Local adaption in <i>Boechera stricta</i> in the context of climate change

Abstract

This study examines whether climate change alters patterns of local adaptation in Boechera stricta (Brassicaceae). A common garden experiment was established in sites around the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado. In the fall of 2017, Dr. Jill Anderson and her lab planted seeds from a broad elevational gradient into four common gardens in four treatments: a control (contemporary climate change condition), snow removal (a climate change simulation), snow addition (historical condition) and snow addition and supplemental water (another historical condition). In the growing season of 2018, we recorded data on three key early life history fitness components germination success, probability of survival of seedlings, and time until mortality for seedlings. As low elevation populations are exposed to hot and dry conditions, we predicted that low elevation maternal families would have greater fitness in treatments simulating ongoing climate change, whereas local adaptation would be more prominent under historical conditions. We found that low-elevation populations had greatest germination success across treatments and gardens. However, families from high elevation populations had enhanced probability of surviving and greater time until mortality. Overall, fitness was low, a likely consequence of the drought experienced during the winter of 2017- 2018.

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