Rapid evolution of flower phenology and clonality in restored populations of multiple grassland species

Author:

Bucharova Anna1ORCID,Conrady Malte2ORCID,Klein‐Raufhake Theresa2ORCID,Ratka Victoria2,Schultz Franziska2,Hölzel Norbert2ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Biology Philipps University Marburg Marburg Germany

2. Institute of Landscape Ecology University of Münster Münster Germany

Abstract

Abstract Restoration of terrestrial ecosystems often requires re‐introduction of plants. In restored sites, the plants often face environments that differ from those of natural populations. This can affect plant traits, reduce performance and impose novel selection pressures. As a response, restored populations might rapidly evolve and adapt to the novel conditions. This may enhance population survival and contribute to restoration success, but has been rarely tested so far. Here, we focused on populations of three grassland species restored 20 years ago (Galium wirtgenii, Inula salicina and Centaurea jacea) by the transfer of green hay, and compared them with donor populations that were the source of the hay. We measured plants both in situ, and in a common garden under control and three stress conditions. In situ, plants in restored sites flowered earlier than plants in donor sites in two out of the three species. In the common garden, plants from the restored populations flowered earlier (in Galium) or showed increased plasticity of clonal propagation in response to clipping (in Inula). Both these traits suggest rapid adaptation to the contrasting mowing regimes in restored in comparison with the donor sites. In Centaurea, we detected no differentiation, neither in situ, nor in the common garden. Synthesis and applications. Grassland plants introduced into degraded habitats within the framework of ecological restoration may quite commonly evolve in response to novel selection pressures at restored sites. This rapid evolution likely increases the plant's adaptation to the new conditions of the restored grassland and thus enhances the likelihood of survival of the population and ultimately restoration success. While most practitioners do not consider evolution to be part of restoration, our finding highlights that restored populations of grassland species can be systems with considerable eco‐evolutionary dynamics.

Publisher

Wiley

Cited by 2 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3