The evolution of plasticity at geographic range edges

Usui, Takuji; Lerner, David R.; Eckert, Isaac M.K.; Angert, Amy L.; Garroway, Colin J.; Hargreaves, Anna L.; Lancaster, Lesley T.; Lessard, Jean‐Philippe; Riva, Federico; Schmidt, Chloé; Burg, Karin R. L. van der; Marshall, Katie E.

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2023.04.004

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…For functional traits, mechanisms not captured by evolutionary history may include rapid genetic adaptation of traits to climatic conditions (especially for leaf rather than root traits; see Valverde‐Barrantes et al., 2017) and/or phenotypic plasticity. Specifically, both adaptive and maladaptive phenotypic plasticity of functional traits are crucial for colonization at the expanding range at its edges (Martínez‐Vilalta et al., 2023; Usui et al., 2023), and could therefore have contributed to different (and even opposing) patterns in IND from those observed in CTC like in the case of plant height, life span, seed mass, leaf N:P ratio and photosynthetic rate and their covariation with range size. However, explicitly accounting for adaptive evolution through plasticity at expanding range edges requires integrating knowledge about the demography and evolution of populations at these edges (Usui et al., 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specifically, both adaptive and maladaptive phenotypic plasticity of functional traits are crucial for colonization at the expanding range at its edges (Martínez‐Vilalta et al., 2023; Usui et al., 2023), and could therefore have contributed to different (and even opposing) patterns in IND from those observed in CTC like in the case of plant height, life span, seed mass, leaf N:P ratio and photosynthetic rate and their covariation with range size. However, explicitly accounting for adaptive evolution through plasticity at expanding range edges requires integrating knowledge about the demography and evolution of populations at these edges (Usui et al., 2023). This calls for the integration of intraspecific functional trait data and their variation within the species range (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plant functional traits couple with range size and shape in European trees

Midolo

2024

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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AimPlant functional traits are frequently proposed as influential factors in species distribution. However, there is a gap in assessing how plant resource‐economic traits relate to the size and shape of a species' geographical range, and to what extent these relationships are conserved over evolutionary history. Specifically, an acquisitive strategy (characterized by heightened metabolism, shorter lifespan and quicker generation turnover) may promote isotropic range formations, resulting in less elongated and larger ranges. Here, I tested this link using data from 98 native European tree species.LocationPalaearctic.Time periodPresent.Major taxa studiedTrees.MethodsI used chorological maps to quantify two independent range attributes: species' range area and elongation. I considered 28 functional traits linked to resource‐use strategy measured in above‐ and below‐ground organs. I used multi‐response phylogenetic mixed models to calculate the conservative trait correlation (CTC) and the phylogenetically independent correlation (IND) component of each functional trait with range area and elongation.ResultsRange area positively correlated with resource acquisitive strategies, while range elongation correlated with resource conservative strategies. This pattern was consistent across the examined traits but statistically significant in seven out of the 28 traits, including specific leaf area, specific root area and root mycorrhizal colonization. Traits related to leaf and root nutritional status exhibited the weakest relationships with range attributes. Significant correlations were more frequent in the IND component and often showed contrasting trends compared to CTC.Main conclusionsPlant resource‐use strategy emerges as a relevant factor to gain insights on what shapes species' geographical distribution, alongside more established drivers such as dispersal limitation and climatic tolerance. Trait‐range relationships are driven by processes leaving a weak phylogenetic signature. These processes may result from direct selection, where functional traits impact range attributes, or indirect effects, such as the co‐variation of ranges and traits with environmental niche optima.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant functional traits couple with range size and shape in European trees

Midolo

2024

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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“…Conversely, implicit studies are typically characterized by information on only one species, and this information tends to be more comprehensive. Such studies might reveal important effects, e.g., of variation in traits among individuals, between sexes, and trait plasticity that are increasingly recognized as important ecoevolutionary forces (Wong et al, 2019;Gentile et al, 2021;Wong and Carmona, 2021;Luiz et al, 2022;Usui et al, 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Referring to "functional traits" was less common in the past (McGill et al, 2006;Violle et al, 2007), but functional analyses in a broader sense were not rare (Calow, 1987). Additionally, several authors have highlighted that functional ecology needs to integrate different datasets and theories across spatial scales to address novel questions [e.g., on the evolution of plasticity (Usui et al, 2023) or intraspecific variability (Violle et al, 2012) across environmental gradients]. Nevertheless, if different terminology is associated with distinct schools of thought, gaps between sub-fields might be widening, not closing, hindering integration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverging sub-fields in functional ecology

Viliani,

Bonelli,

Gentile

et al. 2024

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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The number of studies in functional ecology grew exponentially in the last decades. Whether and how ecologists changed how they conduct these studies, however, remains poorly understood. Using butterflies as a model taxon, we assessed forty years of research asking whether and how functional analyses have changed. We found that how authors contextualize their work corresponds to divergent sub-fields in functional ecology. Articles explicitly referring to “functional traits” have become increasingly common in the last decade, focus on many species, and typically address the relationship between biodiversity and environmental gradients. Meanwhile, articles that do not refer to “functional traits” usually account for variation within species and among sexes, and are based on direct measures of the trait of interest. These differences have increased over time, highlighting a schism. As functional ecology continues to grow, authors and syntheses will benefit from awareness of these different schools of thought.

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“…Although range edges of coastal species in tropical to temperate waters generally maintain the species' thermal niches as the climate warms (Lenoir et al, 2020;Fredston et al, 2021), this tendency is both stronger and more common at the leading (cool) range edge than at the trailing (warm) range edge (Poloczanska et al, 2013;Fredston-Hermann et al, 2020;Pinsky et al, 2020). Pinsky et al (2020) provide a detailed discussion of potential explanations for this phenomenon, including physiology, behaviour, evolution, dispersal and species interactions, but answers are elusive, and this question remains a topic of active research (e.g., Usui et al, 2023). Nevertheless, arguably the most ubiquitous consequence of differential range shifts at leading and trailing range edges is the arrival of warm-affinity species in communities previously dominated byand still occupied byspecies of cooler provenance (Vergés et al, 2014;Chaudhary et al, 2021;Favoretto et al, 2022;Fujiwara et al, 2022).…”

Section: Ocean Warmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the ecological consequences of climate change in coastal ecosystems

Schoeman,

Bolin,

Cooley

2023

Camb. prisms Coast. futures

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Few coastal ecosystems remain untouched by direct human activities, and none are unimpacted by anthropogenic climate change. These drivers interact with and exacerbate each other in complex ways, yielding a mosaic of ecological consequences that range from adaptive responses, such as geographic range shifts and changes in phenology, to severe impacts, such as mass mortalities, ecological regime shifts and loss of biodiversity. Identifying the role of climate change in these phenomena requires corroborating evidence from multiple lines of evidence, including laboratory experiments, field observations, numerical models and palaeorecords. Yet few studies can confidently quantify the magnitude of the effect attributable solely to climate change, because climate change seldom acts alone in coastal ecosystems. Projections of future risk are further complicated by scenario uncertainty – that is, our lack of knowledge about the degree to which humanity will mitigate greenhouse-gas emissions, or will make changes to the other ways we impact coastal ecosystems. Irrespective, ocean warming would be impossible to reverse before the end of the century, and sea levels are likely to continue to rise for centuries and remain elevated for millennia. Therefore, future risks to coastal ecosystems from climate change are projected to mirror the impacts already observed, with severity escalating with cumulative emissions. Promising avenues for progress beyond such qualitative assessments include collaborative modelling initiatives, such as model intercomparison projects, and the use of a broader range of knowledge systems. But we can reduce risks to coastal ecosystems by rapidly reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, by restoring damaged habitats, by regulating non-climate stressors using climate-smart conservation actions, and by implementing inclusive coastal-zone management approaches, especially those involving nature-based solutions.

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The evolution of plasticity at geographic range edges

Cited by 14 publications

References 101 publications

Plant functional traits couple with range size and shape in European trees

Plant functional traits couple with range size and shape in European trees

Diverging sub-fields in functional ecology

Quantifying the ecological consequences of climate change in coastal ecosystems

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