Aims In perennial species,the allocation of resources to reproduction results in a reduction of allocation to vegetative growth and,therefore,impacts future reproductive success.As a consequence,variation in this trad...Aims In perennial species,the allocation of resources to reproduction results in a reduction of allocation to vegetative growth and,therefore,impacts future reproductive success.As a consequence,variation in this trade-off is among the most important driving forces in the life-history evolution of perennial plants and can lead to locally adapted genotypes.In addition to genetic variation,phenotypic plasticity might also contribute to local adaptation of plants to local conditions by mediating changes in reproductive allocation.Knowledge on the importance of genetic and environmental effects on the tradeoff between reproduction and vegetative growth is therefore essential to understand how plants may respond to environmental changes.Methods We conducted a transplant experiment along an altitudinal gradient from 425to1921 min the frontrange of the Western Alps of Switzerland to assess the influence of both altitudinal origin of populations and altitude of growing site on growth,reproductive investment and local adaptation in Poa alpina.Important findings In our study,the investment in reproduction increased with plant size.Plant growth and the relative importance of reproductive investment decreased in populations originating from higher altitudes compared to populations originating from lower altitudes.The changes in reproductive investment were mainly explained by differences in plant size.In contrast to genetic effects,phenotypic plasticity of all traits measured was low and not related to altitude.As a result,the population from the lowest altitude of origin performed best at all sites.Our results indicate that in P.alpina genetic differences in growth and reproductive investment are related to local conditions affecting growth,i.e.interspecific competition and soil moisture content.展开更多
In this extremely well-organized seminar various aspects of the POA were presented in the morning while in the afternoon a group of invited evaluators discussed the approach. I would like to thank the organizers of th...In this extremely well-organized seminar various aspects of the POA were presented in the morning while in the afternoon a group of invited evaluators discussed the approach. I would like to thank the organizers of the seminar for inviting me to join the panel of evaluators and to congratulate them on what proved an enlightening and rewarding experience.展开更多
基金Swiss National Science Foundation(grant 110000 to A.G.)the European Commission(FP6 projects MACIS and ECOCHANGE).
文摘Aims In perennial species,the allocation of resources to reproduction results in a reduction of allocation to vegetative growth and,therefore,impacts future reproductive success.As a consequence,variation in this trade-off is among the most important driving forces in the life-history evolution of perennial plants and can lead to locally adapted genotypes.In addition to genetic variation,phenotypic plasticity might also contribute to local adaptation of plants to local conditions by mediating changes in reproductive allocation.Knowledge on the importance of genetic and environmental effects on the tradeoff between reproduction and vegetative growth is therefore essential to understand how plants may respond to environmental changes.Methods We conducted a transplant experiment along an altitudinal gradient from 425to1921 min the frontrange of the Western Alps of Switzerland to assess the influence of both altitudinal origin of populations and altitude of growing site on growth,reproductive investment and local adaptation in Poa alpina.Important findings In our study,the investment in reproduction increased with plant size.Plant growth and the relative importance of reproductive investment decreased in populations originating from higher altitudes compared to populations originating from lower altitudes.The changes in reproductive investment were mainly explained by differences in plant size.In contrast to genetic effects,phenotypic plasticity of all traits measured was low and not related to altitude.As a result,the population from the lowest altitude of origin performed best at all sites.Our results indicate that in P.alpina genetic differences in growth and reproductive investment are related to local conditions affecting growth,i.e.interspecific competition and soil moisture content.
文摘In this extremely well-organized seminar various aspects of the POA were presented in the morning while in the afternoon a group of invited evaluators discussed the approach. I would like to thank the organizers of the seminar for inviting me to join the panel of evaluators and to congratulate them on what proved an enlightening and rewarding experience.
