Correlated patterns of variation in phenology and seed production in populations of two annual grasses along an aridity gradient |
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Authors: | Sergei Volis |
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Institution: | (1) Life Sciences Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel |
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Abstract: | I applied a comparative approach to reveal correlated patterns of variation in phenology and seed production in four populations
of two annual grasses Hordeum spontaneum and Avena sterilis, sampled in the same environments distributed along an aridity gradient in Israel. The steep aridity gradient in Israel represents
two parallel clines of environmental productivity (annual rainfall) and predictability (variation in amount and timing of
annual rainfall) that is likely to induce similar responses in natural plant populations distributed along the gradient, if
(1) selection is strong, (2) species share the same ecological niche, and (3) there is genetic variation for ecologically
important traits. I found in plants of both species (1) ultimate advance in onset of flowering, and (2) more but smaller seeds,
with increasing aridity. The broad sense heritabilities of onset of flowering, seed size and seed yield in both species were
very high, moderate and low, respectively. It appears that the observed adaptive complex of traits have evolved in both species
in response to this specific array of environments. |
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Keywords: | Local adaptation Seed size-number trade-off Population differentiation Comparative approach |
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