Snowmelt Timing Leads to Plasticity and Alters Natural Selection on Leaf Traits in <i> Ipomopsis </i>
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change is altering environments, which in turn has the potential to influence plant traits (through phenotypic plasticity) and natural selection. The effect of changing climate on the strength and direction of selection remains unresolved. In this study we quantified the plasticity and strength of selection on vegetative traits of the subalpine herbs Ipomopsis aggregata, Ipomopsis tenuituba, and hybrids. We used long-term data to quantify phenotypic plasticity in these traits and their effects on fitness over 12 years with varying dates of snowmelt in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. We hypothesized that the vegetative traits would be under selection that depended on snowmelt date, which affects early-season water availability and temperature. Specific leaf area (SLA) responded plastically to snowmelt timing, with lower SLA found in early snowmelt years and larger SLA found in late snowmelt years. Natural selection on water use efficiency (WUE) changed based on snowmelt date, with early snowmelt correlating with more positive selection on WUE and late snowmelt correlating with negative selection on WUE. Both plant traits and selection were affected by snowmelt timing and both responded in ways that theoretically should aid in acclimation and adaptation to drier conditions for Ipomopsis. Our results highlight how climate change can impact traits and alter natural selection by modifying abiotic factors such as snowmelt timing.
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References (28)
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