High differentiation in functional traits but similar phenotypic plasticity in populations of a soil specialist along a climatic gradient.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Plants experiencing contrasting environmental conditions may accommodate such heterogeneity by expressing phenotypic plasticity, evolving local adaptation or a combination of both. We investigated patterns of genetic differentiation and plasticity in response to drought in populations of the gypsum specialist Lepidium subulatum.

Methods

We created an outdoor common garden with rain exclusion structures using 60 maternal progenies from four distinct populations that substantially differ in climatic conditions. We characterized fitness, life history and functional plasticity in response to two contrasting treatments that realistically reflect soil moisture variation in gypsum habitats. We also assessed neutral genetic variation and population structure usin

SUBMITTER: Matesanz S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7218810 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature