Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics最新文献

{"title":"Are trait responses of tree species across pyroregions indicative of fire-modulated plant functional strategies?","authors":"José Maria Costa-Saura ,&nbsp;Gabriele Midolo ,&nbsp;Carlo Ricotta ,&nbsp;Mara Baudena ,&nbsp;Carlo Calfapietra ,&nbsp;Mario Elia ,&nbsp;Paolo Fiorucci ,&nbsp;Simone Mereu ,&nbsp;Costantino Sirca ,&nbsp;Donatella Spano ,&nbsp;Gianna Vivaldo ,&nbsp;Gianluigi Ottaviani","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125867","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125867","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fire disturbance is a global eco-evolutionary force affecting plant species persistence and distribution. Pyrogeographic studies so far have identified pyroregions based on their similarity in climate and fire regime parameters. However, which fire-related traits tend to promote or hinder plant species persistence and distribution in different pyroregions remains underexplored. We implement a trait-based approach focusing on 38 tree species in the Mediterranean Basin (Italy), testing whether 1) species distribution across different pyroregions is associated with fire regime, 2) species in different pyroregions exhibit distinct fire-related trait values and, if so, 3) trait differences suggest better abilities to cope with fire and aridity in species distributed in more fire-prone and arid regions (e.g. thicker bark). We ran multivariate analyses (Correspondence Analysis) and linear models (Standardized Major Axis, Ordinary Least Squares) to address our goals. Findings tend to positively answer our questions, emphasizing the importance of including fire-related traits in pyroregionalization studies. Noticeably, the most fire-prone pyroregions collapse into one region from a functional perspective, with species characterized by trait values indicative of adaptations to fire and aridity. A trait-based approach may contribute to refine pyroregionalization exercises while proving useful for management purposes, such as identifying species or life histories whose traits may facilitate their persistence in the face of future, likely exacerbating, fire regimes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 125867"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143738963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reproductive biology and pollinators of Musschia wollastonii Lowe (Campanulaceae)","authors":"Catarina Gomes ,&nbsp;Sílvia Castro ,&nbsp;Tiago Andrade ,&nbsp;Manuela Gouveia ,&nbsp;Elisa Teixeira ,&nbsp;Célia Bairos ,&nbsp;Miguel Menezes de Sequeira","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125866","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125866","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the reproductive biology of plants is particularly relevant for the conservation of rare, threatened or endemic plants. <em>Musschia wollastonii</em> Lowe is a rare, monocarpic, neoendemic species of the island of Madeira with a complex reproductive biology including outcrossing and selfing. However, nothing is known about the extent of the dependence of the species on pollinators for its reproduction, a possible incompatibility system, or the extent of selfing. We found that <em>M. wollastonii</em> is self-compatible and shows spontaneous but delayed selfing. Outcrossing is promoted by protandry, weak dichogamy, and a mechanism of secondary pollen presentation on the abaxial surface of the stigmatic lobes. The four-month flowering period and large inflorescence, traits that promote cross-pollination, suggest a mixed mating system. Observed flower visitors were insects from the Syrphidae and Drosophilae (both Diptera), Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera) and Vespidae (Hymenoptera) families. All insect flower visitors observed were pollen thieves and had thus potentially a negative impact on reproductive success, but a positive role as pollinators is suggested for syrphids and the butterfly <em>Pararge xiphia</em> (Nymphalidae). Although reported by other authors, no bird visitations were recorded in the studied habitat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 125866"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143641955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A survey of duckweed species in Southern Italy provided first distribution records of the hybrid Lemna × mediterranea in nature","authors":"Leone Ermes Romano ,&nbsp;Luca Braglia ,&nbsp;Maria Adelaide Iannelli ,&nbsp;Yuri Lee ,&nbsp;Silvia Gianì ,&nbsp;Floriana Gavazzi ,&nbsp;Laura Morello","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interspecific hybridisation and polyploidization are two main driving forces in plant evolution, shaping genomes and favouring evolutionary novelty and ecological adaptation. Recent studies have demonstrated hybridisation within the genus <em>Lemna</em> (Lemnaceae Martinov) as well as triploid accessions. <em>Lemna</em> × <em>mediterranea</em>, a recently described hybrid between <em>Lemna minor</em> and <em>Lemna gibba,</em> was identified only among long-lasting germplasm collections of <em>in vitro</em> propagated plants, originally collected at different times in the Mediterranean area. We report the first distribution record of <em>L. × mediterranea</em> in the nature, in the Campania region of Southern Italy, the same area where <em>Lemna symmeter</em> was described as a new species about 50 years ago, confirming their synonymy. Eight specimens isolated from five different sampling sites over an area of about 4200 km² showed identical genetic profiles by Tubulin-Based Polymorphism (TBP) analysis, suggesting their common origin from the same hybridisation event, followed by clonal dispersal. The <em>L. × mediterranea</em> population of Campania is genetically different from any of the previously analysed clones, suggesting that recurrent hybridisation between the parental species may occur. The natural hybrid clone is triploid, with <em>L</em>. <em>gibba</em> as the plastid donor, and remarkably similar to it by morphology, although the typical gibbosity of this species becomes evident only upon <em>in vitro</em> flower induction. Flowers are protogynous and self-sterile. Ecological factors including competition with parental and invasive species, niche and climate change adaptation, stability in time and space likely played a role in the successful establishment of <em>L. × mediterranea</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 125863"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143643764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urban green spaces as reservoirs of exotic plant species with invasion risk: A case study on the ornamental flora of Nairobi City, Kenya","authors":"Calvince Rashid Kawawa Abonyo ,&nbsp;Ayub M.O. Oduor","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human-driven global redistribution of flora for various economic purposes has contributed to the naturalization of several thousand species of plants outside their native ranges. A significant proportion of naturalized species have become invasive whereby they significantly alter biodiversity, disrupt ecosystems, and cause socioeconomic losses. Urban ornamental horticulture is a major pathway for the introduction of exotic plants, as these species are widely cultivated for their aesthetic appeal and adaptability. However, inventories of exotic plants grown in urban areas are lacking in many African countries. This study surveyed ornamental plants in 100 urban green spaces (parks, gardens, urban forests, cemeteries, playgrounds and squares) in Nairobi City, Kenya. The objective was to assess the prevalence of exotic species, their geographic origins, economic uses, and naturalization/invasion status. We identified 638 plant species, 11 of which are native to Kenya. Trees were the most common, followed by shrubs and perennial herbs. Most exotic species originated from Africa, South America, and tropical Asia, while fewer came from North America, Europe, and Oceania. Of the exotic species, 53 % were casual (not yet established in the wild), 30 % were invasive somewhere in the world and 17 % were naturalized. In addition to their ornamental use, all species served various purposes: medicinal (48.43 %), construction (29.31 %), environmental conservation (17.40 %), human food (2.98 %), multiple uses (0.94 %), fodder (0.63 %), and biofuels (0.31 %). The finding that 30 % of exotic ornamental plant species grown in Nairobi City had a history of being invasive in different parts of the world emphasizes the need for proactive measures to prevent their potential invasion in Kenya and other regions with similar climates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 125864"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143643763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring biodiversity in the global change era: The importance of herbaria and genetic diversity","authors":"Melissa Viveiros-Moniz ,&nbsp;Ana García-Muñoz ,&nbsp;Luis Matias ,&nbsp;Mohamed Abdelaziz ,&nbsp;A. Jesús Muñoz-Pajares","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125862","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125862","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change is having far-reaching consequences on all living beings, altering ecosystems, habitats, and biodiversity worldwide. Species distributions are shifting or decreasing, with alpine plant species being particularly threatened. Natural population monitoring allows the assessment of the impact of human-induced global changes. However, traditional monitoring strategies based on individual counts may produce delayed signals of biodiversity loss. These approaches overlook the fact that genetic diversity is the fundamental basis for evolutionary processes, as it enables populations to adapt to environmental changes, including those caused by climate change. Here, we draw attention to the use of genetic diversity in monitoring schemes to anticipate negative trends in biodiversity and propose two fundamental methodologies: genomics and the use of herbarium specimens. Firstly, in contrast to genetic markers conventionally used to quantify genetic diversity, such as microsatellite markers, genomic approaches provide a vast amount of data that does not require previous knowledge of the studied organism, making them suitable for the study of non-model species. Secondly, herbaria worldwide serve as excellent sources of plant material for comparative studies across time with their precise chronologically recorded collection data. The accuracy of genetic diversity estimates increases with sample size, therefore a large number of vouchers is ideally required. However, the availability of specimens from the same species and populations in public herbaria is limited. Different strategies to quantify genetic diversity are proposed depending on the number of specimens available and their geographic distribution. Finally, we illustrate the potential of this approach in the most restrictive scenario, where only a few individuals are available, and there is no conspecific reference genome. Even in this restrictive scenario, there are signs of genetic depauperation in an alpine species with a narrow distribution, but not in a widely distributed congeneric.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 125862"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143643762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geographical parthenogenesis in tetraploid brambles: Do competition and reproductive output in the secondary contact zone matter?","authors":"Michaela Konečná ,&nbsp;Martin Duchoslav ,&nbsp;Michal Sochor","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125859","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125859","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Apomicts often show geographic distributions different from their sexual relatives, a phenomenon known as geographic parthenogenesis. Traits that have been suggested to influence the likelihood that apomicts and sexuals co-occur include those responsible for resource acquisition and reproductive traits. Here we test the contribution of these traits to geographic parthenogenesis, previously observed in a unique agamic system (<em>Rubus</em> ser. <em>Glandulosi</em>) free from the potential confounding effects of different ploidy. We conducted two competition experiments with different source materials (stem tips, root cuttings) of tetraploid apomicts and sexuals of <em>Rubus</em> ser. <em>Glandulosi</em> from their secondary contact zone to investigate their resource acquisition efficiency and reproductive characteristics. Both apomicts and sexuals were grown in monocultures and in mixtures of both reproductive groups, either with or without an additional competitor (grass <em>Elymus repens</em>). We found no consistent differences in survival, vegetative traits, biomass production or reproductive traits between sexuals and apomicts across treatments in either experiment. Thus, our data show similar competitiveness and fitness of apomicts and sexuals. Competitive exclusion, although potentially delayed by neutral dynamics, supports the strong parapatric distribution of sexuals and apomicts in the previously observed contact zone. However, the position of the contact zone and its shifts through time are largely determined by selection-independent factors like priority or stochastic effects and neutral population genetic processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 125859"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143549853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mating patterns of an ambophilous dioecious dominant tree in fragmented Chaco Serrano forests","authors":"Ana Laura Chiapero ,&nbsp;María Cristina Acosta ,&nbsp;Lorena Ashworth ,&nbsp;Mauricio Quesada ,&nbsp;Gabriel Bernardello ,&nbsp;Ramiro Aguilar","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125860","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Lithraea molleoides</em> is a dominant dioecious tree native to the Chaco Serrano Forest, a highly fragmented and threatened ecoregion in central Argentina. The species has ambophily and is able to set seeds via apomixis, traits that may confer resilience to genetic erosion in fragmented forests. We analyzed the genetic diversity of adults and progeny from both continuous and fragmented forests of the Chaco Serrano ecoregion, and conducted paternity assignment and pollen flow analyses. Adult tree populations showed no differences in genetic diversity and structure between continuous and fragmented forests, suggesting they precede the events of habitat loss and fragmentation. In contrast, only the progeny from fragmented forests showed lower genetic diversity and increased inbreeding. Changes in pollinator assemblages in fragmented forests and a higher incidence of apomixis (i.e., only genotypes from female trees reflected in the progeny) may have contributed to reduced genetic diversity in the progeny. Contemporary pollen flow was more restricted in fragmented environments, probably due to changes in pollinator composition and limited wind pollination. While ambophily and apomixis provide reproductive assurance for <em>L. molleoides</em>, our study highlights they cannot prevent the genetic erosion observed in the progeny generated in fragmented forests. These findings have significant implications for conservation strategies aimed at preserving the genetic diversity and viability of <em>L. molleoides</em> populations in the last tracts of Chaco Serrano Forests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 125860"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143519381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fairy circle research: Status, controversies and the way forward","authors":"Michael D. Cramer ,&nbsp;Walter R. Tschinkel","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125851","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125851","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><ul><li><span>1)</span><span><div>Fairy circles are regularly spaced barren circular patches in arid landscapes, typically encircled by a ring of taller grasses. They occur in South-western Africa and have also been suggested to occur in Australia, North Africa, Middle East and Madagascar. The enigmatic origins of fairy circles in arid landscapes have intrigued ecologists and sparked heated debate about the two main competing hypotheses: the termite origin (TO) and vegetation self-organization (VSO) hypotheses. In this review we attempt to untangle the claims and counter-claims regarding the two hypotheses in a dispassionate manner.</div></span></li><li><span>2)</span><span><div>The TO hypothesis posits that fairy circles form due to activities of <em>Psammotermes allocerus</em> termites, which through their foraging and nest-building behaviour create barren patches in arid grasslands, leading to the characteristic circular formations whose spacing results from competitive interactions between <em>P. allocerus</em> colonies.</div></span></li><li><span>3)</span><span><div>The VSO hypothesis posits that fairy circles in arid landscapes are the product of self-organizing behaviour of plants competing for limited water resources. Competition between neighbouring plants leads to the formation of barren circular patches with grassy peripheries. Water and nutrient mobility in coarse aeolian sands play a critical role in the shape and spacing between fairy circles.</div></span></li><li><span>4)</span><span><div>Problems with the TO hypothesis include the inconsistent central location of termite colonies within fairy circles, the difficulty of aligning the long-term persistence and stability of fairy circles with termite population dynamics, and the lack of evidence for aggressive termite interactions at the scale of the fairy circle pattern.</div></span></li><li><span>5)</span><span><div>The main challenge for the VSO hypothesis is a lack of direct empirical evidence, especially concerning complex underground water and nutrient fluxes. The precise mechanisms behind VSO remain unclear, making it difficult to fully validate this hypothesis as the sole explanation for fairy circles.</div></span></li><li><span>6)</span><span><div>Synthesis: This analysis underscores the VSO hypothesis as a coherent explanation for fairy circle formation. Progress will require manipulative experiments with environmental factors (e.g., termite presence, soil nutrients, water availability) that test the hypotheses directly. Long-term monitoring to observe fairy circle development and changes under varying conditions is also required.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 125851"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143479704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Together but not mixed: mistletoe genetic diversity and seed disperser activity between evergreen and deciduous forests","authors":"Gabriela S. Olivares ,&nbsp;José I. Orellana ,&nbsp;Noemí Rojas-Hernández ,&nbsp;Caren Vega-Retter ,&nbsp;Javiera Villarroel ,&nbsp;Gloria B. Rodríguez-Gómez ,&nbsp;Roberto F. Nespolo ,&nbsp;Francisco E. Fontúrbel","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125850","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125850","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Habitat structure plays an important role in determining forest mammals' abundance and activity patterns, impacting their interactions with plant species. In the southern South American temperate rainforests, two mistletoe species (<em>Tristerix corymbosus</em> and <em>Desmaria mutabilis</em>) depend on the arboreal marsupial <em>Dromiciops bozinovici</em> for seed dispersal, inhabiting a mosaic of evergreen and deciduous <em>Nothofagus</em>-<em>Araucaria</em> forests. We used camera traps to compare marsupial abundance, visitation rates, and daily activity patterns between evergreen and deciduous forests. Also, we sequenced DNA (using SNPs) from both mistletoes to assess their genetic diversity, population genetic structure, and landscape genetics. <em>Dromiciops bozinovici</em> visited <em>T. corymbosus</em> more frequently in the evergreen forest and <em>D. mutabilis</em> in the deciduous forest, as it is the only mistletoe species found above 1250 m of elevation. Both mistletoe species showed similar genetic diversity between forest types, but <em>T. corymbosus</em> was more diverse than <em>D. mutabilis;</em> population structure was weak but significant in both cases. In both cases, gene flow was stronger towards the evergreen forest, and this asymmetry was more pronounced for <em>D. mutabilis</em>. Also, geographic and genetic distances were positively correlated except for <em>D. mutabilis</em> in the deciduous forest. <em>Dromiciops bozinovici</em> activity and abundance varied according to forest type and mistletoe species associated, which seem to be influencing gene flow and genetic diversity patterns. Interaction between plants and frugivores is particularly relevant in high-mountain forests, where mistletoes provide major resources for frugivores, which shape their spatial and genetic structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article 125850"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Winter annuals not only escape but also withstand winter droughts: Results from a multi-trait, multi-species approach","authors":"Susanne Kurze ,&nbsp;Bettina M.J. Engelbrecht ,&nbsp;Mark C. Bilton ,&nbsp;Katja Tielbörger ,&nbsp;Leonor Álvarez-Cansino","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125849","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125849","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Winter annual plants are a dominant life form in drylands. They evade seasonal drought through their life history, but are also exposed to drought within their growing season. Across species, winter annuals differ in traits allowing them to reproduce before a drought occurs (drought escape) as well as in traits minimizing tissue dehydration (drought avoidance) and/or maintaining functioning under drought (drought tolerance). It is yet uncertain how these traits are coordinated and influence winter annuals’ performance responses to drought within the growing season and their distribution along rainfall gradients. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial to predict global change impacts in drylands. We measured 22 traits hypothesized to influence whole-plant performance responses to drought in 29 winter annuals common in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. We examined trait syndromes and linked species’ strengths of these trait syndromes with their fecundity responses to an experimental within-season drought, their maximum growth rates (in 18 species), and their distribution along a rainfall gradient. Four trait syndromes emerged: Two were largely consistent with drought avoidance and tolerance, while the other two consisted of traits considered to confer drought escape. Both escape syndromes were differently associated with plant size and therefore referred to as small and tall escape syndrome. Species with a pronounced small escape syndrome showed, albeit weakly, higher fecundity losses under experimental drought. Both species with a pronounced avoidance or tall escape syndrome exhibited higher growth rates, but only annuals with pronounced avoidance traits tended to occur in moister conditions. Our findings highlight that winter annuals, despite their common life history, exhibit several trait syndromes conferring them similar ability to cope with drought in the growing season. Consequently, increasing within-season drought with global change may hardly affect community composition of winter annuals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 125849"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}