Local adaptation is highly dependent on common garden conditions where seeds were propagated: Evidence from a 7‐year study on a dominant alpine meadow species

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 14, 2025

Abstract Combining common garden experiments with reciprocal transplant or sowing is widely used to assess local adaptation in plants. This approach effectively minimizes the potential influence of maternal environments derived from seed origin. However, impact divergent on assessment has received limited attention previous studies. To investigate effects diverse conditions adaptation, we conducted a 2‐year experiment followed by 5‐year experiment, both carried out at two different elevations. Seeds low‐ and high‐elevation populations Elymus nutans were directly sown propagate seeds for subsequent experiment. Multiple traits, including seedling emergence, survival, plant height, above‐ground biomass, number reproductive branches, per individual, measured experiments. comprehensive method allowed us examine variations across growth age life cycle stages. The original low‐elevation population consistently outperformed foreign site, regardless whether propagated low gardens, indicating clear adaptation. In contrast, showed only when garden. Long‐term revealed gradual decline strength E. over years. Local was most evident seeds, smaller advantages observed survival branches. No evidence detected other traits. Synthesis. primarily during early since seeding highly dependent which propagated. Therefore, it crucial carefully consider evaluating through

Language: Английский

Drivers of phenotypic variation and plasticity to drought in populations of a Mediterranean shrub along an environmental gradient

Environmental and Experimental Botany, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 228, P. 106011 - 106011

Published: Oct. 18, 2024

Language: Английский