Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
08:28
Mycorrhizal Maps as a Tool to Explore Colonization Patterns and Fungal Strategies in the Roots of Festuca rubra and Zea mays
Published on: August 26, 2022
Frequent long-distance plant colonization in the changing Arctic
Inger Greve Alsos1, Pernille Bronken Eidesen, Dorothee Ehrich
1National Centre for Biosystematics, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Post Office Box 1172 Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway. ingera@unis.no
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 16, 2007
Summary
Species can track ecological niches despite climate change. In the Arctic, establishment, not dispersal, limits plant distribution, suggesting unlimited dispersal for future range shift predictions.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Predicting species distribution under climate change is challenging due to uncertainties in niche tracking.
- Long-distance dispersal and establishment are key factors influencing species' ability to adapt to changing environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the colonization history and genetic diversity of plant species in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
- To determine the relative importance of dispersal versus establishment in limiting species distribution in a changing climate.
Main Methods:
- DNA fingerprinting, specifically amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP), was used to analyze genetic variation.
- Nine different plant species were sampled and analyzed to assess their colonization patterns and genetic relationships.
Main Results:
- Repeated long-distance colonization of Svalbard by plant species from multiple source regions was identified.
- Genetic diversity patterns were strongly correlated with species' temperature requirements, indicating establishment as a primary limitation.
- Propagule dispersal is likely facilitated by wind and sea ice, supporting long-distance colonization.
Conclusions:
- Establishment, rather than dispersal, is the main factor limiting the distribution of Arctic plant species.
- Assuming unlimited dispersal may be appropriate for predicting long-term range shifts in Arctic ecosystems under climate change.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Green Algae
Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
02:22The Colonization of Land
Changes in the environment of the early Earth drove the evolution of organisms. As prokaryotic organisms in the oceans began to photosynthesize, they produced oxygen. Eventually, oxygen saturated the oceans and entered the air, resulting in an increase in atmospheric oxygen concentration, known as the oxygen revolution approximately 2.3 billion years ago. Therefore, organisms that could use oxygen for cellular respiration had an advantage. More than 1.5 years ago, eukaryotic cells and...
02:12Short-distance Transport of Resources
Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.
02:17Ecological Succession
Ecological succession is influenced by the processes of facilitation, inhibition, and toleration. Facilitation occurs when early successional species create more favorable ecological conditions for subsequent species, such as enhanced nutrient, water, or light availability. In contrast, inhibition happens when early successional species create unfavorable ecological conditions for potential successive species, such as limiting resource availability. In some cases, later successional species...
01:25Colonisation of Pathogens
Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...
02:22Introduction to Plant Diversity
From Water to Land