A Comparative Test for Divergent Adaptation: Inferring Speciation Drivers from Functional Trait Divergence

2020 ◽  
Vol 196 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-442
Author(s):  
Sean A. S. Anderson ◽  
Jason T. Weir
Keyword(s):  
Functional Trait ◽  
Comparative Test ◽  
Trait Divergence

scholarly journals Both functional trait divergence and trait plasticity confer polyploid advantage in changing environments

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Wei ◽  
Richard Cronn ◽  
Aaron Liston ◽  
Tia-Lynn Ashman
Keyword(s):  
Functional Trait ◽  
Leaf Functional Traits ◽  
Trait Divergence ◽  
Changing Environments ◽  
Fitness Advantage ◽  
Common Gardens ◽  
Trait Plasticity ◽  
Extensive Test ◽  
Wild Strawberry ◽  
Evolutionary Success

ABSTRACTPolyploidy, or whole genome duplication, exists in all eukaryotes and is thought to drive ecological and evolutionary success especially in plants. The mechanisms of polyploid success in ecologically relevant contexts, however, remain largely unknown. Here we conducted an extensive test of functional trait divergence and trait plasticity in conferring polyploid fitness advantage in changing environments by growing clonal replicates of a worldwide genotype collection of six polyploid and five diploid wild strawberry (Fragaria) species in three climatically different common gardens. Among leaf functional traits, we detected divergence in means but not plasticities between polyploids and diploids, suggesting that increased genomic redundancy does not necessarily translate into broader phenotypic amplitude in polyploids. Across the heterogeneous garden environments, however, polyploids exhibited fitness advantage, which was conferred by both trait means and adaptive trait plasticities, supporting a ‘jack-and-master’ hypothesis for polyploids. Our findings provide unparalleled insight into the prevalence and persistence of polyploidization.

scholarly journals Functional trait divergence and trait plasticity confer polyploid advantage in heterogeneous environments

2018 ◽  
Vol 221 (4) ◽  
pp. 2286-2297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Wei ◽  
Richard Cronn ◽  
Aaron Liston ◽  
Tia‐Lynn Ashman
Keyword(s):  
Functional Trait ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Trait Divergence ◽  
Trait Plasticity

Dominance determines fish community biomass in a temperate seagrass ecosystem

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Matthius Eger ◽  
Rebecca J. Best ◽  
Julia Kathleen Baum
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Community Biomass ◽  
Ecosystem Valuation ◽  
Species Abundances

Biodiversity and ecosystem function are often correlated, but there are multiple hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying this relationship. Ecosystem functions such as primary or secondary production may be maximized by species richness, evenness in species abundances, or the presence or dominance of species with certain traits. Here, we combined surveys of natural fish communities (conducted in July and August, 2016) with morphological trait data to examine relationships between diversity and ecosystem function (quantified as fish community biomass) across 14 subtidal eelgrass meadows in the Northeast Pacific (54° N 130° W). We employed both taxonomic and functional trait measures of diversity to investigate if ecosystem function is driven by species diversity (complementarity hypothesis) or by the presence or dominance of species with particular trait values (selection or dominance hypotheses). After controlling for environmental variation, we found that fish community biomass is maximized when taxonomic richness and functional evenness is low, and in communities dominated by species with particular trait values – those associated with benthic habitats and prey capture. While previous work on fish communities has found that species richness is positively correlated with ecosystem function, our results instead highlight the capacity for regionally prevalent and locally dominant species to drive ecosystem function in moderately diverse communities. We discuss these alternate links between community composition and ecosystem function and consider their divergent implications for ecosystem valuation and conservation prioritization.

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