Data from: Early life history divergence mediates elevational adaptation in a perennial alpine plant
Data files
Jan 01, 2025 version files 211.48 KB
-
dcarth_ms_dryad_data_1123.csv
208.72 KB
-
README.md
2.76 KB
Abstract
Spatially divergent natural selection drives adaptation to contrasting environments and the evolution of ecotypes. Understanding this process in perennial plants is challenging because natural selection acts on multiple life history traits linked by fitness trade-offs. In a multi-year reciprocal transplant experiment of high and low elevation populations of the alpine carnation Dianthus carthusianorum in the Central Alps, we tested how different stages of the life cycle contribute to adaptation. Moreover, we used matrix population models to infer the specific contributions of individual life stages to fitness, coupled with trade-off analyses. We found genotype x environment interactions consistent with elevational adaptation both in single fitness components linked to reproduction and survival, and in integrative fitness estimates. Adaptation at low elevation is driven by early reproduction, in contrast to an opposite strategy at high elevation. Adaptive life-history differences between populations originating from low and high elevations are mediated by environmental effects on plant growth and trade-offs between reproduction and survival. Our work reveals elevational ecotypes of the perennial alpine plant D. carthusianorum that express alternative life history strategies in response to climatic differences shaping resource allocation.
README: Early life history divergence mediates elevational adaptation in a perennial alpine plant
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gxd2547sj
The dataset contains fitness data of a perennial plant collected over a period of three years growing in a reciprocal transplant experiment. Three low and three high elevation populations of the perennial carnation Dianthus carthusianourm were sampled at low and high elevations. Seeds were sown in a greenhouse and the resulting seedlings were transplanted to two low and to two high elevation transplant sites following a randomized block design. The plants in the field sites were monitored for three years 2016-2018 and fitness and rosette size data continously collected. The dataset contains life stage specific survival, flowering incidence and fecundity and rosette size.
Description of the data and file structure
Variable name - Description
- site - transplant site
- plot - experimental block within transplant site
- position - position within block
- site_altitude - elevation of transplant site
- altitude - elevation of population origin in meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- population - population
- mother - maternal family
- seed - individual identifier number within maternal families
- survival1_w1 - survival the first winter, 1 and 0 denote alive and dead, respectively
- survival2_s1 - survival the first summer, 1 and 0 denote alive and dead, respectively
- survival3_w2 - survival the second winter, 1 and 0 denote alive and dead, respectively
- survival4_s2 - survival the second summer, 1 and 0 denote alive and dead, respectively
- survival5_w3 - survival the third winter, 1 and 0 denote alive and dead, respectively
- survival6_s3 - survival the third summer, 1 and 0 denote alive and dead, respectively
- survival_7_w4 - survival the fourth winter, 1 and 0 denote alive and dead, respectively
- E15_biomass - size in mm2, before first winter
- S16_biomass - size in mm2 start of second summer
- E16_biomass - size in mm2 end of second winter
- S17_biomass - size in mm2 start of second summer
- S18_biomass - size in mm2 start of third summer
- E18_biomass - size in mm2 end of second winter
- flower1 - flowering first summer, 1 and 0 denote flowering and non flowering, respectively
- flower2 - flowering second summer, 1 and 0 denote flowering and non flowering, respectively
- flower3 - flowering third summer, 1 and 0 denote flowering and non flowering, respectively
- seed1 - number of seeds first summer
- seed2 - number of seeds second summer
- seed3 - number of seeds third summer
NA values indicate cases where data could not be collected. These are cases where, for example, a plant was dead and biomass could not be measured.
Methods
Dataset contains fitness data collected in a reciprocal transplant expiemrent of a pernenial carnation over a period of three years. Life stage specific survival, flowering and fecundity and rosette size is included.