Local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity drive leaf trait variation in the California endemic toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia).

ABSTRACT:

Premise

To survive climate change and habitat loss, plants must rely on phenotypic changes in response to the environment, local adaptation, or migration. Understanding the drivers of intraspecific variation is critical to anticipate how plant species will respond to climate change and to inform conservation decisions. Here we explored the extent of local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity in Heteromeles arbutifolia, toyon, a species endemic to the California Floristic Province.

Methods

We collected leaves from 286 individuals across toyon's range and used seeds from 37 individuals to establish experimental gardens in the northern and southern parts of toyon's range. We measured leaf functional traits of the wild-collected leaves and functional and fitness traits of the of

SUBMITTER: Thomas LG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11584042 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature