Life Sciences Commons^™

Intraspecific Variation Mediates Density Dependence In A Genetically Diverse Plant Species, Andrii Zaiats, Matthew J. Germino, Marcelo D. Serpe, Bryce Richardson, T. Trevor Caughlin

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Interactions between neighboring plants are critical for biodiversity maintenance in plant populations and communities. Intraspecific trait variation and genome duplication are common in plant species and can drive eco-evolutionary dynamics through genotype-mediated plant-plant interactions. However, few studies have examined how species-wide intraspecific variation may alter interactions between neighboring plants. We investigate how subspecies and ploidy variation in a genetically diverse species, big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), can alter the demographic outcomes of plant interactions. Using a replicated, long-term common garden experiment that represents range-wide diversity of A. tridentata, we ask how intraspecific variation, environment, and stand age mediate …

The Role Of Genome Duplication In Big Sagebrush Growth And Fecundity, Bryce A. Richardson, Matthew J. Germino, Marcus V. Warwell, Sven Buerki

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Premise: Adaptive traits can be dramatically altered by genome duplication. The study of interactions among traits, ploidy, and the environment are necessary to develop an understanding of how polyploidy affects niche differentiation and to develop restoration strategies for resilient native ecosystems.

Methods: Growth and fecundity were measured in common gardens for 39 populations of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) containing two subspecies and two ploidy levels. General linear mixed-effect models assessed how much of the trait variation could be attributed to genetics (i.e., ploidy and climatic adaptation), environment, and gene–environment interactions.

Results: Growth and fecundity variation were explained well …