile sporophytes of the tree ferns Alsophila firma, Cyathea divergens, and Lophosoria quadripinnata to variation in light and water availability. METHODS We evaluated gametophyte desiccation tolerance using saturated salt solutions and gametophyte solar radiation tolerance by direct exposure. We also transplanted juvenile sporophytes in environments with 7% and 23% canopy openness and two watering levels. KEY RESULTS The response of photosynthetic efficiency and water content suggest that the gametophytes of the three species require high relative humidity, tolerate direct solar radiation for up to 30 min and that the response is not species-dependent. Sporophyte size and gas exchange were greater in the more open site, but decreased watering had a lesser effect on these variables in the more closed site. Relative growth rate correlated with the net assimilation rate and leaf weight ratio. Juvenile sporophytes of A. firma were more shade tolerant, while those of C. divergens and L. quadripinnata acclimatized to both environments. CONCLUSIONS Specialization to humid habitats in the tree fern gametophyte restricts the species to humid forests, while differences in the plasticity of the sporophyte facilitate coexistence of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Riaño
- Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa 91070 Veracruz, México
| | - Oscar Briones
- Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa 91070 Veracruz, México
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14
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Vázquez DP, Gianoli E, Morris WF, Bozinovic F. Ecological and evolutionary impacts of changing climatic variability. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2015; 92:22-42. [PMID: 26290132 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Revised: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
While average temperature is likely to increase in most locations on Earth, many places will simultaneously experience higher variability in temperature, precipitation, and other climate variables. Although ecologists and evolutionary biologists widely recognize the potential impacts of changes in average climatic conditions, relatively little attention has been paid to the potential impacts of changes in climatic variability and extremes. We review the evidence on the impacts of increased climatic variability and extremes on physiological, ecological and evolutionary processes at multiple levels of biological organization, from individuals to populations and communities. Our review indicates that climatic variability can have profound influences on biological processes at multiple scales of organization. Responses to increased climatic variability and extremes are likely to be complex and cannot always be generalized, although our conceptual and methodological toolboxes allow us to make informed predictions about the likely consequences of such climatic changes. We conclude that climatic variability represents an important component of climate that deserves further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego P Vázquez
- Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas, CONICET, CC 507, 5500, Mendoza, Argentina.,Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Padre Jorge Contreras 1300, M5502JMA, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Ernesto Gianoli
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Casilla 554, La Serena, 1700000, Chile.,Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, 4070386, Chile
| | - William F Morris
- Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708-0325, U.S.A
| | - Francisco Bozinovic
- Departamento de Ecología, Center of Applied Ecology & Sustainability (CAPES), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 6513677, Chile
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15
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Bartheld JL, Gaitán‐Espitia JD, Artacho P, Salgado‐Luarte C, Gianoli E, Nespolo RF. Energy expenditure and body size are targets of natural selection across a wide geographic range, in a terrestrial invertebrate. Funct Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Bartheld
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas Universidad Austral de Chile Campus Isla Teja Valdivia 5090000 Chile
| | - Juan Diego Gaitán‐Espitia
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas Universidad Austral de Chile Campus Isla Teja Valdivia 5090000 Chile
| | - Paulina Artacho
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas Universidad Austral de Chile Campus Isla Teja Valdivia 5090000 Chile
| | | | - Ernesto Gianoli
- Departamento de Biología Universidad de La Serena Casilla 554 La Serena Chile
- Departamento de Botánica Universidad de Concepción Casilla 160‐C Concepción Chile
| | - Roberto F. Nespolo
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas Universidad Austral de Chile Campus Isla Teja Valdivia 5090000 Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago 6513677 Chile
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16
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Abstract
Climbing plants require an external support to grow vertically and enhance light acquisition. Vines that find a suitable support have greater performance and fitness than those that remain prostrate. Therefore, the location of a suitable support is a key process in the life history of climbing plants. Numerous studies on climbing plant behaviour have elucidated mechanistic details of support searching and attachment. Far fewer studies have addressed the ecological significance of support-finding behaviour and the factors that affect it. Without this knowledge, little progress can be made in the understanding of the evolution of support-finding behaviour in climbers. Here I review studies addressing ecological causes and consequences of support finding and use by climbing plants. I also propose the use of behavioural ecology theoretical frameworks to study climbing plant behaviour. I show how host tree attributes may determine the probability of successful colonization for the different types of climbers, and examine the evidence of environmental and genetic control of circumnutation behaviour and phenotypic responses to support availability. Cases of oriented vine growth towards supports are highlighted. I discuss functional responses of vines to the interplay between herbivory and support availability under different abiotic environments, illustrating with one study case how results comply with a theoretical framework of behavioural ecology originally conceived for animals. I conclude stressing that climbing plants are suitable study subjects for the application of behavioural-ecological theory. Further research under this framework should aim at characterizing the different stages of the support-finding process in terms of their fit with the different climbing modes and environmental settings. In particular, cost-benefit analysis of climbing plant behaviour should be helpful to infer the selective pressures that have operated to shape current climber ecological communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Gianoli
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Casilla 554, La Serena, Chile Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile
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17
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Svriz M, Damascos MA, Lediuk KD, Varela SA, Barthélémy D. Effect of light on the growth and photosynthesis of an invasive shrub in its native range. AOB PLANTS 2014; 6:plu033. [PMID: 24969502 PMCID: PMC4240251 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plu033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Invasive species success may depend on ecophysiological attributes present in their native area or derived from changes that took place in the invaded environment. We studied the growth and photosynthetic capacity of Berberis darwinii shrubs growing under different light conditions (gap, forest edge and below the canopy) in their native area of Patagonia, Argentina. Leaf photosynthesis results determined in the native area were discussed in relation to information provided by studies carried out under the same light conditions in an invaded area in New Zealand. Shoot elongation, leaf production, stem and leaf biomass per shoot and specific leaf area (SLA, cm2 g-1) were determined in five adult plants, randomly selected in each of three light conditions in two forest sites. Net photosynthesis as a function of PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density), stomatal conductance (gs), maximum light-saturated photosynthesis rate (Pmax), Pmass (on mass bases) and water-use efficiency (WUEi) were determined in plants of one site. We predicted that functional traits would differ between populations of native and invasive ranges. In their native area, plants growing under the canopy produced the longest shoots and had the lowest values for shoot emergence and foliar biomass per shoot, while their SLA was higher than gap and forest edge plants. Leaf number and stem biomass per shoot were independent of light differences. Leaves of gap plants showed higher Pmax, Pmass and gs but lower WUEi than plants growing at the forest edge. In its native range B. darwinii grows under different light conditions by adjusting shoot and leaf morphology and physiology. Plants of B. darwinii growing under the same light conditions show similar physiology in native and invasive ranges. This means that for B. darwinii, intra-specific variation of the functional traits studied here do not condition successful spread in new areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Svriz
- Departamento de Botánica, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, (8400) Bariloche, Argentina Concejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - María A Damascos
- Departamento de Botánica, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, (8400) Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Karen D Lediuk
- Departamento de Botánica, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, (8400) Bariloche, Argentina Concejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Santiago A Varela
- INTA Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche, CC 277, 8400 Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Daniel Barthélémy
- CIRAD, BIOS, Direction and INRA, UMR AMAP, F-34398 Montpellier, France
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18
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Rios RS, Salgado-Luarte C, Gianoli E. Species divergence and phylogenetic variation of ecophysiological traits in lianas and trees. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99871. [PMID: 24914958 PMCID: PMC4051759 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The climbing habit is an evolutionary key innovation in plants because it is associated with enhanced clade diversification. We tested whether patterns of species divergence and variation of three ecophysiological traits that are fundamental for plant adaptation to light environments (maximum photosynthetic rate [Amax], dark respiration rate [Rd], and specific leaf area [SLA]) are consistent with this key innovation. Using data reported from four tropical forests and three temperate forests, we compared phylogenetic distance among species as well as the evolutionary rate, phylogenetic distance and phylogenetic signal of those traits in lianas and trees. Estimates of evolutionary rates showed that Rd evolved faster in lianas, while SLA evolved faster in trees. The mean phylogenetic distance was 1.2 times greater among liana species than among tree species. Likewise, estimates of phylogenetic distance indicated that lianas were less related than by chance alone (phylogenetic evenness across 63 species), and trees were more related than expected by chance (phylogenetic clustering across 71 species). Lianas showed evenness for Rd, while trees showed phylogenetic clustering for this trait. In contrast, for SLA, lianas exhibited phylogenetic clustering and trees showed phylogenetic evenness. Lianas and trees showed patterns of ecophysiological trait variation among species that were independent of phylogenetic relatedness. We found support for the expected pattern of greater species divergence in lianas, but did not find consistent patterns regarding ecophysiological trait evolution and divergence. Rd followed the species-level pattern, i.e., greater divergence/evolution in lianas compared to trees, while the opposite occurred for SLA and no pattern was detected for Amax. Rd may have driven lianas' divergence across forest environments, and might contribute to diversification in climber clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo S. Rios
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, Chile
| | | | - Ernesto Gianoli
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, Chile
- Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- * E-mail:
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19
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Kimball S, Gremer JR, Huxman TE, Lawrence Venable D, Angert AL. Phenotypic Selection Favors Missing Trait Combinations in Coexisting Annual Plants. Am Nat 2013; 182:191-207. [DOI: 10.1086/671058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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20
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Gianoli E, Saldaña A. Phenotypic selection on leaf functional traits of two congeneric species in a temperate rainforest is consistent with their shade tolerance. Oecologia 2013; 173:13-21. [PMID: 23334233 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2590-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 01/03/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Several studies across species have linked leaf functional traits with shade tolerance. Because evolution by natural selection occurs within populations, in order to explain those interspecific patterns it is crucial to examine variation of traits associated with shade tolerance and plant fitness at an intraspecific scale. In a southern temperate rainforest, two climbing plant species coexist but differ in shade tolerance. Whereas Luzuriaga radicans is most abundant in the shaded understory, L. polyphylla typically occurs in intermediate light environments. We carried out an intraspecific approach to test the hypothesis of differential selection patterns in relation to shade tolerance in these congeneric species. The probability of showing reproductive structures increased with specific leaf area (SLA) in L. polyphylla, and decreased with dark respiration in L. radicans. When reproductive output of fertile individuals was the fitness variable, we detected positive directional selection on SLA in L. polyphylla, and negative directional selection on dark respiration and positive directional selection on leaf size in L. radicans. Total light radiation differed between the microsites where the Luzuriaga species were sampled in the old-growth forest understory. Accordingly, L. radicans had a lower minimum light requirement and showed fertile individuals in darker microsites. L. radicans showed lower dark respiration, higher chlorophyll content, and greater leaf size and SLA than L. polyphylla. Results suggest that in more shade-tolerant species, established in the darker microsites, selection would favor functional traits minimizing carbon losses, while in less shade-tolerant species, plants displaying leaf traits enhancing light capture would be selected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Gianoli
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, Chile.
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21
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Sultan SE, Horgan-Kobelski T, Nichols LM, Riggs CE, Waples RK. A resurrection study reveals rapid adaptive evolution within populations of an invasive plant. Evol Appl 2012; 6:266-78. [PMID: 23798976 PMCID: PMC3689352 DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-4571.2012.00287.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 06/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The future spread and impact of an introduced species will depend on how it adapts to the abiotic and biotic conditions encountered in its new range, so the potential for rapid evolution subsequent to species introduction is a critical, evolutionary dimension of invasion biology. Using a resurrection approach, we provide a direct test for change over time within populations in a species' introduced range, in the Asian shade annual Polygonum cespitosum. We document, over an 11-year period, the evolution of increased reproductive output as well as greater physiological and root-allocational plasticity in response to the more open, sunny conditions found in the North American range in which the species has become invasive. These findings show that extremely rapid adaptive modifications to ecologically-important traits and plastic expression patterns can evolve subsequent to a species' introduction, within populations established in its introduced range. This study is one of the first to directly document evolutionary change in adaptive plasticity. Such rapid evolutionary changes can facilitate the spread of introduced species into novel habitats and hence contribute to their invasive success in a new range. The data also reveal how evolutionary trajectories can differ among populations in ways that can influence invasion dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia E Sultan
- Biology Department, Wesleyan University Middletown, CT, USA
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22
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Salgado-Luarte C, Gianoli E. Herbivores modify selection on plant functional traits in a temperate rainforest understory. Am Nat 2012; 180:E42-53. [PMID: 22766937 DOI: 10.1086/666612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
There is limited evidence regarding the adaptive value of plant functional traits in contrasting light environments. It has been suggested that changes in these traits in response to light availability can increase herbivore susceptibility. We tested the adaptive value of plant functional traits linked with carbon gain in contrasting light environments and also evaluated whether herbivores can modify selection on these traits in each light environment. In a temperate rainforest, we examined phenotypic selection on functional traits in seedlings of the pioneer tree Aristotelia chilensis growing in sun (canopy gap) and shade (forest understory) and subjected to either natural herbivory or herbivore exclusion. We found differential selection on functional traits depending on light environment. In sun, there was positive directional selection on photosynthetic rate and relative growth rate (RGR), indicating that selection favors competitive ability in a high-resource environment. Seedlings with high specific leaf area (SLA) and intermediate RGR were selected in shade, suggesting that light capture and conservative resource use are favored in the understory. Herbivores reduced the strength of positive directional selection acting on SLA in shade. We provide the first demonstration that natural herbivory rates can change the strength of selection on plant ecophysiological traits, that is, attributes whose main function is resource uptake. Research addressing the evolution of shade tolerance should incorporate the selective role of herbivores.
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Dudley LS, Hove AA, Mazer SJ. Physiological performance and mating system in Clarkia (Onagraceae): does phenotypic selection predict divergence between sister species? AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2012; 99:488-507. [PMID: 22396332 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1100387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY The evolution of self-fertilization often occurs in association with other floral, life history, and fitness-related traits. A previous study found that field populations of Clarkia exilis (a predominantly autogamous selfer) and its sister species, Clarkia unguiculata (a facultative outcrosser) differ in mean photosynthetic rates and instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE(i)). Here, we investigate the strength and direction of selection on these traits in multiple populations of each taxon to determine whether natural selection may contribute to the phenotypic differences between them. METHODS In spring 2008, we measured instantaneous gas exchange rates in nine populations during vegetative growth (Early) and/or during flowering (Late). We conducted selection gradient analyses and estimated selection differentials within populations and across pooled conspecific populations to evaluate the strength, direction, and consistency of selection on each trait early and late in the season. KEY RESULTS The direction and relative strength of selection on photosynthetic rates in these taxa corresponds to the phenotypic difference between them; C. exilis has higher photosynthetic rates than C. unguiculata, as well as stronger, more consistent selection favoring rapid photosynthesis throughout the growing season. Patterns of selection on transpiration, WUE(i), and the timing of flowering progression are less consistent with phenotypic differences (or lack thereof) between taxa. CONCLUSIONS We detected several examples where selection was consistent with the phenotypic divergence between sister taxa, but there were also numerous instances that were equivocal or in which selection did not predict the realized phenotypic difference between taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah S Dudley
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA.
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Pittermann J, Limm E, Rico C, Christman MA. Structure-function constraints of tracheid-based xylem: a comparison of conifers and ferns. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2011; 192:449-61. [PMID: 21749396 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03817.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The ferns comprise one of the most ancient tracheophytic plant lineages, and occupy habitats ranging from tundra to deserts and the equatorial tropics. Like their nearest relatives the conifers, modern ferns possess tracheid-based xylem but the structure-function relationships of fern xylem are poorly understood. Here, we sampled the fronds (megaphylls) of 16 species across the fern phylogeny, and examined the relationships among hydraulic transport, drought-induced cavitation resistance, the xylem anatomy of the stipe, and the gas-exchange response of the pinnae. For comparison, the results are presented alongside a similar suite of conifer data. Fern xylem is as resistant to cavitation as conifer xylem, but exhibits none of the hydraulic or structural trade-offs associated with resistance to cavitation. On a conduit diameter basis, fern xylem can exhibit greater hydraulic efficiency than conifer and angiosperm xylem. In ferns, wide and long tracheids compensate in part for the lack of secondary xylem and allow ferns to exhibit transport rates on a par with those of conifers. We suspect that it is the arrangement of the primary xylem, in addition to the intrinsic traits of the conduits themselves, that may help explain the broad range of cavitation resistance in ferns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarmila Pittermann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
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Ramírez-Valiente JA, Sánchez-Gómez D, Aranda I, Valladares F. Phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation in leaf ecophysiological traits of 13 contrasting cork oak populations under different water availabilities. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2010; 30:618-27. [PMID: 20357344 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpq013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Plants distributed across a wide range of environmental conditions are submitted to differential selective pressures. Long-term selection can lead to the development of adaptations to the local environment, generating ecotypic differentiation. Additionally, plant species can cope with this environmental variability by phenotypic plasticity. In this study, we examine the importance of both processes in coping with environmental heterogeneity in the Mediterranean sclerophyllous cork oak Quercus suber. For this purpose, we measured growth and key functional traits at the leaf level in 9-year-old plants across 2 years of contrasting precipitation (2005 and 2006) in a common garden. Plants were grown from acorns originated from 13 populations spanning a wide range of climates along the distribution range of the species. The traits measured were: leaf size (LS), specific leaf area (SLA), carbon isotope discrimination (Delta(13)C) and leaf nitrogen content per unit mass (N(mass)). Inter-population differences in LS, SLA and Delta(13)C were found. These differences were associated with rainfall and temperature at the sites of origin, suggesting local adaptation in response to diverging climates. Additionally, SLA and LS exhibited positive responses to the increase in annual rainfall. Year effect explained 28% of the total phenotypic variance in LS and 2.7% in SLA. There was a significant genotype x environment interaction for shoot growth and a phenotypic correlation between the difference in shoot growth among years and the annual mean temperature at origin. This suggests that populations originating from warm sites can benefit more from wet conditions than populations from cool sites. Finally, we investigated the relationships between functional traits and aboveground growth by several regression models. Our results showed that plants with lower SLA presented larger aboveground growth in a dry year and plants with larger leaf sizes displayed larger growth rates in both years. Overall, the study supports the adaptive value of SLA and LS for cork oak under a Mediterranean climate and their potentially important role for dealing with varying temperature and rainfall regimes through both local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Alberto Ramírez-Valiente
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Centro de Investigación Forestal, Carretera Coruña Km 7.5, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
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26
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Differences in light usage among three fern species of genus Blechnum of contrasting ecological breadth in a forest light gradient. Ecol Res 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s11284-009-0656-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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27
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Donovan LA, Ludwig F, Rosenthal DM, Rieseberg LH, Dudley SA. Phenotypic selection on leaf ecophysiological traits in Helianthus. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2009; 183:868-879. [PMID: 19552693 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02916.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Habitats that differ in soil resource availability are expected to differ for selection on resource-related plant traits. Here, we examined spatial and temporal variation in phenotypic selection on leaf ecophysiological traits for 10 Helianthus populations, including two species of hybrid origin, Helianthus anomalus and Helianthus deserticola, and artificial hybrids of their ancestral parents. Leaf traits assessed were leaf size, succulence, nitrogen (N) concentration and water-use efficiency (WUE). Biomass and leaf traits of artificial hybrids indicate that the actively moving dune habitat of H. anomalus was more growth limiting, with lower N availability but higher relative water availability than the stabilized dune habitat of H. deserticola. Habitats differed for direct selection on leaf N and WUE, but not size or succulence, for the artificial hybrids. However, within the H. anomalus habitat, direct selection on WUE also differed among populations. Across years, direct selection on leaf traits did not differ. Leaf N was the only trait for which direct selection differed between habitats but not within the H. anomalus habitat, suggesting that nutrient limitation is an important selective force driving adaptation of H. anomalus to the active dune habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Donovan
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens GA 30606, USA
| | - F Ludwig
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens GA 30606, USA
| | - D M Rosenthal
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens GA 30606, USA
| | - L H Rieseberg
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - S A Dudley
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
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28
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Maherali H, Caruso CM, Sherrard ME. The adaptive significance of ontogenetic changes in physiology: a test in Avena barbata. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2009; 183:908-918. [PMID: 19402881 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02845.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Physiological changes with ontogeny are common in plants. Although ontogenetic changes are hypothesized to improve plant function, their adaptive significance has rarely been tested. Here, we estimated phenotypic selection on ontogenetic change in photosynthesis (A) and stomatal conductance (g(s)) of Avena barbata. We tested whether ontogenetic changes in A and g(s) increased fitness in wet and dry soil environments. To determine whether evolution in response to this selection would be constrained, we estimated the heritability of ontogenetic change in physiology, as well as cross-environment genetic correlations. Ontogenetic change in A, but not g(s), was adaptive in the wet soil environment; plants that maintained or increased A from the prereproductive to the reproductive phase had higher fitness. In the dry soil environment, ontogenetic change in A and g(s) was adaptively neutral. We detected significant genetic variation for ontogenetic change in A and g(s), but no cross-environment genetic correlations, suggesting that the evolution of these traits would not be genetically constrained. We demonstrate that ontogenetic changes in physiological traits can increase fitness but the adaptive value of these changes varies among traits and environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mark E Sherrard
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
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