Ecophysiological adaptations shape distributions of closely related trees along a climatic moisture gradient.

ABSTRACT: Tradeoffs between the energetic benefits and costs of traits can shape species and trait distributions along environmental gradients. Here we test predictions based on such tradeoffs using survival, growth, and 50 photosynthetic, hydraulic, and allocational traits of ten Eucalyptus species grown in four common gardens along an 8-fold gradient in precipitation/pan evaporation (P/E_p) in Victoria, Australia. Phylogenetically structured tests show that most trait-environment relationships accord qualitatively with theory. Most traits appear adaptive across species within gardens (indicating fixed genetic differences) and within species across gardens (indicating plasticity). However, species from moister climates have lower stomatal conductance than others grown under the same condi

SUBMITTER: Smith DD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10630429 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature