Variable effects on growth and defense traits for plant ecotypic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity along elevation gradients.

ABSTRACT: Along ecological gradients, phenotypic differentiation can arise through natural selection on trait diversity and magnitude, and environment-driven plastic changes. The magnitude of ecotypic differentiation versus phenotypic plasticity can vary depending on the traits under study. Using reciprocal transplant-common gardens along steep elevation gradients, we evaluated patterns of ecotypic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity of several growth and defense-related traits for two coexisting but unrelated plant species, Cardamine pratensis and Plantago major. For both species, we observed ecotypic differentiation accompanied by plasticity in growth-related traits. Plants grew faster and produced more biomass when placed at low elevation. In contrast, we observed fixed ecotyp

SUBMITTER: Bakhtiari M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6468067 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature