IMBIV   05474
INSTITUTO MULTIDISCIPLINARIO DE BIOLOGIA VEGETAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Influence of altitude on local adaptation in upland tree species from central Argentina
Autor/es:
SEBASTIÁN R. ZEBALLOS; PAULA MARCORA; PAULA A. TECCO; HENSEN ISABELL
Revista:
PLANT BIOLOGY
Editorial:
WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
Referencias:
Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016 vol. 19 p. 123 - 131
ISSN:
1435-8603
Resumen:
Global warming is affecting species distribution, with mountains being among the most susceptible ecosystems. Steep climatic gradients boost morphological and physiological adjustments in mountain plants, with consequence on performance. The three principal woody species of the Sierras Grandes Mountains of Argentina (Polylepis australis, Maytenus boaria and Escallonia cordobensis) have marked differences in sapling performance along their elevational distribution. In this study, we evaluate whether such differences are passed on to the following generations, contributing to population performance and persistence. Seeds from different elevational provenances, were exposed to different temperature regimes with the aim of assessing possible differential germination responses. Thereafter, saplings were transplanted to a common garden experiment to assess possible variations in attributes and performance after 18 months. The three species showed differences in germination response to temperature among provenances as well as in sapling attributes and performance. Germination success was higher under hot temperatures for the highest-elevation provenances, whereas cold temperatures boosted germination of the lowest-elevation provenances. In the greenhouse, provenances of intermediate elevations showed higher performance in P. australis and E. cordobensis, with saplings adjusted to tolerate more stressful conditions toward both elevational limits, than the performance of M. boaria saplings, which decreased with the elevational provenance. The patterns observed in this study agree with those described for saplings growing under field conditions, suggesting adjustments in response to environmental changes undergone by populations along the elevational range. The marked adjustments of populations to the local environment suggest a potential high impact of climatic change on species distribution.