Floral Reflectance, Color, and Thermoregulation: What Really Explains Geographic Variation in Thermal Acclimation Ability of Ectotherms?
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Elizabeth P. Lacey, Professor (Creator)
- Scott J. Richter, Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: Adaptive phenotypic plasticity in thermally sensitive
traits, that is, thermal acclimation, generally increases with increasing
latitude and altitude. The presumed explanation is that high-latitude/
altitude organisms have evolved greater acclimation ability because
of exposure to greater temperature fluctuations. Using a conceptual
model of the thermal environment during the reproductive season,
we tested this hypothesis against an alternative that plasticity is
greater because of increased exposure to specific temperatures that
strongly select for thermal acclimation. We examined geographic
variation in floral reflectance/color plasticity among 29 European
populations of a widespread perennial herb, Plantago lanceolata. Individuals
partially thermoregulate reproduction through temperature-sensitive plasticity in floral reflectance/color. Plasticity was positively correlated with latitude and altitude. Path analyses support the hypothesis that the thermal environment mediates these geographic effects. Plasticity declined as seasonal temperature range increased,
and it increased as duration of the growing season shortened and as the proportion of time exposed to temperatures favoring thermoregulation increased. Data provide evidence that floral reflectance/color plasticity is adaptive and that it has evolved in response
not to the magnitude of temperature variation during the reproductive season but rather to the relative exposure to low temperatures,
which favor thermoregulation.
Floral Reflectance, Color, and Thermoregulation: What Really Explains Geographic Variation in Thermal Acclimation Ability of Ectotherms?
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Additional Information
- Publication
- The American Naturalist Vol. 175, pp. 335–349.
- Language: English
- Date: 2010
- Keywords
- Thermal acclimation, Phenotypic plasticity, Floral reflectance, Geographic variation, ectotherm, Plantago lanceolata