Close association between flowering time and aridity gradient for Sarcopoterium spinosum in Israel. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Waitz, Yoni; Wasserstrom, Haggai; Hanin, Nir; Landau, Netanel; Faraj, Tomer; Barzilai, Michal; Ziffer-Berger, Jotham; Barazani, Oz
• Is Part Of: Journal of arid environments. Volume 188(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Aridity gradient -- Flowering time -- Phenology -- Resource allocation; Arid regions ecology -- Periodicals; Arid regions -- Periodicals; Écologie des régions arides -- Périodiques; Régions arides -- Périodiques; 577.54
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2021.104468
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-1963

Abstract

Abstract: The climate gradient in the southeast Mediterranean region offers an opportunity to associate local conditions with adaptive inter-population phenotypic variability. In a common garden experiment, we monitored flowering time and plant biomass in Sarcopoterium spinosum (Rosaceae) representing plant populations along an aridity gradient that in nature differ according to two environmental parameters: elevation and temperature regime. As a significant correlation was found between elevation and the average winter and summer temperatures at the natural sites, elevation was used in the analysis as a proxy for annual temperature regimes. A significant positive correlation was found between flowering day and annual rainfall and elevation, as well as between the aboveground plant biomass and annual rainfall. In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between the flowering day coefficient of variation and the two environmental parameters. Our results show inter-population differentiation in a perennial species, emphasizing the ecological importance of early flowering and trade-offs between growth and reproduction in arid vs. mesic environments. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: We investigated flowering time and aboveground biomass of the shrub Sarcopoterium spinosum. Populations were mapped along aridity and elevation gradients in the southeast Mediterranean. Flowering time positively correlated with elevation, a proxy to temperature, and precipitation. Aboveground biomass positively correlated with precipitation. These patterns suggest an adaptation to habitat conditions along an aridity gradient.