Negative interaction effect of heat and drought stress at the warm end of species distribution.

ABSTRACT: Geographic range limits of species are often a reflection of their ecological niche limits. In many organisms, important niche limits that coincide with distribution limits are warm and warm-dry conditions. We investigated the effects of heat and drought, as they can occur at the warm end of distribution. In a greenhouse experiment, we raised North American Arabidopsis lyrata from the centre of its distribution as well as from low- and high-latitude limits under average and extreme conditions. We assessed plant growth and development, as well as leaf and root functional traits, and tested for a decline in performance and selection acting on growth, leaf, and root traits. Drought and heat, when applied alone, lowered plant performance, while combined stress caused synergistically negative e

SUBMITTER: Schepers JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10830594 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature