Intraspecific trait variation driven by plasticity and ontogeny in Hypochaeris radicata.

ABSTRACT: The importance of intraspecific variation in plant functional traits for structuring communities and driving ecosystem processes is increasingly recognized, but mechanisms governing this variation are less studied. Variation could be due to adaptation to local conditions, plasticity in observed traits, or ontogeny. We investigated 1) whether abiotic stress caused individuals, maternal lines, and populations to exhibit trait convergence, 2) whether trait variation was primarily due to ecotypic differences or trait plasticity, and 3) whether traits varied with ontogeny. We sampled three populations of Hypochaeris radicata that differed significantly in rosette diameter and specific leaf area (SLA). We grew nine maternal lines from each population (27 lines total) under three greenhouse condi

SUBMITTER: Mitchell RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4204820 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature