Environmental predictors of dispersal traits across a species' geographic range

Ecology
Elizabeth A LaRueNancy C Emery

Abstract

Variation in habitat quality and quantity drive selection on dispersal traits in heterogeneous environments, but the extent to which environmental conditions predict geographic variation in dispersal is rarely evaluated. We assessed dispersal trait variation across the range of Cakile edentula var. lacustris, an annual herb that occupies beaches of the Great Lakes. Cakile edentula has dimorphic fruits that each contain one dispersive and one non-dispersive seed. Previous work showed that plant height, branching density, and dispersive fruit wing-loading can determine the distance that seeds disperse locally by wind, while pericarp thickness influences the distance they disperse by water. We tested if these traits vary predictably with latitude across the species' geographic range, and if variation in dispersal characteristics can be predicted by the quality and quantity of habitat available at a site. We observed that the dispersive fruits from northern and southern populations had thinner pericarps than those from the interior of the species' range, reflecting reduced long-distance dispersal by water at both range limits. Plants at the northern range limit were shorter with less dense branching and lower wing-loading than popu...Continue Reading

References

Mar 26, 2005·The American Naturalist·Paul R Armsworth, Joan E Roughgarden
Jul 22, 2005·Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology·Karina R GuidugliZilá L P Simões
Dec 2, 2005·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Robert M Ewers, Raphael K Didham
Feb 17, 2006·Nature·Benjamin L PhillipsRichard Shine
Aug 12, 2006·Science·Hanna Kokko, Andrés López-Sepulcre
May 1, 1973·Genetics·B J Balkau, M W Feldman
Jan 16, 2008·The New Phytologist·Emily DarlingChristopher G Eckert
Mar 5, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·P-O CheptouA Cantarel
Jul 1, 1997·The American Naturalist·M Kirkpatrick, N H Barton
Mar 28, 2009·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Calvin Dytham
Aug 8, 2009·The New Phytologist·Miquel RibaIsabelle Olivieri
Nov 26, 2010·The American Naturalist·Ilkka HanskiOtso Ovaskainen
Aug 14, 2012·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Pim Edelaar, Daniel I Bolnick
Jun 26, 2014·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Winsor H Lowe, Mark A McPeek
Dec 7, 2016·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Pierre-Olivier CheptouHans Jacquemyn
Aug 5, 2017·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Marjo SaastamoinenMaria Del Mar Delgado

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 30, 2021·American Journal of Botany·Meagan F OldfatherNancy C Emery
Oct 23, 2021·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Bo ZhangLu Zhai

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.