Journal article
Phenotypic variability along a climatic gradient in a perennial afrotropical rainforest understorey herb
Basic and applied ecology, v 28, pp 60-75
May 2018
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Abstract
• Intraspecific variability in a tropical African perennial herb was studied.
• Significant variability was found in plant vegetative growth, physiology, productivity and phenology.
• Phenotypic variability was detected along a climatic gradient.
• Mainly precipitation but also temperature and light shaped intraspecific variability.
• Predicted increased dryness in tropical Africa might be disadvantageous for the study species.
Plants evolved in response to climatic conditions, which shaped their geographic distribution, functional traits and genetic composition. In the face of climatic changes, plants have to react by either genetic adaptation, phenotypic plasticity or geographic range shift. Their reaction potential depends on their phenotypic and genetic variability which can be evaluated through regional scale trait estimates, however, little is known here about tropical African plants. To start filling this gap of knowledge, the aim of this study was to estimate the phenotypic variability in a widespread perennial herb from the understorey of tropical African rainforests: Sarcophrynium prionogonium (Marantaceae). We surveyed 211 individuals from eight populations distributed across four sites in Cameroon covering largely the climatic range of the study species. Fourteen key functional traits were measured monthly for 18 months (2013–2014). Individuals of the study species persisted under a wide range of environmental conditions and there was considerable intraspecific variability within and across populations. Still, plant vegetative growth decreased with dryness. Productivity was positively related to a combination of high temperatures and precipitation and under these favourable conditions strongly shaped by light. Seasonal patterns of flower and fruit development were strongly associated with seasonal rainfall. Thus, the predicted increased dryness in tropical Africa might be disadvantageous for the study species. In the past, plants reacted to such aridification tendencies (e.g. during the Pleistocene glacial cycles) by retracting to moist refugia. The current climatic changes, however, being much faster and larger might provide new challenges.
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Details
- Title
- Phenotypic variability along a climatic gradient in a perennial afrotropical rainforest understorey herb
- Creators
- Alexandra C. Ley - Martin Luther University Halle-WittenbergPatrick Herzog - Martin Luther University Halle-WittenbergSusanne Lachmuth - Martin Luther University Halle-WittenbergAbwe E. Abwe - Forest ResearchMbella F. Christian - Forest ResearchPaul R. Sesink Clee - Drexel UniversityEkwoge E. Abwe - Drexel UniversityBethan J. Morgan - San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation ResearchMary K. Gonder - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Basic and applied ecology, v 28, pp 60-75
- Publisher
- Elsevier GmbH
- Number of pages
- 16
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000432493200007
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85043477378
- Other Identifier
- 991019168674904721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Ecology