Adaptation in heterogeneous environments

A subject of this work is adaptation in
heterogeneous environments analyzed by applying two
approaches, generalist-specialist and plant strategy
theory, and using several populations of a single
species, wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum Koch). Four
environments were specifically chosen to represent a
gradient of environmental productivity (annual
rainfall) and unpredictability (interannual
variation in rainfall). Plants originating in the
four distinct environments were tested for local
adaptation, and analyzed for the possible mechanisms
by which the adaptation was achieved. I found that
the specialist-generalist approach was not efficient
in analyzing selection process at large-scale
(regional-scale) heterogeneity. On the other hand,
the life history traits, phenotypic plasticity and
competitive ability of plants originating in the
four studied environments were in partial
correspondence with those predicted by Grime s C-S-R
model. A new plant strategy scheme that is based on
the rectangular ordination of environments and has
two ordination axes: adversity (stress) and
environmental unpredictability, is proposed.

Autorentext

Sergei Volis is senior lecturer at Ben Gurion University in Israel. His field is ecological genetics, a discipline that focuses on evolutionary processes within a species and deals with natural populations.

Klappentext

A subject of this work is adaptation in heterogeneous environments analyzed by applying two approaches, generalist-specialist and plant strategy theory, and using several populations of a single species, wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum Koch). Four environments were specifically chosen to represent a gradient of environmental productivity (annual rainfall) and unpredictability (interannual variation in rainfall). Plants originating in the four distinct environments were tested for local adaptation, and analyzed for the possible mechanisms by which the adaptation was achieved. I found that the specialist-generalist approach was not efficient in analyzing selection process at large-scale (regional-scale) heterogeneity. On the other hand, the life history traits, phenotypic plasticity and competitive ability of plants originating in the four studied environments were in partial correspondence with those predicted by Grime's C-S-R model. A new plant strategy scheme that is based on the rectangular ordination of environments and has two ordination axes: adversity (stress) and environmental unpredictability, is proposed.