Ecological and evolutionary consequences of sexual and clonal reproduction in aquatic plants

Eckert, Christopher G.; Dorken, Marcel E.; Barrett, Spencer C. H.

doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2016.03.006

Cited by 81 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 163 publications

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“…On the one hand, flowering has the potential for increasing genotypic diversity of highly clonal P. oceanica populations, enhancing potential for seagrass resilience to stress induced by warming (Ehlers, Worm, & Reusch, 2008;Hughes & Stachowicz, 2004;Reusch, Ehlers, Hammerli, & Worm, 2005). Moreover, it can be key for the tolerance of clonal plants to environmental changes since genetic recombination can enhance the genetic repertoire that plants can use to cope with stressful conditions (Eckert, Dorken, & Barrett, 2016). Furthermore, sexual reproduction in P. oceanica would act as an escape strategy, allowing long-distance seeds dispersal via positively buoyant fruits and therefore the transport of individuals to more stable/favourable environments as well as the increase in the level of genetic connectivity among populations, which is key for the conservation of seagrass habitats (Kendrick et al, 2016).…”

Section: Potential Consequences Of Warm-induced Flowering For the Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat‐stress induced flowering can be a potential adaptive response to ocean warming for the iconic seagrass Posidonia oceanica

et al. 2019

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The Mediterranean Sea is particularly vulnerable to warming and the abrupt declines experienced by the endemic Posidonia oceanica populations after recent heatwaves have forecasted severe consequences for the ecological functions and socio‐economical services this habitat forming species provides. Nevertheless, this highly clonal and long‐lived species could be more resilient to warming than commonly thought since heat‐sensitive plants massively bloomed after a simulated heatwave, which provides the species with an opportunity to adapt to climate change. Taking advantage of this unexpected plant response, we investigated for the first time the molecular and physiological mechanisms involved in seagrass flowering through the transcriptomic analysis of bloomed plants. We also aimed to identify if flowering is a stress‐induced response as suggested from the fact that heat‐sensitive but not heat‐tolerant plants flowered. The transcriptomic profiles of flowered plants showed a strong metabolic activation of sugars and hormones and indications of an active transport of these solutes within the plant, most likely to induce flower initiation in the apical meristem. Preflowered plants also activated numerous epigenetic‐related genes commonly used by plants to regulate the expression of key floral genes and stress‐tolerance genes, which could be interpreted as a mechanism to survive and optimize reproductive success under stress conditions. Furthermore, these plants provided numerous molecular clues suggesting that the factor responsible for the massive flowering of plants from cold environments (heat‐sensitive) can be considered as a stress. Heat‐stress induced flowering may thus be regarded as an ultimate response to survive extreme warming events with potential adaptive consequences for the species. Fitness implications of this unexpected stress‐response and the potential consequences on the phenotypic plasticity (acclimation) and evolutionary (adaptation) opportunity of the species to ocean warming are finally discussed.

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Section: Potential Consequences Of Warm-induced Flowering For the Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat‐stress induced flowering can be a potential adaptive response to ocean warming for the iconic seagrass Posidonia oceanica

et al. 2019

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“…Through sexual reproduction, charophytes produce dormant structurescalled oosporesthat can remain viable in the sediment for more than 40 years (Rodrigo et al, 2010;Rodrigo & Alonso-Guillén, 2013). Oospores are fundamental for their genetic diversity (Eckert et al, 2016), the establishment of new populations by means of waterfowl dispersal (Brochet, Guillemain, Fritz, Gauthier-Clerc, & Green, 2010), and the preservation of populations and species after droughts or other ecosystem disturbances (Rodrigo & Alonso-Guillén, 2013). Therefore, understanding the environmental cues that determine the production of charophyte propagules is crucial for the conservation of many species and the future of some vulnerable habitats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistence of submerged macrophytes in a drying world: Unravelling the timing and the environmental drivers to produce drought‐resistant propagules

Calero

Morellato

Rodrigo

2018

Aquatic Conservation

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Under a warming scenario many permanent inland water bodies in the Mediterranean region have become temporary ones, so the persistence of submerged macrophytes depends on the timely production of drought‐resistant propagules. Phenological research measures the timing of ecological processes and allows the consequences of disturbances such as climate change to be evaluated. Among macrophytes, the charophytes are widely distributed benthic macroalgae and are particularly sensitive to environmental variations. The systems in which they live constitute valuable, threatened, and protected habitats (European Habitats Directive code 3140). This study established a methodological basis for determining which environmental drivers trigger the sexual reproductive phenology of charophytes. For the first time, circular statistics were applied to describe and compare seasonal patterns for submerged macrophytes. Over a period of 2 years, three charophyte species growing in two Mediterranean brackish ponds were monitored. Most of the sexual reproduction occurred during spring and summer, including the production of drought‐resistant propagules, before the harshest conditions arrived. Each species showed a distinctive phenological pattern, according to specific breeding systems, life cycles, and environmental tolerances and requirements. Deeper conditions and higher salinities delayed reproduction. Different rainfall intensities in autumn produced distinctions between years, as stronger rainfall reduced the salinity stress and stimulated the reproduction of plants. Interacting factors act as cues for charophyte reproduction and cause antagonistic effects on propagule production. Among them, the heat required for each phenophase peak is essential for understanding the phenology of a population and for predicting its long‐term persistence. Charophytes appear to be good candidates for tracking climate change in shallow ecosystems. Further phenological studies should consider more species, populations, and long‐term observations in order to predict climate‐change effects on water bodies, and to develop effective plans for management and conservation. Circular statistics is a potential tool for analysing phenology in the context of global warming, as well as for many other conservation issues.

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“…Vegetative fragments are potential propagules that can contribute to long-distance clone dispersal. Aquatic leaves are more easily fragmented than terrestrial counterparts since plants require less structural support in the water (Eckert et al, 2016). Most bed maintenance and new shoot production occurs through rhizome elongation (Phillips, 1960).…”

Section: A3 Factors Influencing Genetic Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gene flow relies on the successful dispersal and establishment of propagules away from their parent populations. Unidirectional transport of seeds or vegetative propagules in the direction of current flow is often expected for aquatic plants but backflow has also been shown to occur, and human-mediated transport can cause dispersal far beyond the natural expected range (Eckert et al, 2016).…”

Section: A3 Factors Influencing Genetic Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Genetic Diversity of Two Contrasting Seagrass Species Using Microsatellite Analysis

Digiantonio

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Abstract:The goal of this thesis was to examine the genetic diversity of two diverse seagrass species, Amphibolis antarctica and Halodule wrightii, using microsatellite markers.Microsatellite primers previously did not exist for Amphibolis antarctica and were developed as described in the first chapter. From 48 primer candidates, 14 polymorphic loci were arranged into a 3-panel multiplex. The microsatellite primers successfully amplified and distinguished multi-locus genotypes of samples from two test populations. Genotypic richness varied between populations at 0.26 and 0.85, and an FST = 0.318 indicated population differentiation has occurred. Contrary to previous study, genetic diversity was observed in A. antarctica meadows.Further studies will be able to use these primers for more extensive analysis of the dispersal and recruitment mechanisms, evolutionary history, and connectivity of A. antarctica. The second chapter utilized microsatellite primers in a genetic population study for edge-of-range populations of the tropical/subtropical seagrass Halodule wrightii. Sampling occurred at 15 sites representing the Florida gulf coast, Florida Bay, Indian River Lagoon, North Carolina, and Bermuda. Eleven microsatellites were amplified and allelic diversity, genotypic richness, population differentiation, gene flow, principal components analysis, and k-means population clustering analyses were performed. Diploid, triploid, and tetraploid genotypes were observed.Aneuploidy from somatic mutation may be a way for edge-of-range populations to achieve genetic diversity without sexual reproduction, as sites were highly clonal (R = 0.00 -0.20).Population clustering and principal components analysis grouped sites into 2 main populations.Sites were highly structured (RhoST = 0.297) and genetic differentiation occurred between populations following an isolation-by-distance model. The microsatellite analyses of this thesis allowed for the characterization of genetic diversity and population differentiation of the studied species. Such information can allow restoration and conservation managers to infer genetic processes that are important for mitigation success.ii Acknowledgements:

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Ecological and evolutionary consequences of sexual and clonal reproduction in aquatic plants

Cited by 81 publications

References 163 publications

Heat‐stress induced flowering can be a potential adaptive response to ocean warming for the iconic seagrass Posidonia oceanica

Heat‐stress induced flowering can be a potential adaptive response to ocean warming for the iconic seagrass Posidonia oceanica

Persistence of submerged macrophytes in a drying world: Unravelling the timing and the environmental drivers to produce drought‐resistant propagules

The Genetic Diversity of Two Contrasting Seagrass Species Using Microsatellite Analysis

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