Early Life History Divergence Mediates Elevational Adaptation in a Perennial Alpine Plant.

ABSTRACT: Spatially divergent natural selection can drive adaptation to contrasting environments and thus the evolution of ecotypes. In perennial plants, selection shapes life history traits by acting on subsequent life stages, each contributing to fitness. While evidence of adaptation in perennial plants is common, the expression of life history traits is rarely characterized, limiting our understanding of their role in adaptive evolution. We conducted a multi-year reciprocal transplant experiment with seedlings from low and high elevation populations of the alpine carnation Dianthus carthusianorum to test for adaptation linked to contrasting climates and inferred specific contributions of early life stages to fitness. We assessed genotype by environment interactions in single fitness compon

SUBMITTER: Palsson A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11493492 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature