Dynamics of male inconstancy in <i> Valeriana edulis </i> in the abiotic and mating environment

Abstract

This study investigated inconstancy in the sex-expression of male flowers across populations of Edible Valerian (Valeriana edulis) as well as potential drivers of its variation. Though Valeriana edulis is dioecious (individuals typically have separate sexes), plants showing dominant male sex-expression may also produce female reproductive structures (stigmas). As such, we aimed to (1) characterize variation in male inconstancy in V. edulis populations and explore the influence of the (2) abiotic environment and (3) mating environment on the distribution of inconstant sex expression in what is considered a dioecious system. To address these goals, we conducted flower surveys in multiple populations to determine the degree, frequency, and variation in expression of inconstancy (i.e. how inconstancy varies between individuals or flowers). We also tested potential abiotic drivers of inconstancy using remotely sensed datasets for growing degree days as a proxy for temperature and snowmelt date to represent soil moisture. Finally, we obtained operational sex ratios (proportion of flowering individuals that are primarily male-expressing) through demographic surveys of the populations to examine its effect on male inconstancy. These results have implications for potentially reclassifying Valeriana edulis as a dioecious species, exploring the limitations of binary thinking, and gaining a better understanding of how differential effects of the environment on individuals may in turn affect population biodiversity, performance, and persistence. Key words: Dioecy, subdioecy, sex ratios, labile sex-expression, binary thinking, climate change, elevation gradient, Valeriana edulis

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