Introduction beyond a species range: a relationship between population origin, adaptive potential and plant...

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Plant science
• Conservation genetics

Background:

• Adaptive potential is crucial for species survival amidst climate change.
• Few studies assess adaptive potential across species ranges, especially comparing edge vs. core populations.
• No studies have tested adaptive potential and performance in future, novel environmental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate adaptive potential and performance of Triticum dicoccoides populations from range edges versus core areas.
• To evaluate how populations perform in future environmental conditions beyond their current climatic envelope.

Main Methods:

• Utilized transplant experiments to assess population performance.
• Analyzed quantitative trait variation to infer adaptive potential.
• Compared populations from species range edges with those from core areas.

Main Results:

• Edge populations were locally adapted but exhibited lower adaptive potential (less genetic variation) than core populations.
• Core populations outperformed edge populations in a novel, extreme drought environment.
• Plants from the arid edge performed worse than mesic core plants in conditions exceeding the species' current climate.

Conclusions:

• Peripheral populations may have reduced adaptive potential for future environmental changes.
• Conservation strategies must consider the variation in adaptive potential among populations.
• Intensive sampling of among-population variation is essential for effective conservation of Triticum dicoccoides.