Ecological niche differences between two polyploid cytotypes of Saxifraga rosacea.

ABSTRACT:

Premise

Different cytotypes of a species may differ in their morphology, phenology, physiology, and their tolerance of extreme environments. We studied the ecological niches of two subspecies of Saxifraga rosacea with different ploidy levels: the hexaploid Central European endemic subspecies sponhemica and the more widely distributed octoploid subspecies rosacea.

Methods

For both cytotypes, we recorded local environmental conditions and mean plant trait values in populations across their areas of distribution, analyzed their distributions by niche modeling, studied their performance at two transplant sites with contrasting conditions, and experimentally tested their cold resistance.

Results

Mean annual temperature was higher in hexaploid than in octoploid populations

SUBMITTER: Decanter L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7216898 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature