Asymmetric responses to simulated global warming by populations of Colobanthus quitensis along a latitudinal gradient.

ABSTRACT: The increase in temperature as consequence of the recent global warming has been reported to generate new ice-free areas in the Antarctic continent, facilitating the colonization and spread of plant populations. Consequently, Antarctic vascular plants have been observed extending their southern distribution. But as the environmental conditions toward southern localities become progressively more departed from the species' physiological optimum, the ecophysiological responses and survival to the expected global warming could be reduced. However, if processes of local adaptation are the main cause of the observed southern expansion, those populations could appear constrained to respond positively to the expected global warming. Using individuals from the southern tip of South America, the So

SUBMITTER: Acuna-Rodriguez IS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5607920 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature