Changes in life-history traits in an expanding moss species: phenotypic plasticity or genetic differentiation? A reciprocal transplantation experiment with Pogonatum dentatum

• Published in: Ecography (Copenhagen) Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 71 - 80
• Main Authors: Hassel, Kristian, Pedersen, Bård, Söderström, Lars
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copenhagen Munksgaard International Publishers 01.02.2005; Blackwell Publishers; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Ecological life histories; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic variation; Lowlands; Phenotypic plasticity; Phenotypic traits; Plants; Plants and fungi; Pogonatum dentatum; Population genetics; Sporophytes; Transplantation; Genetic variability; Phenotypic plasticity; Bryophyta; Environmental factor; Transplantation; Life history trait; Experimental study; Plant; Mountain; Geographic distribution; Habitat; Lowland; Expansion
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0906-7590.2005.03910.x
• ISSN: 0906-7590

A transplant experiment was performed to investigate whether differences in life-history traits of the bryophyte Pogonatum dentatum that recently expanded its distribution range, were genetically or environmentally determined, or a combination of both. Plants were transplanted reciprocally between the original mountain area and a recently colonised lowland area. Vegetative biomass of annual segments and branches tended to be higher in the mountain area than in the lowland area. Reproductive investment was higher for plants transplanted to the lowland area, and lowland shoots tended to produce larger sporophytes than mountain shoots when placed in the same environment. Age of reproducing shoots showed no consistent pattern. Native shoots were often outperformed by non-native shoots transplanted into the same site. Non-native shoots grew larger and produced larger sporophytes than native shoots. Much of the observed variation was at the site level instead of between mountain and lowland areas, with both genetic origin and environmental effects contributing together. Range expansion of P. dentatum may have taken place by dispersal from populations with shoots whose growth is plastic. Such shoots grow larger and potentially produce more spores for dispersal.