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Edaphic Adaptation Maintains The Coexistence Of Two Cryptic Species On Serpentine Soils, Jenn M. Yost, Teri Barry, Kathleen M. Kay, Nishanta Rajakaruna

Biological Sciences

• Premise of the study: Divergent edaphic adaptation can contribute to reproductive isolation and coexistence between closely related species, yet we know little about how small-scale continuous edaphic gradients contribute to this phenomenon. We investigated edaphic adaptation between two cryptic species of California wildflower, Lasthenia californica and L. gracilis (Asteraceae), which grow in close parapatry on serpentine soil.

• Methods: We reciprocally transplanted both species into the center of each species’ habitat and the transition zone between species. We quantified multiple components of fitness and used aster models to predict fitness based on environmental variables. We sampled soil across the …