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07:54
Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
Published on: March 9, 2021
Phenotypic plasticity facilitates resistance to climate change in a highly variable environment
Sarah Richter1, Tabea Kipfer, Thomas Wohlgemuth
1Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
Oecologia
|November 15, 2011
Summary
Assisted migration of trees may be limited by trade-offs between drought adaptation and plasticity. Mediterranean Pinus sylvestris provenances showed better survival in drought but lower plasticity, suggesting continental provenances may adapt better to changing climates.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Forestry
- Climate Change Biology
Background:
- Climate change, particularly increased summer drought, threatens tree regeneration at distribution limits.
- Assisted migration, involving introducing drought-tolerant provenances or species, is proposed to aid forest persistence.
- Potential trade-offs between drought adaptation and growth plasticity may affect assisted migration success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of continental Pinus sylvestris provenances under drought and heat stress.
- To compare continental P. sylvestris with Mediterranean provenances (P. sylvestris and Pinus nigra) in a common garden experiment.
- To assess the impact of assisted migration strategies on tree species adaptation and forest persistence.
Main Methods:
- Common garden experiment simulating increased temperatures and extended spring/summer drought.
- Comparison of seedling emergence, survival, and biomass allocation.
- Analysis of phenotypic plasticity in response to varying precipitation and temperature regimes.
Main Results:
- Increased temperatures had minor effects; high spring precipitation boosted continental P. sylvestris seedling numbers.
- Mediterranean provenances exhibited higher emergence and survival under drought than continental P. sylvestris.
- Mediterranean seedlings showed lower plasticity under high precipitation, potentially limiting competitiveness in continental forests.
Conclusions:
- Continental Pinus sylvestris provenances demonstrate potential for adaptation to changing environmental conditions, indicated by high variability in drought response.
- Mediterranean provenances may be better suited for immediate drought survival but could face competitive disadvantages.
- Assisted migration strategies must consider the balance between drought tolerance and phenotypic plasticity for long-term forest resilience.
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