Spatiotemporal heterogeneity in precipitation patterns explain population-level germination strategies in an edaphic specialist.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Many locally endemic species in biodiversity hotspots are restricted to edaphic conditions that are fixed in the landscape, limiting their potential to track climate change through dispersal. Instead, such species experience strong selection for germination strategies that can track suitable conditions through time. Germination strategies were compared among populations across the geographic range of a California vernal pool annual, Lasthenia fremontii Local germination strategies were tested to determine the associations with geographic variation in precipitation patterns.

Methods

This study evaluated patterns of seed germination, dormancy and mortality in response to simulated variation in the timing, amount and duration of the first autumn precipitatio

SUBMITTER: Torres-Martinez L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5321057 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature