A Range-Expanding Shrub Species Alters Plant Phenological Response to Experimental Warming

Shifts in plant species phenology (the timing of life-history events such as flowering) have been observed worldwide in concert with rising global temperatures. While most species display earlier phenology with warming, there is large variation among, and even within, species in phenological sensitivity to rising temperatures. Other indirect effects of climate change, such as shifting species composition and altered species interactions, may also be contributing to shifting plant phenology. Here, we describe how experimental warming and the presence of a range-expanding species, sagebrush (Artemisia rothrockii), interact to influence the flowering phenology (day of first and peak flowering) and production (number of flowers) of an alpine cushion plant, Trifolium andersonii, in California’s White Mountains. Both first flowering and peak flowering were strongly accelerated by warming, but not when sagebrush was present. Warming significantly increased flower production of T. andersonii, but less so in the presence of sagebrush. A shading treatment delayed phenology and lowered flower production, suggesting that shading may be the mechanism by which sagebrush presence delayed flowering of the understory species. This study demonstrates that species interactions can modify phenological responses to climate change, and suggests that indirect effects of rising temperatures arising from shifting species ranges and altered species interactions may even exceed the direct effects of rising temperatures on phenology.     

近地遥感在森林冠层物候动态监测中的应用

近地遥感技术是原位观测森林冠层物候的重要手段,具有高时间分辨率的优点,而且空间尺度适中,是实现物候尺度推绎的有力工具.本研究首先评述了利用3种光学传感器(辐射表、光谱仪和数码相机)监测森林物候的近地遥感方法;结合帽儿山通量观测站的实测数据分析识别物候期的不确定性来源,发现最重要的误差来自物候提取方法;剖析近地遥感与其他物候观测方法的衔接以及该技术自身存在的问题.最后提出该领域的重点研究方向: 加强冠层光学(或冠层结构)物候与功能(生理、生态过程)物候的联系;整合各区域冠层物候观测网络,实现冠层尺度的全球物候联网观测与数据共享;充分发挥近地遥感的优势,整合多源多尺度物候数据;发展近地遥感物候模型,改进动态全球植被模型中物候模拟.     

Flowering phenology and reproduction of a forest understorey plant species in response to the local environment

Temperate forest understorey plants are subjected to a strong seasonality in their optimal growing conditions. In winter and early spring, low temperatures are suboptimal for plant growth while light becomes limited later in spring season. We can thus expect that differences in plant phenology in relation to spatiotemporal environmental variation will lead to differences in reproductive output, and hence selection. We specifically studied whether early flowering, a paradoxical pattern that is observed in many plant species, is an adaptive strategy, and whether selection for early flowering was confounded with selection for flower duration or was attributable to environmental variables. We used Geum urbanum as a study species to investigate the effect of relevant environmental factors on the species’ flowering phenology and the consequences for plant reproductive output. We monitored the phenology of four to six plants in each of ten locations in a temperate deciduous forest (Belgium). We first quantified variation in flowering time within individuals and related this temporal variation to individual flower reproductive output. Then, we studied inter-individual variation here-in and linked this to reproduction at the plant level, hence studying the selection differential. We found that flowering within individual plants of Geum urbanum was spread over a long period from June to October. Reproductive output of individual flowers, measured as total seed mass per flower, declined during the season. We found no indication for selection for early flowering but rather for longer flower duration. Larger plants had an earlier flowering onset and a higher seed mass, which suggests that these factors covary and are condition dependent. None of the studied environmental variables could explain plant size, although soil pH and to a lesser extent light availability had a positive direct effect on seed mass per plant. Finally, we suggest that the high intra-individual variation in flowering time, which might be a risk spreading strategy of the plant in the presence of seed predation, limits the potential for selection on flowering phenology.

     

Density effects of flowering phenology and mating potential in Nicotiana alata

Summary We investigated effects of plant density on floral phenology and potential mating in artificial populations of the outcrossing ornamental Nicotiana alata planted at three densities. Path analysis revealed that increasing plant density yielded significantly earlier peak flowering dates, significantly earlier last flowering dates, and significantly lower plant biomass. Direct effects of density on final flower number were not significant. Variation among replicate plots for first date of flowering was larger than variation among densities, indicating that factors other than density influence floral initiation.We did not record actual mating, but determined from phenological data the number and identity of potential mates. Increased density had several effects on potential mating patterns and on potential N_e, effective population number. At high density, fewer focal plants flowered for shorter durations. This led to less overlap in flowering time among plants, decreasing the number of potential parental combinations possible among the progeny. Two outcomes of high density, the lower total number of plants flowering and the lower number of plants flowering at most census dates, tended to reduce potential N_e. In contrast, it was low density, where variance in flower number was greatest, that was most likely to yield the greatest reduction in N_e due to variance in progeny number.At high density the potential for assortative mating among tall plants was much greater and occurred later than among large plants at low density. Much of the potential high density assortative mating occurred late in the phenology of individual plants, when there was likely to be lower fruit set.We discuss how ecological agents that alter flowering phenology can potentially alter the genetics of populations, the level and timing of assortative mating and, if genetic variation for response to such ecological agents exists, the potential selection regime.     

Benefits of hyperspectral remote sensing for tracking plant invasions

Aim We aim to report what hyperspectral remote sensing can offer for invasion ecologists and review recent progress made in plant invasion research using hyperspectral remote sensing. Location United States. Methods We review the utility of hyperspectral remote sensing for detecting, mapping and predicting the spatial spread of invasive species. We cover a range of topics including the trade‐off between spatial and spectral resolutions and classification accuracy, the benefits of using time series to incorporate phenology in mapping species distribution, the potential of biochemical and physiological properties in hyperspectral spectral reflectance for tracking ecosystem changes caused by invasions, and the capacity of hyperspectral data as a valuable input for quantitative models developed for assessing the future spread of invasive species. Results Hyperspectral remote sensing holds great promise for invasion research. Spectral information provided by hyperspectral sensors can detect invaders at the species level across a range of community and ecosystem types. Furthermore, hyperspectral data can be used to assess habitat suitability and model the future spread of invasive species, thus providing timely information for invasion risk analysis. Main conclusions Our review suggests that hyperspectral remote sensing can effectively provide a baseline of invasive species distributions for future monitoring and control efforts. Furthermore, information on the spatial distribution of invasive species can help land managers to make long‐term constructive conservation plans for protecting and maintaining natural ecosystems.     

中国东部暖温带刺槐花期空间格局的模拟与预测

模拟刺槐开花日期与气温之间的空间关系,对于揭示蜜源植物物候空间格局形成的生态机制和掌握养蜂生产的时宜,具有重要的科学意义.利用中国东部暖温带26个站点1986-2005年的刺槐开花始期、盛期和末期数据,建立了基于日均温的多年平均和逐年物候空间模型,模拟多年平均和逐年刺槐开花日期的空间格局,并对模型进行了空间外推检验.进而,将1986-2005年8 km×8 km分辨率的日均温格点数据代人多年平均和逐年物候空间模型,得到连续地理空间多年平均和逐年刺槐开花日期的空间格局,并尝试设计了研究区内转地放蜂的适宜路线.结果表明:中国东部暖温带1986-2005年多年平均及逐年最佳期间日均温的空间格局分别控制着多年平均和逐年刺槐开花日期的空间格局.各地多年平均刺槐开花日期的空间序列与最佳期间日均温的空间序列呈显著负相关(P＜0.001),多年平均气温—物候空间模型对刺槐开花始期、盛期和末期的方差解释量分别为87％、86％和77％,模拟的均方根误差(RMSE)分别为2.5、2.7d和4.1d.同样,各地逐年刺槐开花日期的空间序列与最佳期间日均温的空间序列均呈显著负相关(P＜0.05),逐年气温-物候空间模型对刺槐开花始期、盛期和末期的方差解释量分别介于44％-94％、57％-92％和39％-84％之间,模拟的平均RMSE分别为3.9、4.0d和5.4d.预测得到的连续地理空间多年平均刺槐开花日期呈现出自南向北、从平原向丘陵和山地逐渐推迟的空间演进特征.据此,中国东部暖温带地区转地放蜂可以沿西线、中线和东线进行,放蜂的大致持续时间可达40-50 d.此外,预测得到的连续地理空间1986-2005年期间刺槐开花始期、盛期和末期的线性趋势以提前为主,呈显著提前的面积分别占总面积的78％、26％和32％.     

31种木本植物开花物候与系统发育的关系

植物物候通常被认为是由环境因素,如降水、温度和日照长度所决定,然而环境因素是否是物候唯一的决定因素仍然存在很大争议。谱系结构表征了植物在进化上的顺序,该发育时序是否对物候产生影响,当前仍然未知。在调查2016年春季新疆乌鲁木齐市最常见的31种木本植物的初始开花时间、败花时间和开花持续时间的基础上,通过分析植物开花物候的分布特征、开花物候在乔灌木间的差别、以及植物谱系距离与开花物候距离间的关系,试图揭示植物的开花物候和物种谱系(进化)顺序间的关系。结果表明:(1)新疆乌鲁木齐市31种木本植物的初始开花时间为4月18日±9d、败花时间为5月5日±12d、开花持续时间为(16±8)d;(2)乔木的初始开花时间和败花时间的标准差分别均低于灌木,乔木开花物候相对灌木更稳定;(3)乔木的初始开花和败花时间均显著早于灌木(P0.05),但开花持续时间在两者间未有显著性差异(P0.05);(3)31种木本植物间的初始开花时间距离、败花时间距离和开花持续时间距离均与物种谱系距离存在显著线性回归关系(P0.05)。综上可知:乔灌木在垂直空间上的分化使得木本植物的开花物候在植物生活型间存在不同。对植物的开花物候,除已被证明的降水、温度和日照长度等环境因素的影响外,物种进化顺序也可能造成了它在植物种间、时间和空间上的变异。     

Anthropogenic edges,isolation and the flowering time and fruit set of Anadenanthera peregrina,a cerrado savanna tree

Fragmentation exposes plants to extreme environmental conditions with implications for species phenology and reproduction. We investigated whether isolation and edge effects influence size, flowering time, fruit set, and seedling establishment of Anadenanthera peregrina var. falcata. We compared trees in the interior (n?=?85), and on the edge (n?=?74) of a cerrado savanna fragment as well as in a pasture (n?=?26) with respect to size, flowering phenology, flower and fruit production, fruit and seed set, predispersal seed predation, and seedling establishment. Trees in the pasture were larger and produced a higher number of flowers and fruits than trees on the edge and interior, yet seed set did not differ across environments. The plant size structure explained the flower and fruit production, and the self-compatibility breeding system caused a similar seed set regardless of the environment. First flowering was later and fruit set higher in the interior. We argue that time of first flower influenced the fruit set of Anadenathera. Edge and isolated trees started to flower earlier as a response to microclimatic conditions—mainly temperature—reducing the fruit set. Predispersal seed predation was lower among pasture trees. Conversely, we found seedlings only on the edge and in the interior of cerrado, suggesting that the pasture was of poor quality habitat for Anadenanthera recruitment. Isolation affected the plant size structure and reproduction of Anadenanthera trees. Studies comparing plant phenology under contrasting environmental conditions may offer clues on how global change may affect plant reproduction in the tropics.     

干旱区土壤盐渍化特征空间建模

当前,土壤盐渍化以及因灌溉引起的土壤次生盐渍化问题是我国干旱、半干旱区所面临的主要生态环境问题。在特征空间理论的支持下,以波谱分解技术为基础,以Landsat-TM、Landsat-ETM+多光谱遥感影像和野外调查数据为基础数据源,通过分析干旱区土壤盐渍化对地表生物物理特征的影响,探讨了表征盐渍化过程与地表生物物理特征之间的规律及定量关系,进而利用土壤盐渍化遥感监测中关键的3个指标——经过波谱分解技术获得的直接表征盐渍化的土壤盐渍化光谱、间接表征盐渍化的植被覆盖度和土壤水分含量协同构建了二维特征空间支持下的土壤盐渍化遥感监测模型VSSI(Vegetation fraction and Soil fraction Soil Index)、SVSI(Soil water contents and Vegetation fraction Soil Index)、SSSI(Soil water contents and Soil salinization fraction Soil Index)和三维特征空间支持下的土壤盐渍化遥感监测模型SVWSI和SDI。研究结果表明:基于三维特征空间建立的SVWSI(Soil salinization fraction-Vegetation fraction-Water contents Soil Index)和SDI(Soil Distance Index)模型对不同盐渍化程度土壤的敏感程度要高于基于传统二维特征空间建立的VSSI、SVSI和SSSI模型。其中,SVWSI和SDI模型与实测0—10 cm土壤盐分含量决定系数分别为R2=0.8325和R2=0.8646,这充分说明基于高维数特征空间所构建的土壤盐渍化遥感监测模型能更准确地反映盐渍化土壤地表盐量组合及其变化信息,且指标简单、易于获取,对于今后干旱区区域大尺度盐渍地信息提取以及动态监测研究具有重要意义。     

Mapping an invasive bryophyte species using hyperspectral remote sensing data

Reliable distribution maps are crucial for the management of invasive plant species. An alternative to traditional field surveys is the use of remote sensing data, which allows coverage of large areas. However, most remote sensing studies on invasive plant species focus on mapping large stands of easily detectable study species. In this study, we used hyperspectral remote sensing data in combination with field data to derive a distribution map of an invasive bryophyte species, Campylopus introflexus, on the island of Sylt in Northern Germany. We collected plant cover data on 57 plots to calibrate the model and presence/absence data of C. introflexus on another 150 plots for independent validation. We simultaneously acquired airborne hyperspectral (APEX) images during summer 2014, providing 285 spectral bands. We used a Maxent modelling approach to map the distribution of C. introflexus. Although C. introflexus is a small and inconspicuous species, we were able to map its distribution with an overall accuracy of 75 %. Reducing the sampling effort from 57 to 7 plots, our models performed fairly well until sampling effort dropped below 12 plots. The model predicts that C. introflexus is present in about one quarter of the pixels in our study area. The highest percentage of C. introflexus is predicted in the dune grassland. Our findings suggest that hyperspectral remote sensing data have the potential to provide reliable information about the degree of bryophyte invasion, and thus provide an alternative to traditional field mapping approaches over large areas.     

Mapping three invasive weeds using airborne hyperspectral imagery

Invasive plant species present a serious problem to the natural environment and have adverse ecological and economic impacts on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems they invade. This article presents three case studies on the use of hyperspectral remote sensing for mapping invasive plant species in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Methods and procedures for acquisition, processing and classification of airborne hyperspectral imagery as well as accuracy assessment are presented. Examples are excerpted and adapted from published work to illustrate how airborne hyperspectral imagery has been used to map two terrestrial weeds, Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei Buchholz) and Broom snakeweed [Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh.) Britt. and Rusby], and one aquatic weed, waterhyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms], in Texas. In addition to the standard classification methods used in the previous studies, a spectral unmixing technique, mixture tuned matched filtering (MTMF), was applied to the three study cases and the classification results are reported in this paper. A brief discussion is provided on the considerations of different types of remote sensing imagery for mapping invasive weeds.     

A resurrection study reveals limited evolution of phenology in response to recent climate change across the geographic range of the scarlet monkeyflower

Premise of the studyAs global climate change alters drought regimes, rapid evolution of traits that facilitate adaptation to drought can rescue populations in decline. The evolution of phenological advancement can allow plant populations to escape drought, but evolutionary responses in phenology can vary across a species'' range due to differences in drought intensity and standing genetic variation.Methods Mimulus cardinalis, a perennial herb spanning a broad climatic gradient, recently experienced a period of record drought. Here, we used a resurrection study comparing flowering time and stem height at first flower of pre‐drought ancestors and post‐drought descendants from northern‐edge, central, and southern‐edge populations in a common environment to examine the evolution of drought escape across the latitudinal range.Key resultsContrary to the hypothesis of the evolution of advanced phenology in response to recent drought, flowering time did not advance between ancestors and descendants in any population, though storage condition and maternal effects could have impacted these results. Stem height was positively correlated with flowering time, such that plants that flowered earlier were shorter at first flower. This correlation could constrain the evolution of earlier flowering time if selection favors flowering early at a large size.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that rapid evolution of phenology will not rescue these populations from recent climate change. Future work is needed to examine the potential for the evolution of alternative drought strategies and phenotypic plasticity to buffer M. cardinalis populations from changing climate.     

植物物候研究进展

植物物候直接反映了气候变化的影响,是植被动态模拟的关键.在遥感和模型技术的推动下,植物物候与全球变化关系的研究日益受到人们的关注.文中从植物物候与环境因子的相互关系、植物物候对全球变化的响应以及植物物候的遥感监测方面,综合论述了植物物候的研究进展,找出植被物候研究的不足,进而提出未来植被物候的研究方向.     

Differentiating aquatic plant communities in a eutrophic river using hyperspectral and multispectral remote sensing

1. This study evaluates the efficacy of remote sensing technology to monitor species composition, areal extent and density of aquatic plants (macrophytes and filamentous algae) in impoundments where their presence may violate water‐quality standards. 2. Multispectral satellite (IKONOS) images and more than 500 in situ hyperspectral samples were acquired to map aquatic plant distributions. By analyzing field measurements, we created a library of hyperspectral signatures for a variety of aquatic plant species, associations and densities. We also used three vegetation indices. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), near‐infrared (NIR)‐Green Angle Index (NGAI) and normalized water absorption depth (D_H)_, at wavelengths 554, 680, 820 and 977 nm to differentiate among aquatic plant species composition, areal density and thickness in cases where hyperspectral analysis yielded potentially ambiguous interpretations. 3. We compared the NDVI derived from IKONOS imagery with the in situ, hyperspectral‐derived NDVI. The IKONOS‐based images were also compared to data obtained through routine visual observations. Our results confirmed that aquatic species composition alters spectral signatures and affects the accuracy of remote sensing of aquatic plant density. The results also demonstrated that the NGAI has apparent advantages in estimating density over the NDVI and the D_H. 4. In the feature space of the three indices, 3D scatter plot analysis revealed that hyperspectral data can differentiate several aquatic plant associations. High‐resolution multispectral imagery provided useful information to distinguish among biophysical aquatic plant characteristics. Classification analysis indicated that using satellite imagery to assess Lemna coverage yielded an overall agreement of 79% with visual observations and >90% agreement for the densest aquatic plant coverages. 5. Interpretation of biophysical parameters derived from high‐resolution satellite or airborne imagery should prove to be a valuable approach for assessing the effectiveness of management practices for controlling aquatic plant growth in inland waters, as well as for routine monitoring of aquatic plants in lakes and suitable lentic environments.     

高光谱遥感技术在植物功能性状监测中的应用与展望

植物功能性状作为指示植物对环境适应和进化的可量度特征,其变异格局和驱动机制是植物生态学和地球系统建模的重要研究内容。传统野外测定方法费时费力费钱,且通常关注生长季和优势物种,使得功能性状的尺度延展和时空覆盖存在极大挑战。近些年兴起的多尺度高光谱遥感技术为解决当前植物功能性状数据时空覆盖度差的问题提供了新的思路和方法。该文在概述高光谱遥感技术监测植物功能性状的基本原理和发展简史的基础上,详细介绍了当前光谱-性状关系的主要建模方法,即经验或半经验方法、物理模型反演方法,其中以经验统计模型方法中的偏最小二乘回归使用最为广泛。进一步结合实例,重点讨论了高光谱遥感技术在叶片、群落和景观尺度监测植物功能性状的应用及存在的主要问题。最后,为促进高光谱技术在植物功能性状及其多样性监测方面的研究,提出以下4个未来应该重点关注的方向:1)检验光谱-性状模型的普适性,并解析其背后的调控机理;2)发展光谱-性状关系尺度延展的方法体系;3)解析植物功能性状及其多样性的时空变异和调控机制; 4)探究环境-植物功能多样性-生物多样性-生态系统功能间的关联。     

Some pollination strategies in neotropical savannas and forests

Previously published data on flowering phenology and pollination of neotropical families are reviewed and compared with new observations, in order to evaluate some trends of pollination strategies in neotropical savannas and forests. Central American forestBignoniaceae apparently diminish competition between sympatric species with identical pollination strategies by alternating flowering. On the other hand, in theBignoniaceae of Brazilian cerrado savannas coincident flowering is more common, suggesting different pollination strategies. Bees specialized in nectar robbery are associated withBignoniaceae, particularly mass-flowering species. These nectar robbers stimulate pollinator movements between flowers and thus increase pollen-flow. The flowering phenology of theMalpighiaceae from forests and savannas apparently follows the phenology of theAnthophorinae (mainlyCentridini)-bees, on which this plant group almost exclusively depends for pollination in the Neotropics. As the flowers of different genera and species are very uniform, the bees quite indiscriminately pollinate coexistingMalpighiaceae taxa. In theMalvaceae, the more primitive tree or shrub habit and an allogamous reproduction system is quite significantly associated with an ornithophilous pollination mode. Hummingbirds in the Neotropics have probably influenced the origin of the primitive bird-pollinatedMalvaceae flower. In conjunction with the diversification of theMalvaceae and their migration into more open regions, pollination by bees has apparently become more prominent. ChiropterophilousMalvaceae seem to have developed more recently from ornithophilous ancestors within the neotropical forest regions. As a result of this ecological radiation, parallel modifications of the basic ornithophilous flower principle can be traced in different groups of theMalvaceae. Dynastinae-beetles are pollinators of South and Central American species ofAnnona, Cymbopetalum, Caladium, Talauma, Philodendron, Victoria, Nymphaea, Cyclanthus, Bactris and others. In many cases the relationship between flowers and theirDynastinae visitors is not very specific, principally reflecting differences in the faunistic spectrum of diverse regions and vegetation types. The attraction of these beetles as flower visitors in several unrelated groups of Angiosperms must have occurred repeatedly. It is suggested that the flower visiting species of this beetle group may have acquired their preference for certain pungent or aromatic flower odours by their feeding habits during the larval stage.     

桉树叶片光合色素含量高光谱估算模型

色素在植物的生理生态过程中非常重要,利用高光谱数据,揭示光谱反射率上特征波段与光合色素含量间的关系将有助于理解光合色素光谱反射特征的规律,同时为利用高光谱遥感技术快速无损监测植物叶片光合色素提供了技术支持.利用野外采集的桉树叶片样本,在实验室内测定了叶片的高光谱反射率及对应的叶绿素、类胡萝卜素含量.利用光谱分析技术和统计学方法对光谱数据进行处理分析,提取了光谱特征参量,并建立叶绿素、类胡萝卜素含量与光谱特征参量间的估算模型.通过精度检验,研究结果表明以(SDr-SDb)/(SDr+SDb)为变量建立的指数模型估算效果最佳.     

Informing native plant sourcing for ecological restoration: cold‐hardiness dynamics,flowering phenology,and survival of Eriogonum umbellatum

Despite advances in restoration of degraded lands around the world, native plants are still underutilized. Selection of appropriate plant materials is a critical factor in determining plant establishment and persistence. To better inform decision‐making, we examined cold‐hardiness dynamics, flowering phenology, and survival among five geographically distinct sulfur‐flower buckwheat (Polygonaceae: Eriogonum umbellatum Torr.) populations in a common garden. LT₅₀ (a measure of freezing injury) was determined every 6 weeks across a complete year; one population was also evaluated at the source. Cold‐hardiness dynamics were similar across populations, with annual fluctuations in mean LT₅₀ exceeding 40°C. Rate of deacclimation (i.e. loss of cold tolerance) in spring varied across populations and was not related to the elevation from which a population came. Plants were less cold hardy in October 2014 compared to October 2013, likely reflecting a response to colder local conditions in 2013. Although the range of LT₅₀ was similar for a single comparison of common garden versus wild‐grown plants, wild‐grown plants acclimated and deacclimated earlier than common garden‐grown plants. Plants derived from a low‐elevation population showed delayed flowering phenology, while high‐elevation populations showed earlier flowering phenology, with one high‐elevation population having the lowest survival rate in the common garden. These results suggest that while considerable plasticity in seasonal cold‐hardiness dynamics occur, population variability in deacclimation and flowering phenology have implications for selection and movement of sulfur‐flower buckwheat for ecological restoration.     

Phylogenetic conservatism and climate factors shape flowering phenology in alpine meadows

The study of phylogenetic conservatism in alpine plant phenology is critical for predicting climate change impacts; currently we have a poor understanding of how phylogeny and climate factors interactively influence plant phenology. Therefore, we explored the influence of phylogeny and climate factors on flowering phenology in alpine meadows. For two different types of alpine plant communities, we recorded phenological data, including flowering peak, first flower budding, first flowering, first fruiting and the flowering end for 62 species over the course of 5 years (2008–2012). From sequences in two plastid regions, we constructed phylogenetic trees. We used Blomberg’s K and Pagel’s lambda to assess the phylogenetic signal in phenological traits and species’ phenological responses to climate factors. We found a significant phylogenetic signal in the date of all reproductive phenological events and in species’ phenological responses to weekly day length and temperature. The number of species in flower was strongly associated with the weekly day lengths and followed by the weekly temperature prior to phenological activity. Based on phylogenetic eigenvector regression (PVR) analysis, we found a highly shared influence of phylogeny and climate factors on alpine species flowering phenology. Our results suggest the phylogenetic conservatism in both flowering and fruiting phenology may depend on the similarity of responses to external environmental cues among close relatives.     

Directional selection for early flowering is imposed by a re-associated herbivore - but no evidence of directional evolution

Alien plant species and the re-associated introduced herbivore are well-suited for gaining insights into ecological interactions between species and their evolutionary consequences. Ambrosia artemisiifolia was introduced to Japan in the 1880s, and its specialist insect herbivore Ophraella communa was introduced in 1996. Here, we experimentally tested the hypothesis that O. communa mediates selection on flowering phenology of A. artemisiifolia. We grew plants from stored seeds collected in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2009 and measured phenotypic selection on the first flowering date in a common garden where half of the plants were protected from herbivore damage. We observed stabilizing selection for flowering day in the absence of herbivores but directional selection toward earlier flowering when herbivores were present. Flowering time differed between seeds collected in different years, but these differences showed no clear trend and the flowering time fluctuated from year to year. We conclude that the introduced specialist herbivore mediates directional selection for earlier flowering, but that its introduction has not been associated with a change in flowering time. The lack of evolutionary change may be due to limited genetic variation or that selection by the herbivore is counteracted by selection through other selective agents in some years.