Abstract Detail

Ecological Section

Li, Junmin [1], Du, Leshan [2], Guan, Wenbin [2], Yu, Feihai [2].

Geographic patterns of phenotypic plasticity in response to temperature and water in the invasive herb Soildago canadensis in China.

Phenotypic plasticity is a strategy for plants to cope with fluctuating environments. We hypothesized that populations at higher latitude would have stronger phenotypic plasticity in response to temperature and those at lower longitude (farther from the ocean) would have stronger phenotypic plasticity in response to water. We tested these hypotheses with the rhizomatous perennial herb Solidago canadensis that originated from North American and is invasive in China. We sampled populations of S. canadensis in x locations along the latitudes and y locations along the longitude in China, and grew them under two temperature treatments and two water treatments, respectively. We measured morphological traits (plant height and leaf length-to-width ratio), physiological traits (light utilization efficiency, water utilization efficiency and carboxylation efficiency), biomass and root/shoot ratio and calculated phenotypic plasticity index (PPI) of these traits to temperature or water. PPI of leaf length-to-width ratio and water use efficiency to temperature variation was significantly positively correlated with latitude and temperature seasonality. PPI of root to shoot ratio and water use efficiency to water variation was significantly negatively correlated with longitude and positively correlated with precipitation seasonality. PPI of plant height and leaf length-to-width ratio to water variation was significantly positively correlated with precipitation seasonality. The geographic pattern of phenotypic plasticity indicates that phenotypic plasticity of the invasive herb S. canadensis could evolved rapidly in regions with different climatic conditions and might play an important role in the dispersal of this species.

1 - Taizhou University, Insitute Of Ecology, 1139 Shifu Road, Jiaojiang, Taizhou, Zhejiang, N/A, 318000, China
2 - Beijing Forest University

Keywords:
phenotypic plasticity
latitude
longitude
Climate
Solidago canadensis.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PEC032
Abstract ID:357
Candidate for Awards:None