Bumblebees, the proficient mountain pollinators: evidence from <i>Stachys germanica</i> (Lamiaceae) along the altitudinal gradient of Mount Olympus, Greece

Minachilis, Konstantinos; Kantsa, Aphrodite; Petanidou, Theodora

doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blab113

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 73 publications

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“…Flower visitor observations were used to assess whether E. guttata was experiencing pollinator limitation in upland, compared to lowland Canterbury. Though not perfectly accurate (Arroyo et al ., 1985), flower visitor rates are a reliable proxy for pollinator activity (Minachilis et al ., 2021; Totland, 2001). Observations were conducted over multiple sites in five upland and five lowland Canterbury waterway systems in January 2021.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive Differentiation in the General-Purpose Genotype Invasive PlantErythranthe guttata

Millar,

Chapman

2024

Preprint

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Highly plastic general-purpose genotypes are a frequent occurrence among invasive plants. Yet, it remains uncertain to what extent genetic adaptation can co-occur with such elevated levels of plasticity. Understanding the interplay between these two evolutionary strategies is essential to better predict invasive success and future climate change responses. We investigated the potential for local adaptation along an altitudinal gradient in introduced New Zealand populations of the highly plastic invasive herb,Erythranthe guttata. We asked a) whether there were phenotypic differences between upland and lowlandE. guttatapopulations along our gradient; b) whether any differences were consistent with known adaptive patterns; and c) whether any adaptive patterns exist alongside high plasticity to elevation. Samples from 38E. guttatapopulations from upland and lowland Canterbury were grown from cuttings in a lowland and an upland common garden, where we measured a broad range of growth and reproductive traits. We found significant adaptive differentiation between upland and lowland populations over almost all measured traits. Upland populations had earlier and more intense flowering compared with lowland populations. Lowland plants were taller and had larger leaves with higher photosynthetic rates than upland plants. These differences occurred alongside high levels of unspecialised plasticity to the growing environment. Synthesis: We found that over a period of less than 150 years the environment along an altitude gradient of 120km has selected for distinct lowland and upland phenotypes ofE. guttata. These changes reflect common selective pressure associated with altitude gradients, increasing reproductive success at higher altitudes and increased competitive ability at lower altitudes. This rapid local adaptation occurred alongside high plasticity within the growing environment, showing that highly plastic invasive species still retain the capacity to genetically adapt to novel environments.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive Differentiation in the General-Purpose Genotype Invasive PlantErythranthe guttata

Millar,

Chapman

2024

Preprint

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Two shades of grey: effect of temperature on seed germination of the escaping ornamental species Lychnis coronaria and Stachys byzantina

Vojík

Kadlecová²,

Kutlvašr³

et al. 2022

Plant Ecol

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This paper describes germination and cytological variability in two popular ornamental and potentially invasive species, lamb's ear Stachys byzantina and rose campion Lychnis coronaria. Both xerophytic species have the potential to invade natural habitats across Europe and create viable naturalised populations, with subsequent impacts on native vegetation. To assess the species' invasiveness, seeds were collected from naturalised populations and germination rate recorded under different temperature regimes. Flow cytometry, used to record cytological variability, indicated that all populations of both species were cytologically homogeneous. Germination success, a key spreading factor in both species, was signi cantly in uenced by temperature, with nal germination of L. coronaria being extremely high at temperatures > 15/10 °C (98.5%) and extremely low at temperatures < 10/5 °C (2.9%). In comparison, nal germination in S. byzantina highest at 22/15 °C (55.6%), reducing to 40.3% at 15/10 °C and just 0.3% at temperatures < 10/5 °C. No signi cant differences in germination rate were observed between escaping and non-escaping populations, though there were differences between particular populations. Our results indicate germination temperature limits between species consistent with sizes of primary distribution and distance between primary and secondary distribution borders. However, the observed germination rates allow for successful generative reproduction of both species over their secondary distribution areas, suggesting that these species are likely to become invasive species of European grasslands soon.

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Elevational differentiation occurs alongside high plasticity in a general‐purpose genotype invasive plant

Millar,

Chapman

2024

Journal of Ecology

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Highly plastic general‐purpose genotypes are a frequent occurrence among invasive plants. Yet it remains uncertain to what extent genetic differentiation can co‐occur with such elevated levels of plasticity. Understanding the interplay between these two evolutionary strategies is essential to understand potential invasive success and future climate change responses. We investigated the potential for genetic shifts between upland and lowland populations of the highly plastic invasive herb Erythranthe guttata in New Zealand. We aimed to determine (a) the presence of genetic differentiation between upland and lowland origin E. guttata populations; (b) whether any differences aligned with established adaptive patterns; and (c) whether genetic differentiation was occurring alongside the high plasticity of E. guttata populations in response to varying elevations. We grew cuttings from 38 E. guttata populations from upland and lowland Canterbury in a lowland and an upland common garden, where we measured a wide range of growth and reproductive traits. We found significant differentiation between upland and lowland origin populations over most measured traits. Plants sourced from upland populations flowered earlier and produced more flowers than plants originating from lowland populations. Lowland origin plants were taller, had larger leaves and higher photosynthetic rates than upland plants. These differences occurred alongside high levels of unspecialised plasticity to the growing environment. Synthesis: We found that over a period of less than 150 years, distinct lowland and upland phenotypes of E. guttata have emerged. These differences are consistent with known selective patterns to elevation that favour reproductive security at higher elevations and competitive ability at lower elevations. This rapid genetic differentiation occurred alongside high plasticity to growing environment, suggesting that highly plastic invasive species still retain the capacity to genetically adapt to novel environments.

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Bumblebees, the proficient mountain pollinators: evidence from Stachys germanica (Lamiaceae) along the altitudinal gradient of Mount Olympus, Greece

Cited by 5 publications

References 73 publications

Adaptive Differentiation in the General-Purpose Genotype Invasive PlantErythranthe guttata

Adaptive Differentiation in the General-Purpose Genotype Invasive PlantErythranthe guttata

Two shades of grey: effect of temperature on seed germination of the escaping ornamental species Lychnis coronaria and Stachys byzantina

Elevational differentiation occurs alongside high plasticity in a general‐purpose genotype invasive plant

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