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Short AW, Sebastian JSV, Huang J, Wang G, Dassanayake M, Finnegan PM, Parker JD, Cao KF, Wee AKS. Comparative transcriptomics of the chilling stress response in two Asian mangrove species, Bruguiera gymnorhiza and Rhizophora apiculata. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 44:tpae019. [PMID: 38366388 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpae019] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Low temperatures largely determine the geographic limits of plant species by reducing survival and growth. Inter-specific differences in the geographic distribution of mangrove species have been associated with cold tolerance, with exclusively tropical species being highly cold-sensitive and subtropical species being relatively cold-tolerant. To identify species-specific adaptations to low temperatures, we compared the chilling stress response of two widespread Indo-West Pacific mangrove species from Rhizophoraceae with differing latitudinal range limits-Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. ex Savigny (subtropical range limit) and Rhizophora apiculata Blume (tropical range limit). For both species, we measured the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) as a proxy for the physiological condition of the plants and examined gene expression profiles during chilling at 15 and 5 °C. At 15 °C, B. gymnorhiza maintained a significantly higher Fv/Fm than R. apiculata. However, at 5 °C, both species displayed equivalent Fv/Fm values. Thus, species-specific differences in chilling tolerance were only found at 15 °C, and both species were sensitive to chilling at 5 °C. At 15 °C, B. gymnorhiza downregulated genes related to the light reactions of photosynthesis and upregulated a gene involved in cyclic electron flow regulation, whereas R. apiculata downregulated more RuBisCo-related genes. At 5 °C, both species repressed genes related to CO2 assimilation. The downregulation of genes related to light absorption and upregulation of genes related to cyclic electron flow regulation are photoprotective mechanisms that likely contributed to the greater photosystem II photochemical efficiency of B. gymnorhiza at 15 °C. The results of this study provide evidence that the distributional range limits and potentially the expansion rates of plant species are associated with differences in the regulation of photosynthesis and photoprotective mechanisms under low temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan W Short
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning 530004, China
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, 5289 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - John Sunoj V Sebastian
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning 530004, China
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Guannan Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University (LSU), 202 Life Science Bldg, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Maheshi Dassanayake
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University (LSU), 202 Life Science Bldg, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Patrick M Finnegan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - John D Parker
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Smithsonian Institution, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA
| | - Kun-Fang Cao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning 530004, China
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Alison K S Wee
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning 530004, China
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxuedonglu 100, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Malaysia
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2
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Tran KN, Pantha P, Wang G, Kumar N, Wijesinghege C, Oh DH, Wimalagunasekara S, Duppen N, Li H, Hong H, Johnson JC, Kelt R, Matherne MG, Nguyen TT, Garcia JR, Clement A, Tran D, Crain C, Adhikari P, Zhang Y, Foroozani M, Sessa G, Larkin JC, Smith AP, Longstreth D, Finnegan P, Testerink C, Barak S, Dassanayake M. Balancing growth amidst salt stress - lifestyle perspectives from the extremophyte model Schrenkiella parvula. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 116:921-941. [PMID: 37609706 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Schrenkiella parvula, a leading extremophyte model in Brassicaceae, can grow and complete its lifecycle under multiple environmental stresses, including high salinity. Yet, the key physiological and structural traits underlying its stress-adapted lifestyle are unknown along with trade-offs when surviving salt stress at the expense of growth and reproduction. We aimed to identify the influential adaptive trait responses that lead to stress-resilient and uncompromised growth across developmental stages when treated with salt at levels known to inhibit growth in Arabidopsis and most crops. Its resilient growth was promoted by traits that synergistically allowed primary root growth in seedlings, the expansion of xylem vessels across the root-shoot continuum, and a high capacity to maintain tissue water levels by developing thicker succulent leaves while enabling photosynthesis during salt stress. A successful transition from vegetative to reproductive phase was initiated by salt-induced early flowering, resulting in viable seeds. Self-fertilization in salt-induced early flowering was dependent upon filament elongation in flowers otherwise aborted in the absence of salt during comparable plant ages. The maintenance of leaf water status promoting growth, and early flowering to ensure reproductive success in a changing environment, were among the most influential traits that contributed to the extremophytic lifestyle of S. parvula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieu-Nga Tran
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Pramod Pantha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Guannan Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Narender Kumar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Chathura Wijesinghege
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Dong-Ha Oh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Samadhi Wimalagunasekara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Nick Duppen
- Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boqer Campus, Beersheba, 8499000, Israel
| | - Hongfei Li
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6708PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hyewon Hong
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, 61801, USA
| | - John C Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Ross Kelt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Megan G Matherne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Thu T Nguyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Jason R Garcia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Ashley Clement
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - David Tran
- Department of Biochemistry & Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA
| | - Colt Crain
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
- Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, Natchitoches, Louisiana, 71457, USA
| | - Prava Adhikari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Yanxia Zhang
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6708PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maryam Foroozani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Guido Sessa
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - John C Larkin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Aaron P Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - David Longstreth
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Patrick Finnegan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia
| | - Christa Testerink
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6708PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon Barak
- French Associates' Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boqer Campus, Beersheba, 8499000, Israel
| | - Maheshi Dassanayake
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
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Madeira AG, Tsuda Y, Nagano Y, Iwasaki T, Zucchi MI, Kajita T, Mori GM. The role of oceanic currents in the dispersal and connectivity of the mangrove Rhizophora mangle on the Southwest Atlantic region. Mol Ecol Resour 2023. [PMID: 37173824 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Dispersal is a crucial mechanism to living beings, allowing them to reach new resources such that populations and species can occupy new environments. However, directly observing the dispersal mechanisms of widespread species can be costly or even impractical, which is the case for mangrove trees. The influence of ocean currents on mangrove dispersal is increasingly evident; however, few studies mechanistically relate the patterns of population distribution with the dispersal by oceanic currents under an integrated framework. Here, we evaluate the role of oceanic currents on connectivity of Rhizophora mangle along the Southwest Atlantic. We inferred population genetic structure and migration rates, simulated the displacement of propagules and tested our hypotheses with Mantel tests and redundancy analysis. We observed populations structured in two major groups, north and south, which is corroborated by other studies with Rhizophora and other coastal plants. Inferred recent migration rates do not indicate ongoing gene flow between sites. Conversely, long-term migration rates were low across groups and contrasting dispersal patterns within each one, which is consistent with long-distance dispersal events. Our hypothesis tests suggest that both isolation by distance and isolation by oceanography (derived from the oceanic currents) can explain the neutral genetic variation of R. mangle in the region. Our findings expand current knowledge of mangrove connectivity and highlight how the association of molecular methods with oceanographic simulations improve the interpretation of the dispersal process. This integrative approach is a cost- and time-efficient strategy to include dispersal and connectivity data into marine protected areas planning and management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yoshiaki Tsuda
- Sugadaira Research Station, Mountain Science Center, University of Tsukuba, Nagano, Japan
| | - Yukio Nagano
- Analytical Research Center for Experimental Sciences, Saga University, Saga, Japan
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | | | | | - Tadashi Kajita
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
- Iriomote Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
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4
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Pazzaglia J, Dattolo E, Ruocco M, Santillán-Sarmiento A, Marin-Guirao L, Procaccini G. DNA methylation dynamics in a coastal foundation seagrass species under abiotic stressors. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222197. [PMID: 36651048 PMCID: PMC9845983 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) has been intensively studied in terrestrial plants in response to environmental changes, but its dynamic changes in a temporal scale remain unexplored in marine plants. The seagrass Posidonia oceanica ranks among the slowest-growing and longest-living plants on Earth, and is particularly vulnerable to sea warming and local anthropogenic pressures. Here, we analysed the dynamics of DNAm changes in plants collected from coastal areas differentially impacted by eutrophication (i.e. oligotrophic, Ol; eutrophic, Eu) and exposed to abiotic stressors (nutrients, temperature increase and their combination). Levels of global DNAm (% 5-mC) and the expression of key genes involved in DNAm were assessed after one, two and five weeks of exposure. Results revealed a clear differentiation between plants, depending on environmental stimuli, time of exposure and plants' origin. % 5-mC levels were higher during the initial stress exposure especially in Ol plants, which upregulated almost all genes involved in DNAm. Contrarily, Eu plants showed lower expression levels, which increased under chronic exposure to stressors, particularly to temperature. These findings show that DNAm is dynamic in P. oceanica during stress exposure and underlined that environmental epigenetic variations could be implicated in the regulation of acclimation and phenotypic differences depending on local conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Pazzaglia
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Emanuela Dattolo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Miriam Ruocco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Alex Santillán-Sarmiento
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
- Faculty of Engineering, National University of Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador
| | - Lazaro Marin-Guirao
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Centre of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Murcia, Spain
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
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5
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Wambulwa MC, Luo YH, Zhu GF, Milne R, Wachira FN, Wu ZY, Wang H, Gao LM, Li DZ, Liu J. Determinants of Genetic Structure in a Highly Heterogeneous Landscape in Southwest China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:779989. [PMID: 35574120 PMCID: PMC9097793 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.779989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Intra-specific genetic diversity is a fundamental component of biodiversity, and is key to species adaptation and persistence. However, significant knowledge gaps still exist in our understanding of the patterns of genetic diversity and their key determinants. Most previous investigations mainly utilized single-species and/or a limited number of explanatory variables; so here we mapped the patterns of plastid genetic diversity within 15 plant species, and explored the key determinants shaping these patterns using a wide range of variables. Population-level cpDNA sequence data for 15 plant species from the Longitudinal Range Gorge Region (LRGR), southwest China, were retrieved from literature and used to estimate haplotype diversity (H D) and population pairwise genetic differentiation (F ST) indices. Genetic diversity and divergence landscape surfaces were then generated based on the H D and F ST, respectively, to clarify the patterns of genetic structure in the region. Subsequently, we analyzed the relationships between plastid genetic diversity and 16 explanatory variables (classified as anthropogenic, climatic, and topographic). We found that the highest genetic diversity occurred in the Yulong Mountain region, with a significant proportion (~74.81%) of the high diversity land area being located outside of protected areas. The highest genetic divergence was observed approximately along the 25°N latitudinal line, with notable peaks in the western and eastern edges of the LRGR. Genetic diversity (H D) was weakly but significantly positively correlated with both Latitude (lat) and Annual Mean Wet Day Frequency (wet), yet significantly negatively correlated with all of Longitude (long), Annual Mean Cloud Cover Percent (cld), Annual Mean Anthropogenic Flux (ahf), and Human Footprint Index (hfp). A combination of climatic, topographic, and anthropogenic factors explained a significant proportion (78%) of genetic variation, with topographic factors (lat and long) being the best predictors. Our analysis identified areas of high genetic diversity (genetic diversity "hotspots") and divergence in the region, and these should be prioritized for conservation. This study contributes to a better understanding of the features that shape the distribution of plastid genetic diversity in the LRGR and thus would inform conservation management efforts in this species-rich, but vulnerable region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses C. Wambulwa
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Computing, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, Kenya
| | - Ya-Huang Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Guang-Fu Zhu
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Richard Milne
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Francis N. Wachira
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Computing, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, Kenya
| | - Zeng-Yuan Wu
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Hong Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Lian-Ming Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Lijiang Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang, China
| | - De-Zhu Li
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Lijiang Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang, China
| | - Jie Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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6
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de Deus Vidal Junior J, Mori GM, Cruz MV, da Silva MF, de Moura YA, de Souza AP. Differential Adaptive Potential and Vulnerability to Climate-Driven Habitat Loss in Brazilian Mangroves. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.763325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Geographic and environmental differences have been identified as factors influencing Brazilian mangrove trees' genetic diversity. Geographically, distinct species have convergent spatial genetic structures, indicating a limited gene flow between northern and southern populations. Environmentally, genomic studies and common garden experiments have found evidence of local adaptations along the latitudinal gradient of the Brazilian coast. However, little is known about how such adaptive heterogeneity could be affected by a rapidly changing climate in the coming decades, and the combination of deforestation and climate-induced habitat loss may affect these forests and their genetic diversity. Here, we applied two genomic-environmental association methods to model the turnover of potentially adaptive alleles for two dominant mangrove trees: Avicennia germinans and A. schaueriana. We analyzed a total of 134 individuals from six populations of A. germinans and 10 populations of A. schaueriana spanning the Brazilian coast from 1 °S to 28 °S. Gradient forest models identified temperature-related variables as the most important predictors for A. germinans outlier loci, whereas both temperature and precipitation were important for A. schaueriana. We modeled allele frequencies and projected them for future climatic scenarios to estimate adaptively driven vulnerability. We assessed climate-driven habitat loss through climate-only distribution models and calculated annual deforestation rates for each sampled region. Finally, to assess the vulnerability of individual populations, we combined the environmental suitability, deforestation data, and adaptive vulnerability projections. For both species, subtropical populations presented a higher vulnerability than equatorial populations to climate-driven habitat loss. We also identified deforestation rates at the sampled sites that were alarmingly higher than the global average mangrove deforestation rate. Our results provide improved estimates of the impacts of ongoing climate change and human-caused habitat loss on the distribution of mangroves and highlight the importance of site-based conservation strategies that consider individual subtropical and equatorial mangrove forests.
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Pazzaglia J, Reusch TBH, Terlizzi A, Marín‐Guirao L, Procaccini G. Phenotypic plasticity under rapid global changes: The intrinsic force for future seagrasses survival. Evol Appl 2021; 14:1181-1201. [PMID: 34025759 PMCID: PMC8127715 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Coastal oceans are particularly affected by rapid and extreme environmental changes with dramatic consequences for the entire ecosystem. Seagrasses are key ecosystem engineering or foundation species supporting diverse and productive ecosystems along the coastline that are particularly susceptible to fast environmental changes. In this context, the analysis of phenotypic plasticity could reveal important insights into seagrasses persistence, as it represents an individual property that allows species' phenotypes to accommodate and react to fast environmental changes and stress. Many studies have provided different definitions of plasticity and related processes (acclimation and adaptation) resulting in a variety of associated terminology. Here, we review different ways to define phenotypic plasticity with particular reference to seagrass responses to single and multiple stressors. We relate plasticity to the shape of reaction norms, resulting from genotype by environment interactions, and examine its role in the presence of environmental shifts. The potential role of genetic and epigenetic changes in underlying seagrasses plasticity in face of environmental changes is also discussed. Different approaches aimed to assess local acclimation and adaptation in seagrasses are explored, explaining strengths and weaknesses based on the main results obtained from the most recent literature. We conclude that the implemented experimental approaches, whether performed with controlled or field experiments, provide new insights to explore the basis of plasticity in seagrasses. However, an improvement of molecular analysis and the application of multi-factorial experiments are required to better explore genetic and epigenetic adjustments to rapid environmental shifts. These considerations revealed the potential for selecting the best phenotypes to promote assisted evolution with fundamental implications on restoration and preservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Pazzaglia
- Department of Integrative Marine EcologyStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of TriesteTriesteItaly
| | - Thorsten B. H. Reusch
- Marine Evolutionary EcologyGEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research KielKielGermany
| | - Antonio Terlizzi
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of TriesteTriesteItaly
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine OrganismsStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
| | - Lázaro Marín‐Guirao
- Department of Integrative Marine EcologyStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
- Seagrass Ecology GroupOceanographic Center of MurciaSpanish Institute of OceanographyMurciaSpain
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine EcologyStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
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8
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Da Silva MF, Cruz MV, Vidal Júnior JDD, Zucchi MI, Mori GM, De Souza AP. Geographical and environmental contributions to genomic divergence in mangrove forests. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Assessing the relative importance of geographical and environmental factors to the spatial distribution of genetic variation can provide information about the processes that maintain genetic variation in natural populations. With a globally wide but very restricted habitat distribution, mangrove trees are a useful model for studies aiming to understand the contributions of these factors. Mangroves occur along the continent–ocean interface of tropical and subtropical latitudes, regions considered inhospitable to many other types of plants. Here, we used landscape genomics approaches to investigate the relative contributions of geographical and environmental variables to the genetic variation of two black mangrove species, Avicennia schaueriana and Avicennia germinans, along the South American coast. Using single nucleotide polymorphisms, our results revealed an important role of ocean currents and geographical distance in the gene flow of A. schaueriana and an isolation-by-environment pattern in the organization of the genetic diversity of A. germinans. Additionally, for A. germinans, we observed significant correlations between genetic variation with evidence of selection and the influence of precipitation regimens, solar radiation and temperature patterns. These discoveries expand our knowledge about the evolution of mangrove trees and provide important information to predict future responses of coastal species to the expected global changes during this century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Fernandes Da Silva
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariana Vargas Cruz
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - João De Deus Vidal Júnior
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Gustavo Maruyama Mori
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Vicente, SP, Brazil
| | - Anete Pereira De Souza
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
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9
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Kennedy JP, Dangremond EM, Hayes MA, Preziosi RF, Rowntree JK, Feller IC. Hurricanes overcome migration lag and shape intraspecific genetic variation beyond a poleward mangrove range limit. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:2583-2597. [PMID: 32573031 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Expansion of many tree species lags behind climate change projections. Extreme storms can rapidly overcome this lag, especially for coastal species, but how will storm-driven expansion shape intraspecific genetic variation? Do storms provide recruits only from the nearest sources, or from more distant sources? Answers to these questions have ecological and evolutionary implications, but empirical evidence is absent from the literature. In 2017, Hurricane Irma provided an opportunity to address this knowledge gap at the northern range limit of the neotropical black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) on the Atlantic coast of Florida, USA. We observed massive post-hurricane increases in beach-stranded A. germinans propagules at, and past, this species' present day range margin when compared to a previously surveyed nonhurricane year. Yet, propagule dispersal does not guarantee subsequent establishment and reproductive success (i.e., effective dispersal). We also evaluated prior effective dispersal along this coastline with isolated A. germinans trees identified beyond the most northern established population. We used 12 nuclear microsatellite loci to genotype 896 hurricane-driven drift propagules from nine sites and 10 isolated trees from four sites, determined their sources of origin, and estimated dispersal distances. Almost all drift propagules and all isolated trees came from the nearest sources. This research suggests that hurricanes are a prerequisite for poleward range expansion of a coastal tree species and that storms can shape the expanding gene pool by providing almost exclusively range-margin genotypes. These insights and empirical estimates of hurricane-driven dispersal distances should improve our ability to forecast distributional shifts of coastal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Paul Kennedy
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Emily M Dangremond
- Department of Biological, Physical, and Health Sciences, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Matthew A Hayes
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coast & Estuaries, School of Environment & Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Richard F Preziosi
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Jennifer K Rowntree
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Ilka C Feller
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Smithsonian Institution, Edgewater, MD, USA
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10
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Cruz MV, Mori GM, Oh DH, Dassanayake M, Zucchi MI, Oliveira RS, Souza APD. Molecular responses to freshwater limitation in the mangrove tree Avicennia germinans (Acanthaceae). Mol Ecol 2019; 29:344-362. [PMID: 31834961 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Environmental variation along the geographical space can shape populations by natural selection. In the context of global warming and changing precipitation regimes, it is crucial to understand the role of environmental heterogeneity in tropical trees adaptation, given their disproportional contribution to water and carbon biogeochemical cycles. Here, we investigated how heterogeneity in freshwater availability along tropical wetlands has influenced molecular variations of the black mangrove (Avicennia germinans). A total of 57 trees were sampled at seven sites differing markedly in precipitation regime and riverine freshwater inputs. Using 2,297 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphic markers, we found signatures of natural selection by the association between variations in allele frequencies and environmental variables, including the precipitation of the warmest quarter and the annual precipitation. Additionally, we found candidate loci for selection based on statistical deviations from neutral expectations of interpopulation differentiation. Most candidate loci within transcribed sequences were functionally associated with central aspects of drought tolerance or plant response to drought. Moreover, our results suggest the occurrence of the rapid evolution of a population, probably in response to sudden and persistent limitations in plant access to soil water, following a road construction in 1974. Observations supporting rapid evolution included the reduction in tree size and changes in allele frequencies and in transcript expression associated with increased drought tolerance through the accumulation of osmoprotectants and antioxidants, biosynthesis of cuticles, protection against protein degradation, stomatal closure, photorespiration and photosynthesis. We describe a major role of spatial heterogeneity in freshwater availability in the specialization of this typically tropical tree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Vargas Cruz
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Dong-Ha Oh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University (LSU), Louisiana, LA, USA
| | - Maheshi Dassanayake
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University (LSU), Louisiana, LA, USA
| | | | - Rafael Silva Oliveira
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Anete Pereira de Souza
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, Brazil
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