Flowering time is an important life history trait in plants that often affects fitness. The optimal time to flower may be influenced by trade-offs between flowering time and growth-related traits and is thus likely to differ among habitats. Because flowering-time differences between populations can also reduce gene flow, understanding the factors that contribute to variation in flowering time among closely adjacent populations that experience gene flow is of particular interest. Plant adaptation to different edaphic environments provides some of the best examples of adaptive divergence at small spatial scales, and often coincides with flowering-time shifts. The current study addresses the causes of flowering-time differences in two populations of Leptosiphon parviflorus that are locally adapted to adjacent serpentine and sandstone soils despite moderate levels of gene flow and close geographic proximity. Field reciprocal-transplant studies and watering manipulations in the greenhouse demonstrate the contribution of both the genotype and the environment to observed flowering-time differences. The plasticity of flowering time in response to soil type appears to be driven by differences in soil moisture. In addition, selection on flowering time was measured in both soil types across 4 years of study using a set of F5 advanced-generation hybrids and found to differ between the habitats. Therefore, both selection and plasticity contribute to flowering-time differences between these populations and thus have likely played an important role in the initiation and/or maintenance of adaptive divergence in this system.
Soil Volumetric Water Content Jan 27-June 18 2015
This file includes the raw voltage readings as well as the calculated volumetric water content readings from four different sensors for each soil type (serpentine and sandstone) at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Two replicates were placed at two different locations on each soil type (see README file for a diagram for the approximate locations of each sensor).
VWC_2015.csv
Greenhouse flowering time data for serpentine and sandstone populations
Data collected at the Michigan State University greenhouse on serpentine "Serp" or sandstone "Sand" soil in two treatments- "Dry" vs. "Control". 'Pop' indicates the population source, 'Initial Flat' refers to the flat/position of the individual before being assigned to a treatment. 'treatment_flat' refers to the flat replicate (nested within treatment- either 1 or 2). 'Plant' is a unique number for each plant on each flat, 'Date_Planted' is the day that each individual was transplanted, 'Flower_Day' is the first day that each plant was observed to flower (Day 0=first day of transplant/Feb 11), and the first plant to flower was on Day 27 (corresponding to March 10).
Parents_gh.csv
Flowering time of the serpentine and sandstone populations in the field
This data was collected on the parental populations (serpentine and sandstone) on their native soil types at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve during years 2012-2015. Here, 'Rep' refers to the replicate plot (nested within year and soil type). Years 2012-2013 only had one replicate plot on each soil type. The 'Flat_transplant' is the day each individual was transplanted to the flat filled with field soil, and the 'Field_transplant' is the day each individual was transplanted from the flat to the field. Field.Row and Field.Column are the Row/Column positions for each plant in the field plots, 'Edge' plants were directly on the outer edge of each plot, while 'Inner' plants include everything else. The date of first flower is listed in addition to the day of first flower. Day #1 is the day the first plant flowered in that year.
Parents_field.csv
Flowering time and fitness (survival, number of flowers, number of fruits) for the F5 advanced-generation hybrids on each soil type (serpentine or sandstone) during 2012-2015
This data was collected at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve during years 2012-2015. Here, 'Rep' refers to the replicate plot (nested within year and soil type). Years 2012-2013 only had one replicate plot on each soil type. The 'Flat_transplant' is the day each individual was transplanted to the flat filled with field soil, and the 'Field_transplant' is the day each individual was transplanted from the flat to the field. Field.Row and Field.Column are the Row/Column positions for each plant in the field plots, 'Edge' plants were directly on the outer edge of each plot, while 'Inner' plants include everything else. The date of first flower is listed in addition to the day of first flower. Day #1 is the day the first plant flowered in that year. 'Surv_flr' is whether or not the plant survived to flower, and 'NumFlowers' and 'NumFruits' is the number of flowers or fruits each plant produced.
F5_selection.csv
