Contributions of dynamic environmental signals during life-cycle transitions to early life-history traits in lodgepole pine (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Pinus contorta&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Dougl.)

Yang Liu,Tongli Wang,Yousry A El-Kassaby

doi:10.5194/bg-13-2945-2016

Abstract

Abstract. Environmental signals are important triggers in the life-cycle transitions and play a crucial role in the life-history evolution. Yet very little is known about the leading ecological factors contributing to the variations of life-history traits in perennial plants. This paper explores both the causes and consequences for the evolution of life-history traits (i.e., seed dormancy and size) in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) across British Columbia (B.C.), Canada. We selected 83 logepole pine populations covering 22 ecosystem zones of B.C. and through their geographic coordinate, 197 climatic variables were generated accordingly for the reference (1961–1990) and future (2041–2070) periods. We found that dynamic climatic variables rather than constant geographic variables are the true environmental driving forces in seed dormancy and size variations and thus provide reliable predictors in response to global climate change. Evapotranspiration and precipitation in the plant-to-seed chronology are the most critical climate variables for seed dormancy and size variations, respectively. Hence, we predicted that levels of seed dormancy in lodgepole pine would increase across large tracts of B.C. in 2050s. Winter-chilling is able to increase the magnitude of life-history plasticity and lower the bet-hedge strategy in the seed-to-plant transition; however, winter-chilling is likely to be insufficient in the north of 49° N in 2050s, which may delay germination while unfavorable conditions during dry summers may result in adverse consequences in the survival of seedlings owing to extended germination span. These findings provide useful information to studies related to assessments of seed transfer and tree adaptation.

Highlights

In the context of global climate change, species have responded by tracking the environment for which they are best suited through local adaptation, range shift, range reduction, or a combination of these (Walther et al, 2002; Parmesan and Yohe, 2003; Cleland et al, 2007; Breshears et al, 2008)
3.1 Life-history traits strongly correlated with climatic variables in the plant-to-seed transition
In life-cycle transitions, the environment plays a critical role in the development of lifehistory traits and in response to environmental stimuli, intrinsic mechanisms of genetics, epigenetics, phenotypic plasticity, bet-hedge strategy, and adaptive evolution take effect (Fig. 6)

Summary

Introduction

In the context of global climate change, species have responded by tracking the environment for which they are best suited through local adaptation, range shift, range reduction, or a combination of these (Walther et al, 2002; Parmesan and Yohe, 2003; Cleland et al, 2007; Breshears et al, 2008). Climate change has already altered the timing of major life-history transitions, such as seed germination timing (from seed to plant). Timing is directional and completely asymmetric and the timing of seed germination is the earliest life-history trait that is expressed and sets the context for the traits that follow (Donohue et al, 2010). It is controlled by the level of seed dormancy, whereby dormant seeds await germination cues for dormancy release (Finch-Savage and Leubner-Metzger, 2006; Baskin and Baskin, 1998). At the core of plant regeneration, temperature and water availability

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