河北木蓝的叶表型可塑性研究

以中国分布最广、形态变异复杂且分类上存在争议的木蓝属植物河北木蓝(Indigofera bungeana Walp.)为研究对象,运用GIS技术从较大尺度上(17省28县29个居群)进行叶表型可塑性分析,利用表型可塑性指数和变异系数对叶表型可塑性进行评价,并对叶表型性状与环境因子的相关性进行分析。结果显示:河北木蓝叶表型性状在居群间的变异大于居群内;叶长、叶柄长、最少小叶数、最多小叶数、小叶长、小叶宽6个叶表型性状均具有可塑性,其中叶长的可塑性最大,小叶数目的可塑性最小;年均降水量是对叶表型可塑性影响最大的环境因子;6个叶表型性状与海拔均呈负相关,与年均气温呈正相关。研究结果可为河北木蓝的分类、适应性进化和开发利用奠定基础。     

树冠位置对香樟叶形态性状和异速生长关系的影响

为深入了解树冠位置对植物叶形态性状的影响,在常绿乔木香樟树冠上下2层和东南西北4个方位开展调查取样,系统分析了不同树冠位置间叶形态性状(叶长、叶宽、叶厚、叶柄长、叶柄直径和叶形指数)及其异速生长关系的差异性。结果表明,叶形态性状在不同树冠方位间均差异显著,但上下2层变化趋势不完全一致。在树冠上层,除叶形指数和叶炳长外,其余4个性状均表现为东侧最大。在树冠下层,除叶形指数外,其余5个性状指标均表现为东侧最小。在同一方位上,叶形态性状在上下2层间也存在一定差异,其中叶形指数多为下层高于上层,而其他形态性状多呈相反趋势。此外,树冠层次和方位的交互作用对叶片长、叶片厚、叶柄长和叶柄直径有显著影响。各层次和各方位叶形态性状间多为异速生长关系(即异速生长指数不等于1),且多无显著差异。在所有树冠层次和树冠方位,叶宽与叶厚、叶宽与叶炳长、叶长与叶厚及叶长与叶柄长之间均呈异速生长关系。可见,树冠位置对香樟叶形态性状的影响较大,但形态性状间的异速生长关系相对稳定,这是香樟叶形态性状表型可塑性和内在关系稳定性的重要体现。     

北沙柳种质资源居群表型多样性

该研究采用单因素方差分析、巢式方差分析、群落多样性指数分析等方法,以国家北沙柳种质资源库内13个居群的494个无性系为实验材料,通过表型性状(叶面积、叶周长、叶柄长、叶长、叶宽、长宽比、开枝角度、株高和地径)比较分析,探讨居群间和居群内表型分化程度、表型多样性和地理变异,为北沙柳种质资源遗传改良和生产提供理论依据。结果显示:(1)北沙柳表型性状变异丰富,变异系数范围为17.64%~28.79%,平均为22.53%。(2)在13个居群中,居群P2的Simpson、Shannon和Brilliouin平均多样性指数最高,居群P13最低;表型性状中分枝角度多样性指数最大,地径多样性指数最小。(3)表型性状分化系数为0.265 4,即北沙柳种质资源居群间表型变异为26.54%,居群内表型变异为73.46%。(4)主成分分析表明,叶面积、叶周长、叶长、叶柄长和叶宽对分组的贡献率较大;聚类分析将13个北沙柳居群可划分为四组;Mantel检验表明,地理距离与表型距离(欧氏距离)相关性不显著(r=0.192 3,P=0.082)。研究认为,居群内不同无性系的选育是北沙柳定向育种的主要研究方向;边缘居群的表型性状具有形成地理变异的趋势;遗传多样性高是北沙柳适应性强的物质基础。     

浙江扇脉杓兰野生居群的表型性状变异及其与地理-土壤养分因子的相关性

为揭示扇脉杓兰(Cypripedium japonicum Thunb.)表型性状的变异规律,以浙江临安6个野生居群(老殿、宝剑石、红蛇洞、清凉峰、大明山和里横塘)为研究对象,分析了叶片、萼片、子房及唇瓣等18个表型性状的变异幅度,并讨论了表型性状变异与地理-土壤养分因子间的相关性以及居群间和居群内的表型多样性.结果显示:6个居群18个表型性状(地径、下叶长、下叶宽、下叶长/宽比、上叶长、上叶宽、上叶长/宽比、中萼片长、中萼片宽、苞片长、苞片宽、子房长、花梗直径、花梗长、唇瓣长、唇瓣宽、植株展度和株高)测量值的F值为1.240 ～ 18.666,除花梗直径和株高外,其他16个性状均有极显著差异.各性状的变异系数为5.937％ ～ 26.349％,其中,唇瓣长的平均变异系数最小(6.119％)、苞片宽的平均变异系数最大(24.124％);居群间各性状的变异系数为8.139％～ 13.663％,平均变异系数为11.143％,其中,里横塘居群的平均变异系数最大、宝剑石居群的最小.各性状的多样性指数平均为1.977,其中地径的多样性指数最大(2.045)、苞片宽的最小(1.663).通过UPGMA聚类分析,可将6个居群划分为3组:清凉峰、大明山、老殿和宝剑石居群为1组;红蛇洞和里横塘居群分别各自成组,其中清凉峰和大明山居群的遗传距离最近.各表型性状间存在显著或极显著的相关关系;但仅地径与速效钾含量显著正相关(r=0.854),子房长、唇瓣长和宽与土壤全磷含量显著正相关(r值分别为0.916、0.854和0.914),植株展度与土壤pH显著正相关(r=0.810),其余性状与地理因子(包括经度、纬度和海拔)及土壤养分因子均无显著相关性.研究结果表明:扇脉杓兰野生居群表型性状存在丰富的变异和多样性,且与生境土壤中速效钾及全磷含量及土壤pH有关.     

独叶草叶片性状表型多样性研究

独叶草是特产于中国的一种珍稀濒危植物.为研究独叶草自然居群的叶片形态变异特征及影响因素,选取分布于陕西、四川、甘肃的9个自然居群,对独叶草叶片的叶面积、叶柄长、总齿数、末级叶脉数、盲脉数、网结脉数等指标进行统计分析.结果表明:(1)独叶草叶片各属性间存在显著相关性,个别性状表现出与地理位置的相关性.(2)主成分分析显示独叶草的末级叶脉数、叶面积、总齿数对变异有较大贡献,而网结脉贡献很小.(3)独叶草叶片性状居群间变异程度大于居群内,其中盲脉数量在各个居群间变异程度最大,而末级叶脉数为最稳定的性状.(4)将本研究中形态变异结果与前期的遗传分析结果对比分析认为独叶草形态变异主要来自生态环境,而非遗传组成.(5)独叶草居群的形态及遗传变异聚类结果都显示独叶草形态变异并不具有地理格局规律,可能由于地质历史变化打断了独叶草原本连续的分布区,遗传保守性使其仍然保持分布区断裂前的遗传特性,但其表型随着生境的变化表现出可塑性.     

优良单株家系辣木叶的表型性状分析

为挖掘辣木(Moranga oleifera)优良种质资源,对30个优良单株家系的叶片表型性状进行研究。结果表明,除叶形外,辣木不同家系间的叶柄和叶片颜色、复叶数、复叶柄长度和直径、复叶间距、叶长、叶宽均存在不同程度的差异。复叶数与复叶柄长度和直径、复叶间距、叶长、叶宽呈极显著正相关;主成分分析表明,叶长、叶宽、复叶柄长度和直径、复叶间距、叶柄和叶片颜色是区分辣木不同家系最主要的叶片性状指标。聚类分析结果表明,30个辣木家系可分为3大类,叶片表型性状存在显著差异的家系的遗传距离较远。因此,叶柄和叶片颜色、复叶数、复叶柄长度和直径、复叶间距、叶长、叶宽将为直观区分辣木家系提供参考。     

英德野生茶树叶片表型性状的遗传多样性分析

为了解英德野生茶树的叶片表型性状的遗传多样性及进化特点,对英德89份野生茶树资源的表型性状的变异系数、遗传多样性指数、表型分化系数进行分析。结果表明,89份资源的18项叶片性状的变异系数为12.90%~43.11%,平均27.86%;平均遗传多样性指数为1.12,表型分化系数为17.07%~45.51%,平均33.40%。聚类分析结果表明,当欧氏距离为21.5时, 所有材料可分为4大类,分类结果与地域分布有一定相关性。巢氏方差分析表明,在不同种群间和种群内,数量性状均有极显著差异。相关性分析表明,叶长与叶宽、叶面积、叶脉对数、叶长宽比、叶形呈极显著相关;叶形与叶长宽比、叶脉对数之间呈极显著相关;叶基与叶宽之间呈极显著相关;叶长宽比与叶尖、着生状态呈极显著负相关。因此,英德野生茶树资源存在丰富的遗传多样性,茶树种质资源类型原始型、进化型以及中间类型并存,但以中间类型和进化型为主。     

准噶尔盆地伊犁郁金香稳定碳同位素组成变化特征

选取准噶尔盆地古尔班通古特沙漠南缘9个样地中的伊犁郁金香(Tulipa il iensis )自然居群, 通过测定各居群中伊犁郁金香的稳定碳同位素组成d13C)、叶片和土壤中全氮、全磷、全钾以及水分含量, 分析伊犁郁金香d13C值与上述因子之间的相互关系。结果表明: 不同生境间伊犁郁金香d13C值差异不显著, 水分利用方式可能受其基因型的控制而较为保守, 同时在一定程度上也受生长环境中环境因子变化的影响, 因而会有小的变幅; 除了土壤中全钾含量之外, 伊犁郁金香的叶片全氮、全磷、全钾、叶片水分含量以及土壤全氮、全磷和土壤水分含量在不同生境间均存在显著差异; 其中伊犁郁金香叶片和土壤中的全 氮含量与d13C值呈显著正相关; 随着该植物叶片和土壤中水分含量的下降, 伊犁郁金香d13C值显著增大, 水分利用效率(WUE)明显提高。说明伊犁郁金香d13C值是植物的遗传学因子和环境因子共同作用的结果, 其叶片及土壤中的氮素含量和有效水分含量是影响伊犁郁金香d13C值的关键因子。     

不同居群山桐子果实表型性状变异及与环境因子的关系

以国内14个山桐子居群为研究对象,采用方差分析、相关性分析、聚类分析和主成分分析等方法,探究山桐子果实表型性状变异及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明：(1)山桐子的9个果实表型性状在居群间和居群内均有广泛变异,居群间各表型性状的变异系数为6.47%—32.51%,居群内各表型性状的变异系数为4.69%—35.21%。单串果穗重和单串果实重的变异系数较大,单果横径、单果纵径及单果重的变异系数均较小。河南农业大学林木种苗繁育工程技术中心居群表型变异最丰富,四川省方山村居群最小。山桐子果穗表型性状与果实产量性状呈显著正相关,通过聚类分析可将山桐子14个居群分为4个类群,类群Ⅳ中山桐子果实表型性状最为优良,果穗大、单果重,表现出突出的育种优势。(2)山桐子14个居群地土壤pH在5.36—8.49范围内,多数居群土壤为酸性,土壤有效氮、有效磷、有效钾含量低。(3)环境因子中全氮对山桐子果实表型性状影响较大,土壤pH、有效磷含量与果实表型性状存在显著相关性。山桐子果实表型性状存在丰富变异,果穗外形对其产量有着显著影响;土壤pH及有效磷含量是影响山桐子果实表型性状的主要土壤养分因子,在生产中或可通过调节...     

准噶尔盆地伊犁郁金香稳定碳同位素组成变化特征

选取准噶尔盆地古尔班通古特沙漠南缘9个样地中的伊犁郁金香（Tulipa iliensis）自然居群,通过测定各居群中伊犁郁金香的稳定碳同位素组成（δ^13C）、叶片和土壤中全氮、全磷、全钾以及水分含量,分析伊犁郁金香δ^13C值与上述因子之间的相互关系。结果表明：不同生境间伊犁郁金香δ^13C值差异不显著,水分利用方式可能受其基因型的控制而较为保守,同时在一定程度上也受生长环境中环境因子变化的影响,因而会有小的变幅：除了土壤中全钾含量之外,伊犁郁金香的叶片全氮、全磷、全钾、叶片水分含量以及土壤全氮、全磷和土壤水分含量在不同生境间均存在显著差异;其中伊犁郁金香叶片和土壤中的全氮含量与δ^13C值呈显著正相关：随着该植物叶片和土壤中水分含量的下降,伊犁郁金香δ^13C值显著增大,水分利用效率（WUE）明显提高。说明伊犁郁金香δ^13C值是植物的遗传学因子和环境因子共同作用的结果,其叶片及土壤中的氮素含量和有效水分含量是影响伊犁郁金香δ^13C值的关键因子。     

Adaptive plasticity in response to light and nutrient availability in the clonal plant Duchesnea indica

克隆植物蛇莓对光照强度和养分条件的适应性可塑性 表型可塑性可帮助植物缓冲环境压力并使其表型与当地环境相匹配,但目前仅少数性状的可塑性被广泛认为是适应性的。为充分理解可塑性的适应性意义,仍需进一步研究更多的植物功能性状及其环境因子。本研究将匍匐茎克隆植物蛇莓(Duchesnea indica)的21个基因型种植于不同的光照和养分条件下,并利用选择梯度分析检测了形态和生理可塑性对光照强度和养分有效性变化的适应性值。在遮荫条件下,蛇莓适合度(果实数、分株数和生物量)降低,节间缩短变细,成熟叶叶绿素含量降低,但叶柄长度、比叶面积、老叶叶绿素含量均增加。在低养分条件下,植株叶柄缩短,叶面积缩小变厚,叶绿素含量降低,但果实数量和根冠比增加。选择梯度分析表明,叶柄长度和老叶叶绿素含量对光照变化的可塑性是适应性的,老叶和成熟叶叶绿素含量对养分变化的可塑性也是适应性的。因此,不同性状的可塑性适应值取决于特定的生态背景。该研究的发现有助于理解克隆植物表型可塑性响应环境变化的适应性意义。     

三叶青叶表型多样性与地上部分总黄酮含量相关性

为揭示不同种源三叶青（Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels & Gilg）叶表型多样性变化及其与地上部分总黄酮含量的相关性,以49个三叶青种质资源（简称“资源”）为研究对象,对各资源叶表型的12个长度性状及7个比例性状进行比较,并采用相关性分析、因子分析和聚类分析方法对叶表型性状及其与种源地位置和地上部分总黄酮含量关系进行统计分析。结果表明：各资源叶长度性状存在较大差异,其中,小叶柄和侧生小叶叶片相关性状在三叶青资源鉴别过程中具有较高的参考价值;部分三叶青叶长度性状与比例性状间存在相关性,整体表现为叶柄增长,小叶叶片则更宽阔,而小叶叶片增长,叶片则朝狭长方向发展;中叶长和侧叶柄长等部分叶形性状与种源地纬度、经度或海拔存在显著（P<0.05）或极显著（P<0.01）相关性,可作为种源地地理位置初步判断依据;基于3个叶形公因子的聚类分析结果显示,49个三叶青资源叶形可划分为5个类型,各省（直辖市）三叶青叶类型数量呈以江西为中心,向周围辐射递减的趋势;三叶青地上部分总黄酮含量与种源地地理位置无显著相关性,但与叶片性状公因子（公因子1）呈极显著负相关（P<0.01）,与叶柄长度性状公因子（公因子2）呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）。本研究完善了三叶青形态学资料,为三叶青优良品种选育提供了形态学依据。     

Leaf morphological plasticity in three dominant tree species in the Sundarbans mangrove forest of Bangladesh in different salinity zones

Mangrove tree species show plasticity in their leaf morphological traits in different salinity zones. However, leaf morphological plasticity and its causes in different salinity zones are incompletely understood. To understand the mechanism of plasticity, this study investigated the responses of three dominant tree species Sundri (Heritiera fomes), Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha) and Goran (Ceriops decandra) of the Sundarbans to the salinity gradients. A total of 17 leaf parameters were measured and quantified. All collected data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical tools to investigate leaf morphological plasticity. A wide range of phenotypic plasticity was observed in all leaf parameters studied among the salinity zones of the Sundarbans. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s posthoc test revealed significant differences (P?<?0.05) in all leaf parameters among the salinity zones and confirming that there was a high degree of phenotypic plasticity among the salinity zones of the Sundarbans. Petiole length (PL), leaf area (LA) and leaf length/petiole length (LL/PL) showed high level of plasticity among the salinity zones of the Sundarbans for each species of Sundri, Gewa and Goran. Plasticity index (PI) was developed in this study for each species studied. High level of phenotypic plasticity in these leaf traits reflects fitness of these species to different saline environments. Our results provide clear evidence that all the leaf parameters measured for three tree species viz., Sundri, Gewa and Goran effectively utilizes a plastic strategy in different salinity zones in the Sundarbans. Morphological trait plasticity could serve as powerful biological indicators to predict the shift of leaf morphology in upcoming environmental change events like sea level rise and reduction of fresh water flow from upstream.

     

Integrative taxonomy recognized a new cryptic species within Stipa grandis from Loess Plateau of China

Stipa shanxiensis, a cryptic species within Stipa grandis that originated from central and western China, is described based on morphological, genomic, and ecological data from field and common garden experiments. Stipa shanxiensis morphologically resembles S. grandis, although phylogenetically it is closely related to the less morphologically similar Stipa baicalensis and Stipa krylovii. Of the eight significant morphological differences between S. shanxiensis and S. grandis, the two, cauline ligules longer than 2 cm with a filiform apex, and hairs shorter than 0.2 mm on the adaxial surface of the cauline uppermost leaves can be used to distinguish the species. Results from a common garden experiment verified that the two diagnostic characteristics were relatively stable and less morphologically plastic in response to environmental variation. Furthermore, a significant ecological divergence was found between S. shanxiensis and S. grandis, such that the former preferred warmer and more humid climates, and their predicted distribution was generally separated. Taken together, our results highlight that the integrative taxonomic approach was valuable for recognizing a new cryptic species in Stipa. In particular, we find that common garden experiments involving the effects of growth stage and characteristic position helped to morphologically diagnose cryptic species. These findings may also facilitate our understandings of ecological adaption and phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental change.     

Phenotypic plasticity and genetic differentiation of quantitative traits in genotypes of Leymus chinensis

Aims Adaptation mechanisms of plants to environment can be classified as genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity (environmental modification). The strategy and mechanism of plant adaptation is a hot topic in the field of evolutionary ecology. Leymus chinensis is one of constructive species in the Nei Mongol grassland. Particularly, Leymus chinensis is a rhizomatous and clonally reproductive grass, a genotype that can play an important role in the community. In this study, we aimed to (1) investigate the phenotypic plasticity of L. chinensis under different conditions, and (2) test the genetic differentiation and reaction norms (the relationship between the environment and the phenotype of an individual or a group of individuals) under four environmental conditions among different genotypes of L. chinensis. Methods Ten genotypes of L. chinensis were randomly selected. Under the control condition, we studied the effects of genotype, defoliation, drought and their interactions on 11 quantitative traits of growth (8 traits including photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, maximum net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, specific leaf area, relative growth rate, the number of tillers increased, aboveground and underground biomass growth), defense (total phenol concentration of leaf) and tolerance (non-structural carbohydrate content of root, root/shoot ratio) of L. chinensis. We studied the phenotypic plasticity, genetic differentiation and reaction norms mainly through tested the effect of environment and genotype on these traits. Important findings First, all 11 traits showed obvious phenotypic plasticity (i.e., significant effect of drought, defoliation and their interactions). The expression of 10 genotypes of L. chinensis was divergent under different environmental conditions. Interactions of genotype and environment significantly affected the maximum net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, specific leaf area, relative growth rate, total phenolic concentration of leaf, and total non-structural carbohydrate content of root. This indicated that the phenotypic plasticity of these five traits exhibited genetic differentiation. Second, the increase of number of tillers, belowground biomass and non-structural carbohydrate content of root did not show genetic differentiation under the same condition. The other eight traits showed significantly genetic differentiation, and the heritabilities (H²) of six traits related to growth were higher than 0.5. The leaf total phenol concentration and root/shoot ratio showed genetically differentiation only under the drought and defoliation condition, with the heritabilities being 0.145 and 0.201, respectively. These results explained why L. chinensis widely distributed in the Nei Mongol grassland, and provided genetic and environmental basis for related application and species conservation in this grassland ecosystem.     

Leaf size variations in a dominant desert shrub,Reaumuria soongarica,adapted to heterogeneous environments

The climate in arid Central Asia (ACA) has changed rapidly in recent decades, but the ecological consequences of this are far from clear. To predict the impacts of climate change on ecosystem functioning, greater attention should be given to the relationships between leaf functional traits and environmental heterogeneity. As a dominant constructive shrub widely distributed in ACA, Reaumuria soongarica provided us with an ideal model to understand how leaf functional traits of desert ecosystems responded to the heterogeneous environments of ACA. Here, to determine the influences of genetic and ecological factors, we characterized species‐wide variations in leaf traits among 30 wild populations of R. soongarica and 16 populations grown in a common garden. We found that the leaf length, width, and leaf length to width ratio (L/W) of the northern lineage were significantly larger than those of other genetic lineages, and principal component analysis based on the in situ environmental factors distinguished the northern lineage from the other lineages studied. With increasing latitude, leaf length, width, and L/W in the wild populations increased significantly. Leaf length and L/W were negatively correlated with altitude, and first increased and then decreased with increasing mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP). Stepwise regression analyses further indicated that leaf length variation was mainly affected by latitude. However, leaf width was uncorrelated with altitude, MAT, or MAP. The common garden trial showed that leaf width variation among the eastern populations was caused by both local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity. Our findings suggest that R. soongarica preferentially changes leaf length to adjust leaf size to cope with environmental change. We also reveal phenotypic evidence for ecological speciation of R. soongarica. These results will help us better understand and predict the consequences of climate change for desert ecosystem functioning.     

区域尺度上栓皮栎叶性状变异及其与气候因子的关系

叶片在长期进化过程中对环境变化敏感且对气候变化的响应表现出表型可塑性。栓皮栎(Quercus varaibilis)是亚洲大陆地理分布最广泛的树种之一,横跨温带和亚热带地区。本文在中国中东部区域内,选取了25个天然栓皮栎林种群,测量了其叶柄长度、叶片长度、叶片宽度、叶片面积、叶片干重等,并计算了比叶面积和叶形指数(叶片长宽比)等叶性状特征,探讨了区域尺度上叶片性状变异与气候因子关系的格局。结果表明,栓皮栎叶片性状在种群间和种群内均存在显著的变异;叶片宽度与年均温度呈显著的负相关,叶片宽度和叶片面积与纬度均呈显著正相关,说明叶宽及叶片面积相对于其他指标对气候因子的影响变化更敏感,并且在这一区域尺度上温度影响着叶片大小的变异格局。本研究结果为在全球气候变化背景下了解区域尺度上栓皮栎对环境变化的适应与响应机制提供了基础。     

Field patterns of leaf plasticity in adults of the long-lived evergreen Quercus coccifera

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Quercus coccifera, as a long-lived sprouter, responds plastically to environmental variation. In this study, the role of foliar plasticity as a mechanism of habitat selection and modification within the canopy and across contrasted habitats was characterized. An examination was made of the differential contribution of inner and outer canopy layers to the crown plasticity expressed in the field by adult individuals and its dependence on environmental and genetic factors. METHODS: Within-crown variation in eight foliar traits was examined in nine populations dominated by Q. coccifera. The difference between mean trait values at the inner and outer canopy layers was used as a proxy for crown plasticity to light. Correlations between geographic distances, environmental differences (climatic and edaphic) and phenotypic divergence (means and plasticities) were assessed by partial Mantel tests. A subset of field measurements was compared with data from a previous common garden experiment. KEY RESULTS: Phenotypic adjustment of sun leaves contributed significantly to the field variation in crown plasticity. Plasticity in leaf angle, lobation, xanthophyll cycle pigments and beta-carotene content was expressed in sun and shade leaves concurrently and in opposite directions. Phenotypic plasticity was more strongly correlated with environmental variation than mean trait values. Populations of taller plants with larger, thinner (higher specific leaf area) and less spiny leaves exhibited greater plasticity. In these populations, the midday light environment was more uniform at the inner than at the outer canopy layers. Field and common garden data ranked populations in the same order of plasticity. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of leaf plasticity resulted in a phenotypic differentiation that suggests a mechanism of habitat selection through division of labour across canopy layers. Signs of plasticity-mediated habitat modification were found only in the most plastic populations. Intracanopy plasticity was sensitive to environmental variation but also exhibited a strong genetic component.     

Morphological plasticity in response to shading in three Convolvulus species of different ecological breadth

We evaluated in common-garden experiments the morphological plasticity to shading of three Convolvulus species that occur in Chile and differ in ecological breadth. Convolvulus arvensis L. is a world weed distributed along the country, and is found in open as well as in shaded habitats. Convolvulus chilensis Pers. is a Chilean endemic species typical of coastal habitats, and is found in open to partially open sites. C. demissus choisy occurs only on slopes of the Andes of Chile and Argentina, habitats with high incidence of solar radiation. We hypothesized that the magnitude of phenotypic plasticity to shading of these species would correlate with their ecological breadth. Shading had a significant effect on internode length, petiole length, stem diameter, stem length, number of branches, leaf area, leaf shape, leaf biomass, and specific leaf area. Species differed in all the morphological traits except leaf biomass. A significant Shading × Species interaction in the two-way ANOVA, i.e. differential plasticity to shading of Convolvulus species, was found for petiole length, stem length, number of branches, leaf shape, and specific leaf area. Contrary to our hypothesis, tests of parallelism showed that, in general, the plasticity to shading of C. chilensis (the species of intermediate ecological breadth) was the greatest, and that of C. arvensis (the weed) and C. demissus (the species of narrow distribution) was similar. Issues of ecotype differentiation, in the case of C. arvensis, and the role of life history traits are raised to explain the observed lack of association between ecological breadth and magnitude of phenotypic plasticity.