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Evolutionary responses to climate change in a range expanding plant
Mirka Macel1,2, Tomáš Dostálek3,4, Sonja Esch5
1Plant Ecology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 5, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. mirkamacel@gmail.com.
Oecologia
|April 15, 2017
Summary
Climate change drives species poleward. Range-expanding plants show increased vigor and altered herbivore resistance in new areas, not adaptation to local conditions or enemy release.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Climate Change Biology
Background:
- Climate change is causing species to shift their geographic ranges towards the poles.
- Understanding evolutionary responses is crucial for predicting biological impacts of climate change.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate rapid adaptation in a range-expanding plant to novel environmental conditions.
- To determine if herbivores drive adaptation and if enemy release occurs in new ranges.
- To assess differences in herbivore resistance based on plant origin.
Main Methods:
- Reciprocal transplantation of cloned plants across three experimental sites spanning the species' range.
- Experimental manipulation of herbivory using open and closed cages.
- Analysis of plant performance, herbivore damage, and chemical defenses.
Main Results:
- No evidence of regional adaptation to abiotic conditions was found.
- Plants from the novel range consistently outperformed those from the core distribution, irrespective of herbivory.
- Higher herbivore damage in novel ranges indicated no enemy release; core genotypes experienced more damage in the north.
- Plants from the novel range exhibited more inducible chemical defenses.
Conclusions:
- Range-expanding plants may evolve increased vigor and modified herbivore resistance in new environments.
- These changes are analogous to traits observed in invasive species.
- Evolutionary responses, including vigor and defense shifts, can occur rapidly during range expansion.
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01:10Transcription
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