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Kazarina A, Sarkar S, Thapa S, Heeren L, Kamke A, Ward K, Hartung E, Ran Q, Galliart M, Jumpponen A, Johnson L, Lee STM. Home-field advantage affects the local adaptive interaction between Andropogon gerardii ecotypes and root-associated bacterial communities. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0020823. [PMID: 37606438 PMCID: PMC10580881 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00208-23] [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: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to climate change, drought frequencies and severities are predicted to increase across the United States. Plant responses and adaptation to stresses depend on plant genetic and environmental factors. Understanding the effect of those factors on plant performance is required to predict species' responses to environmental change. We used reciprocal gardens planted with distinct regional ecotypes of the perennial grass Andropogon gerardii adapted to dry, mesic, and wet environments to characterize their rhizosphere communities using 16S rRNA metabarcode sequencing. Even though the local microbial pool was the main driver of these rhizosphere communities, the significant plant ecotypic effect highlighted active microbial recruitment in the rhizosphere, driven by ecotype or plant genetic background. Our data also suggest that ecotypes planted at their homesites were more successful in recruiting rhizosphere community members that were unique to the location. The link between the plants' homesite and the specific local microbes supported the "home field advantage" hypothesis. The unique homesite microbes may represent microbial specialists that are linked to plant stress responses. Furthermore, our data support ecotypic variation in the recruitment of congeneric but distinct bacterial variants, highlighting the nuanced plant ecotype effects on rhizosphere microbiome recruitment. These results improve our understanding of the complex plant host-soil microbe interactions and should facilitate further studies focused on exploring the functional potential of recruited microbes. Our study has the potential to aid in predicting grassland ecosystem responses to climate change and impact restoration management practices to promote grassland sustainability. IMPORTANCE In this study, we used reciprocal gardens located across a steep precipitation gradient to characterize rhizosphere communities of distinct dry, mesic, and wet regional ecotypes of the perennial grass Andropogon gerardii. We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and focused oligotyping analysis and showed that even though location was the main driver of the microbial communities, ecotypes could potentially recruit distinct bacterial populations. We showed that different A. gerardii ecotypes were more successful in overall community recruitment and recruitment of microbes unique to the "home" environment, when growing at their "home site." We found evidence for "home-field advantage" interactions between the host and host-root-associated bacterial communities, and the capability of ecotypes to recruit specialized microbes that were potentially linked to plant stress responses. Our study aids in a better understanding of the factors that affect plant adaptation, improve management strategies, and predict grassland function under the changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kazarina
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Soumyadev Sarkar
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Shiva Thapa
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Leah Heeren
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Abgail Kamke
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Ward
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Eli Hartung
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Qinghong Ran
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Matthew Galliart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas, USA
| | - Ari Jumpponen
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Loretta Johnson
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Sonny T. M. Lee
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Sarkar S, Kamke A, Ward K, Rudick AK, Baer SG, Ran Q, Feehan B, Thapa S, Anderson L, Galliart M, Jumpponen A, Johnson L, Lee STM. Bacterial but Not Fungal Rhizosphere Community Composition Differ among Perennial Grass Ecotypes under Abiotic Environmental Stress. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0239121. [PMID: 35442065 PMCID: PMC9241903 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02391-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental change, especially frequent droughts, is predicted to detrimentally impact the North American perennial grasslands. Consistent dry spells will affect plant communities as well as their associated rhizobiomes, possibly altering the plant host performance under environmental stress. Therefore, there is a need to understand the impact of drought on the rhizobiome, and how the rhizobiome may modulate host performance and ameliorate its response to drought stress. In this study, we analyzed bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizospheres of three ecotypes (dry, mesic, and wet) of dominant prairie grass, Andropogon gerardii. The ecotypes were established in 2010 in a common garden design and grown for a decade under persistent dry conditions at the arid margin of the species' range in Colby, Kansas. The experiment aimed to answer whether and to what extent do the different ecotypes maintain or recruit distinct rhizobiomes after 10 years in an arid climate. In order to answer this question, we screened the bacterial and fungal rhizobiome profiles of the ecotypes under the arid conditions of western Kansas as a surrogate for future climate environmental stress using 16S rRNA and ITS2 metabarcoding sequencing. Under these conditions, bacterial communities differed compositionally among the A. gerardii ecotypes, whereas the fungal communities did not. The ecotypes were instrumental in driving the differences among bacterial rhizobiomes, as the ecotypes maintained distinct bacterial rhizobiomes even after 10 years at the edge of the host species range. This study will aid us to optimize plant productivity through the use of different ecotypes under future abiotic environmental stress, especially drought. IMPORTANCE In this study, we used a 10-year long reciprocal garden system, and reports that different ecotypes (dry, mesic, and wet) of dominant prairie grass, Andropogon gerardii can maintain or recruit distinct bacterial but not fungal rhizobiomes after 10 years in an arid environment. We used both 16S rRNA and ITS2 amplicons to analyze the bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizospheres of the respective ecotypes. We showed that A. gerardii might regulate the bacterial community to adapt to the arid environment, in which some ecotypes were not adapted to. Our study also suggested a possible tradeoff between the generalist and the specialist bacterial communities in specific environments, which could benefit the plant host. Our study will provide insights into the plant host regulation of the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities, especially during frequent drought conditions anticipated in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumyadev Sarkar
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Abigail Kamke
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Ward
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Aoesta K. Rudick
- Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Sara G. Baer
- Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - QingHong Ran
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Brandi Feehan
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Shiva Thapa
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren Anderson
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Matthew Galliart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas, USA
| | - Ari Jumpponen
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Loretta Johnson
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Sonny T. M. Lee
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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3
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Climate variability supersedes grazing to determine the anatomy and physiology of a dominant grassland species. Oecologia 2022; 198:345-355. [PMID: 35018484 PMCID: PMC8858925 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05106-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
Grassland ecosystems are historically shaped by climate, fire, and grazing which are essential ecological drivers. These grassland drivers influence morphology and productivity of grasses via physiological processes, resulting in unique water and carbon-use strategies among species and populations. Leaf-level physiological responses in plants are constrained by the underlying anatomy, previously shown to reflect patterns of carbon assimilation and water-use in leaf tissues. However, the magnitude to which anatomy and physiology are impacted by grassland drivers remains unstudied. To address this knowledge gap, we sampled from three locations along a latitudinal gradient in the mesic grassland region of the central Great Plains, USA during the 2018 (drier) and 2019 (wetter) growing seasons. We measured annual biomass and forage quality at the plot level, while collecting physiological and anatomical traits at the leaf-level in cattle grazed and ungrazed locations at each site. Effects of ambient drought conditions superseded local grazing treatments and reduced carbon assimilation and total productivity in A. gerardii. Leaf-level anatomical traits, particularly those associated with water-use, varied within and across locations and between years. Specifically, xylem area increased when water was more available (2019), while xylem resistance to cavitation was observed to increase in the drier growing season (2018). Our results highlight the importance of multi-year studies in natural systems and how trait plasticity can serve as vital tool and offer insight to understanding future grassland responses from climate change as climate played a stronger role than grazing in shaping leaf physiology and anatomy.
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Lihui M, Xiaoli L, Jie C, Youke W, Jingui Y. Effects of Slope Aspect and Rainfall on Belowground Deep Fine Root Traits and Aboveground Tree Height. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:684468. [PMID: 34737758 PMCID: PMC8562384 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.684468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The vertical root distribution and rooting depth are the main belowground plant functional traits used to indicate drought resistance in arid and semiarid regions. The effects of the slope aspect on the aboveground traits are visible but not the belowground deep root traits. We aimed to investigate the fine root traits of the locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) planted on southerly and northerly aspects, and the variations in the rooting depth in regions with different rainfall, as well as assessing how deep rooting, might affect the response to drought in a loess region. We selected three study sites with different rainfall amounts, with six sampling plots at each site (three each with southerly and northerly aspects). Soil core samples were collected down to the depth where no roots were present. The locust trees tended to develop deeper fine roots rather than greater heights. The tree height and diameter were greater for locust trees on northerly aspects, whereas trees on southerly aspects had significantly deeper rooting depths. Fine root traits (root length, root area, and root dry weight density) were higher in the southerly aspect for both Changwu and Ansai, but lower in Suide. The ratio of the root front depth tree height ranged from 1.04 to 3.17, which was higher on southerly than northerly aspects, and it increased as the rainfall decreased. Locust tree growth traits (belowground fine root and aboveground tree height) were positively correlated with the mean annual rainfall. The soil moisture content of the topsoil decreased as the rainfall decreased, but the pattern varied in the deep layer. Our results suggest that the variations in the belowground rooting depth under different slope aspects may be related to plant survival strategies. The vertical extension of the rooting depth and tree height may be key functional traits that determine plant growth in drought-prone regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma Lihui
- Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Liu Xiaoli
- College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- *Correspondence: Liu Xiaoli,
| | - Chai Jie
- Language Culture College, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Wang Youke
- Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yang Jingui
- College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Galliart M, Sabates S, Tetreault H, DeLaCruz A, Bryant J, Alsdurf J, Knapp M, Bello NM, Baer SG, Maricle BR, Gibson DJ, Poland J, St Amand P, Unruh N, Parrish O, Johnson L. Adaptive genetic potential and plasticity of trait variation in the foundation prairie grass Andropogon gerardii across the US Great Plains' climate gradient: Implications for climate change and restoration. Evol Appl 2020; 13:2333-2356. [PMID: 33005227 PMCID: PMC7513703 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant response to climate depends on a species' adaptive potential. To address this, we used reciprocal gardens to detect genetic and environmental plasticity effects on phenotypic variation and combined with genetic analyses. Four reciprocal garden sites were planted with three regional ecotypes of Andropogon gerardii, a dominant Great Plains prairie grass, using dry, mesic, and wet ecotypes originating from western KS to Illinois that span 500-1,200 mm rainfall/year. We aimed to answer: (a) What is the relative role of genetic constraints and phenotypic plasticity in controlling phenotypes? (b) When planted in the homesite, is there a trait syndrome for each ecotype? (c) How are genotypes and phenotypes structured by climate? and (d) What are implications of these results for response to climate change and use of ecotypes for restoration? Surprisingly, we did not detect consistent local adaptation. Rather, we detected co-gradient variation primarily for most vegetative responses. All ecotypes were stunted in western KS. Eastward, the wet ecotype was increasingly robust relative to other ecotypes. In contrast, fitness showed evidence for local adaptation in wet and dry ecotypes with wet and mesic ecotypes producing little seed in western KS. Earlier flowering time in the dry ecotype suggests adaptation to end of season drought. Considering ecotype traits in homesite, the dry ecotype was characterized by reduced canopy area and diameter, short plants, and low vegetative biomass and putatively adapted to water limitation. The wet ecotype was robust, tall with high biomass, and wide leaves putatively adapted for the highly competitive, light-limited Eastern Great Plains. Ecotype differentiation was supported by random forest classification and PCA. We detected genetic differentiation and outlier genes associated with primarily precipitation. We identified candidate gene GA1 for which allele frequency associated with plant height. Sourcing of climate adapted ecotypes should be considered for restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mary Knapp
- State ClimatologistKansas State UniversityManhattanKSUSA
| | | | - Sara G. Baer
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of KansasLawrenceKSUSA
| | - Brian R. Maricle
- Department of Biological SciencesFort Hays State UniversityHaysKSUSA
| | - David J. Gibson
- Plant Biology and Center for EcologySouthern Illinois UniversityCarbondaleILUSA
| | - Jesse Poland
- Plant PathologyKansas State UniversityManhattanKSUSA
| | - Paul St Amand
- Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research UnitUSDA‐ARSManhattanKSUSA
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6
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Niche Estimation Above and Below the Species Level. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34:260-273. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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7
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Galliart M, Bello N, Knapp M, Poland J, St Amand P, Baer S, Maricle B, Smith AB, Johnson L. Local adaptation, genetic divergence, and experimental selection in a foundation grass across the US Great Plains' climate gradient. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:850-868. [PMID: 30468548 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Many prior studies have uncovered evidence for local adaptation using reciprocal transplant experiments. However, these studies are rarely conducted for a long enough time to observe succession and competitive dynamics in a community context, limiting inferences for long-lived species. Furthermore, the genetic basis of local adaptation and genetic associations with climate has rarely been identified. Here, we report on a long-term (6-year) experiment conducted under natural conditions focused on Andropogon gerardii, the dominant grass of the North American Great Plains tallgrass ecosystem. We focus on this foundation grass that comprises 80% of tallgrass prairie biomass and is widely used in 20,000 km2 of restoration. Specifically, we asked the following questions: (a) Whether ecotypes are locally adapted to regional climate in realistic ecological communities. (b) Does adaptive genetic variation underpin divergent phenotypes across the climate gradient? (c) Is there evidence of local adaptation if the plants are exposed to competition among ecotypes in mixed ecotype plots? Finally, (d) are local adaptation and genetic divergence related to climate? Reciprocal gardens were planted with 3 regional ecotypes (originating from dry, mesic, wet climate sources) of Andropogon gerardii across a precipitation gradient (500-1,200 mm/year) in the US Great Plains. We demonstrate local adaptation and differentiation of ecotypes in wet and dry environments. Surprisingly, the apparent generalist mesic ecotype performed comparably under all rainfall conditions. Ecotype performance was underpinned by differences in neutral diversity and candidate genes corroborating strong differences among ecotypes. Ecotype differentiation was related to climate, primarily rainfall. Without long-term studies, wrong conclusions would have been reached based on the first two years. Further, restoring prairies with climate-matched ecotypes is critical to future ecology, conservation, and sustainability under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nora Bello
- Statistics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Mary Knapp
- State Climate Office, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Jesse Poland
- Dept of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | | | - Sara Baer
- Plant Biology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois
| | - Brian Maricle
- Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas
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8
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Bucharova A, Durka W, Hölzel N, Kollmann J, Michalski S, Bossdorf O. Are local plants the best for ecosystem restoration? It depends on how you analyze the data. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:10683-10689. [PMID: 29299248 PMCID: PMC5743477 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the key questions in ecosystem restoration is the choice of the seed material for restoring plant communities. The most common strategy is to use local seed sources, based on the argument that many plants are locally adapted and thus local seed sources should provide the best restoration success. However, the evidence for local adaptation is inconsistent, and some of these inconsistencies may be due to different experimental approaches that have been used to test for local adaptation. We illustrate how conclusions about local adaptation depend on the experimental design and in particular on the method of data analysis. We used data from a multispecies reciprocal transplant experiment and analyzed them in three different ways: (1) comparing local vs. foreign plants within species and sites, corresponding to tests of the “local is best” paradigm in ecological restoration, (2) comparing sympatric vs. allopatric populations across sites but within species, and (3) comparing sympatric and allopatric populations across multiple species. These approaches reflect different experimental designs: While a local vs. foreign comparison can be done even in small experiments with a single species and site, the other two approaches require a reciprocal transplant experiment with one or multiple species, respectively. The three different analyses led to contrasting results. While the local/foreign approach indicated lack of local adaptation or even maladaptation, the more general sympatric/allopatric approach rather suggested local adaptation, and the most general cross‐species sympatric/allopatric test provided significant evidence for local adaptation. The analyses demonstrate how the design of experiments and methods of data analysis impact conclusions on the presence or absence of local adaptation. While small‐scale, single‐species experiments may be useful for identifying the appropriate seed material for a specific restoration project, general patterns can only be detected in reciprocal transplant experiments with multiple species and sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bucharova
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology Institute of Evolution & Ecology University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany.,Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology University of Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau Germany
| | - Walter Durka
- Department of Community Ecology Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ Halle Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | - Norbert Hölzel
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research Group Institute of Landscape Ecology University of Münster Münster Germany
| | - Johannes Kollmann
- Department of Ecology & Ecosystem Management Restoration Ecology Technical University of Munich München Germany.,Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) Ås Norway
| | - Stefan Michalski
- Department of Community Ecology Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ Halle Germany
| | - Oliver Bossdorf
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology Institute of Evolution & Ecology University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany
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9
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Smith AB, Alsdurf J, Knapp M, Baer SG, Johnson LC. Phenotypic distribution models corroborate species distribution models: A shift in the role and prevalence of a dominant prairie grass in response to climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:4365-4375. [PMID: 28211151 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic distribution within species can vary widely across environmental gradients but forecasts of species' responses to environmental change often assume species respond homogenously across their ranges. We compared predictions from species and phenotype distribution models under future climate scenarios for Andropogon gerardii, a widely distributed, dominant grass found throughout the central United States. Phenotype data on aboveground biomass, height, leaf width, and chlorophyll content were obtained from 33 populations spanning a ~1000 km gradient that encompassed the majority of the species' environmental range. Species and phenotype distribution models were trained using current climate conditions and projected to future climate scenarios. We used permutation procedures to infer the most important variable for each model. The species-level response to climate was most sensitive to maximum temperature of the hottest month, but phenotypic variables were most sensitive to mean annual precipitation. The phenotype distribution models predict that A. gerardii could be largely functionally eliminated from where this species currently dominates, with biomass and height declining by up to ~60% and leaf width by ~20%. By the 2070s, the core area of highest suitability for A. gerardii is projected to shift up to ~700 km northeastward. Further, short-statured phenotypes found in the present-day short grass prairies on the western periphery of the species' range will become favored in the current core ~800 km eastward of their current location. Combined, species and phenotype models predict this currently dominant prairie grass will decline in prevalence and stature. Thus, sourcing plant material for grassland restoration and forage should consider changes in the phenotype that will be favored under future climate conditions. Phenotype distribution models account for the role of intraspecific variation in determining responses to anticipated climate change and thereby complement predictions from species distributions models in guiding climate adaptation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam B Smith
- Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jacob Alsdurf
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Mary Knapp
- Weather Data Library, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Sara G Baer
- Department of Plant Biology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, USA
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10
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Wilson LR, Gibson DJ, Baer SG, Johnson LC. Plant community response to regional sources of dominant grasses in grasslands restored across a longitudinal gradient. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laurel R. Wilson
- Department of Plant Biology; Center for Ecology; Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Carbondale Illinois 62901-6509 USA
| | - David J. Gibson
- Department of Plant Biology; Center for Ecology; Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Carbondale Illinois 62901-6509 USA
| | - Sara G. Baer
- Department of Plant Biology; Center for Ecology; Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Carbondale Illinois 62901-6509 USA
| | - Loretta C. Johnson
- Division of Biology; Kansas State University; Manhattan Kansas 66506 USA
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11
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Johnson LC, Olsen JT, Tetreault H, DeLaCruz A, Bryant J, Morgan TJ, Knapp M, Bello NM, Baer SG, Maricle BR. Intraspecific variation of a dominant grass and local adaptation in reciprocal garden communities along a US Great Plains' precipitation gradient: implications for grassland restoration with climate change. Evol Appl 2015; 8:705-23. [PMID: 26240607 PMCID: PMC4516422 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying suitable genetic stock for restoration often employs a 'best guess' approach. Without adaptive variation studies, restoration may be misguided. We test the extent to which climate in central US grasslands exerts selection pressure on a foundation grass big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), widely used in restorations, and resulting in local adaptation. We seeded three regional ecotypes of A. gerardii in reciprocal transplant garden communities across 1150 km precipitation gradient. We measured ecological responses over several timescales (instantaneous gas exchange, medium-term chlorophyll absorbance, and long-term responses of establishment and cover) in response to climate and biotic factors and tested if ecotypes could expand range. The ecotype from the driest region exhibited greatest cover under low rainfall, suggesting local adaptation under abiotic stress. Unexpectedly, no evidence for cover differences between ecotypes exists at mesic sites where establishment and cover of all ecotypes were low, perhaps due to strong biotic pressures. Expression of adaptive differences is strongly environment specific. Given observed adaptive variation, the most conservative restoration strategy would be to plant the local ecotype, especially in drier locations. With superior performance of the most xeric ecotype under dry conditions and predicted drought, this ecotype may migrate eastward, naturally or with assistance in restorations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob T Olsen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State UniversityHays, KS, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Mary Knapp
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS, USA
| | - Nora M Bello
- Statistics, Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS, USA
| | - Sara G Baer
- Plant Biology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale, IL, USA
| | - Brian R Maricle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State UniversityHays, KS, USA
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