Data and code from: Plant genome size is associated with fine-scale spatial variation in soil depth, but not climatic conditions, in the grass Festuca ovina
Data files
Jul 13, 2026 version files 55 KB
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README.md
9.23 KB
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Trinder_GS_code.R
33.40 KB
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Trinder_GS_flow_cytometry_data.csv
8.36 KB
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Trinder_GS_trait_data.csv
4 KB
Abstract
Understanding how populations of grassland plants respond to climate change is critical to predicting climate-driven change in grassland biodiversity and ecosystem service provision. A growing number of studies have demonstrated that plant populations can evolve in response to climate change drivers, including rainfall regimes, potentially buffering them from the effects of climatic stress. However, the extent to which plant genome size can evolve during climatic selection is poorly understood. We determined plant genome size for individuals of the grass Festuca ovina from populations exposed to drought and control (ambient climate) treatments at the Buxton Climate Change Impacts Lab (BCCIL), Derbyshire, UK. Plants were isolated from long-term drought-treated and control grassland plots at BCCIL in 2010, after 17 years of drought treatment, and were subsequently maintained as clonal lines at Ness Botanic Gardens, Ness, Cheshire. Soil depth to bedrock was recorded at each plant sampling location at BCCIL. Genome size was evaluated using flow cytometry for all field-collected plants and for F1 offspring derived from these. Genome size data were supplemented with supplementary chromosome counts for a subset of individuals to validate ploidy levels. A range of plant traits were also collected for each clonal line: guard cell length, flowering time, and aboveground dry biomass production. Our data reveal significant within-population variation in plant genome size and allow a test of the hypothesis that climate change can drive genome size evolution in plant populations.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2rbnzs7tt
Description of the data and file structure
Dataset overview
This dataset contains the data and code needed to replicate analyses in Trinder et al. (in review), where we evaluate the hypothesis that intraspecific plant genome size can respond to selection imposed by climate change. The data relate to genome size and plant trait measurements from 57 Festuca ovina plants collected from the Buxton Climate Change Impacts Lab (BCCIL; parental plants) and their F1 offspring. Plants were collected from the drought and control plots at BCCIL in July 2010. Mean soil depth at the field sampling locations was measured using a 10 mm aluminium soil depth probe. Plant genome size was measured using flow cytometry in the Jodrell Labs, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, with three technical replicate observations per parental plant. Plant traits were measured for each of the parental plants: guard cell length, above-ground dry biomass production, and earliest and median plant flowering time. These traits were measured using a common garden experiment in which clonal replicates of each parent plant had been grown under ambient climatic conditions at Ness Botanic Gardens, Cheshire, UK.
Dates of data collection
Plant collection from BCCIL: 2010
Flow-cytometry observations: 2014-2015
Plant trait data: 2012-2015
Spatial data scope
BCCIL is located at 53° 13.86′ N/ 1° 55.29′ W
Grassland plots at BCCIL are 3 x 3 m in size and are distributed over a west-facing dale (valley) slope in an area less than 1 hectare (Grime et al. 2000). Plants were collected from 5 replicate plots of the control and drought treatment in 2010.
Ness Botanic Gardens was the location for maintenance of field-collected parental and F1 clonal lines and for the common garden experiment from which trait measurements were collected for the parental individuals. It is located at 53° 16′ N/ 3° 2.8′ W.
Files and variables
File Trinder_GS_flow_cytometry_data.csv
This dataset contains genome size estimates from flow cytometry for Festuca ovina experimental plants collected from the Buxton Climate Change Impacts Lab, alongside raw fluorescence and peak morphology data from flow cytometry and plant identification information.
Meta-data for Trinder_GS_flow_cytometry_data.csv
| Variable_name | Definition | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Full_ID | Unique experimental identity number for Parental (P1) plant. | NA |
| Replicate | Replicate number for genome size observation. | NA |
| GSBlock | Genome size observation technical blocking factor. | NA |
| MP_ST | Mean peak location of the standard Petroselinum crispum. | Relative fluorescence units |
| MP_PL | Mean peak location of the Festuca sample. | Relative fluorescence units |
| CV_ST | Coefficient of Variation of the peak of the standard Petroselinum crispum. | Percent |
| CV_PL | Coefficient of Variation of the peak of the Festuca sample. | Percent |
| GS_ST | 2C DNA content of the standard Petroselinum crispum (known to be 2C = 4.5 pg). | pg |
| GS_PL | DNA content of the Festuca sample, calculated as: (mean peak location of the sample/mean peak location of the standard)*2C DNA content of the standard. | pg |
File Trinder_GS_trait_data.csv
This dataset contains phenotypic data for Festuca ovina experimental plants collected from the Buxton Climate Change Impacts Lab (BCCIL), including guard cell length, dry above-ground plant biomass production (biomass collected above 25 mm), median flowering time of inflorescences for each experimental plant, and earliest flowering time of inflorescences for each experimental plant. The latter three traits are presented as a mean value across replicate experimental pots containing the same clonal line. Genome size estimates (mean values per clonal line derived from Trinder_GS_flow_cytometry_data.csv) are also included. Finally, plant identification information is supplied alongside data on the origin of the clonal line at BCCIL (treatment of origin, mean soil depth at sampling location, BCCIL experimental block).
Meta-data for Trinder_GS_trait_data.csv
| Variable_name | Definition | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Full_ID | Unique experimental identity number for Parental (P1) plant. | NA |
| TagID | Metal asset tag number physically attached to pot containing living archival material. | NA |
| Genotype | Alphanumeric identity code for plant genotype collected from BCCIL. | NA |
| Block | Experimental block at BCCIL from which parental plant was collected. | NA |
| Treatment | Experimental climate treatment at BCCIL from which parental plant was collected. | NA |
| Mean_SD | Mean soil depth at location within BCCIL from which parental plant was collected. | cm |
| Mean_GS | Mean genome size of the parental plant from 3 replicate measurements. | pg |
| GSBlock | Genome size observation technical blocking factor. | NA |
| GuardCell_Mean | Mean guard cell length from on average 15 guard cell measurements. | mm |
| Biomass_Mean | Dry biomass measurement (as a mean value across replicate experimental pots containing the same plant clonal line [parental plant genotype]). Biomass was clipped at 25 mm above the soil surface. Measurements taken from experimental pots with deep soil. | g |
| Day_Mean | Median flowering time of inflorescences within experimental pots in the common garden experiment, in 2013 (as a mean value across replicate experimental pots containing the same plant clonal line). First, median flowering time (day of anthesis) was taken for all inflorescences that flowered in a given pot. Then, the mean value was taken across replicate clones within the same parental plant genotype. Measurements taken from experimental pots with deep soil. | Julian Days |
| Day_Min | Minimum (earliest) flowering time of inflorescences within experimental pots in the common garden experiment, in 2013 (as a mean value across replicate experimental pots containing the same plant clonal line). First, minimum flowering time (day of anthesis) was taken for all inflorescences that flowered in a given pot. Then, the mean value of the earliest flowering day was taken across replicate clones within the same parental plant genotype. Measurements taken from experimental pots with deep soil. | Julian Days |
File Trinder_GS_code.R
R Code needed to reproduce analyses and graphical plots in the associated paper "Plant genome-size is associated with fine-scale spatial variation in soil depth, but not climatic conditions, in the grass Festuca ovina". This code loads needed R packages, runs models, and then plots results and figures as shown in the paper.
Code/software
Files Trinder_GS_flow_cytometry_data.csv and Trinder_GS_trait_data.csv are in plain text (.csv) format, and can be opened by any text editor software. Trinder_GS_code.R is a plain text R script that can be opened in a text editor software or in the R statistical software. All code and packages were run under R version 4.4.3 (March 2025).
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- There are no other publicly accessible locations of the data
Data was derived from the following sources:
- NA