Modern cities are complex anthropogenic ecosystems where human activities influence ecological and evolutionary processes. These processes affect genetic diversity and gene flow of urban populations, with variable impacts depending on species’ biological traits and urban environmental constraints. This review examines the impact of urban environments on the genetics of plant populations, with a focus on the role of species' ecological traits in shaping genetic responses to urban constraints. A comprehensive analysis of existing studies challenges standard assumptions on urban ecosystems. Findings indicate that urban plant populations generally maintain genetic diversity levels comparable to those of non-urban populations. Additionally, outcrossing is not consistently reduced in cities but mainly influenced by species’ intrinsic traits. Contradicting the urban fragmentation assumption, gene flow remains high between urban populations, particularly for ruderal species dispersed on long distances by animals, including humans. Similarly, cities do not function as isolated genetic islands, since genetic exchanges persist between urban and non-urban populations. Moreover, urban plant species often maintain genetic diversity through repeated introductions and anthropogenic dispersal, while some threatened species retain a genetic structure inherited from pre-urbanization connectivity. This study highlights the complexity of interactions between urbanization and plant population genetics, challenging long-standing assumptions on fragmentation and genetic isolation in urban environments.
{"title":"Urban plant population genetics: A review","authors":"Laurent Hardion, Alejandro Sotillo, Audrey Muratet","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125920","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125920","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Modern cities are complex anthropogenic ecosystems where human activities influence ecological and evolutionary processes. These processes affect genetic diversity and gene flow of urban populations, with variable impacts depending on species’ biological traits and urban environmental constraints. This review examines the impact of urban environments on the genetics of plant populations, with a focus on the role of species' ecological traits in shaping genetic responses to urban constraints. A comprehensive analysis of existing studies challenges standard assumptions on urban ecosystems. Findings indicate that urban plant populations generally maintain genetic diversity levels comparable to those of non-urban populations. Additionally, outcrossing is not consistently reduced in cities but mainly influenced by species’ intrinsic traits. Contradicting the urban fragmentation assumption, gene flow remains high between urban populations, particularly for ruderal species dispersed on long distances by animals, including humans. Similarly, cities do not function as isolated genetic islands, since genetic exchanges persist between urban and non-urban populations. Moreover, urban plant species often maintain genetic diversity through repeated introductions and anthropogenic dispersal, while some threatened species retain a genetic structure inherited from pre-urbanization connectivity. This study highlights the complexity of interactions between urbanization and plant population genetics, challenging long-standing assumptions on fragmentation and genetic isolation in urban environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 125920"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883892","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-21DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125921
Judita Zozomová-Lihová , Hana Majerová , Marek Šlenker , Edina Kminiaková , Gabriela Šrámková , Karol Marhold
Accurate taxonomic treatment and classification is essential for advanced genomic research, but not always straightforward. Here, we address the long-standing taxonomic confusion regarding the names Cardamine rivularis Schur and C. rivularis auct. non Schur, which refer to different entities involved in allopolyploidization events. A number of studies from the 1970s to the present have misclassified the parental species of the Alpine neopolyploids C. insueta and C. schulzii, disregarding morphological and genetic evidence. This prompted us to search for an appropriate taxonomic solution, which has remained problematic for decades. Here, we apply whole-genome resequencing, ddRADseq, and morphometrics to support C. rivularis Schur and C. rivularis auct. non Schur as separate species and, in particular, to distinguish the latter from the widespread C. pratensis s.str. Despite the evidence of introgression, we demonstrate their genetic distinction with subtle morphological differentiation, indicating cryptic speciation. The Alpine populations hitherto provisionally treated as C. rivularis auct. non Schur are described as the new species C. pseudorivularis Landolt ex Marhold & Lihová; those from the Eastern Carpathians are assigned to C. marholdii Tzvelev, and the adjacent Eastern Carpathian foothill populations are described as C. ucranica Marhold & Lihová. We emphasize that C. pseudorivularis, not C. rivularis, was involved in the polyploidization events in the Alps that have attracted the attention of many researchers, and we appeal for the correct taxonomic classification. Notably, populations of C. rivularis Schur from the Rhodopes also produce allotriploids, which should not be confused with the well-studied triploid C. insueta in the Alps.
{"title":"Cardamine rivularis Schur is not the same as Cardamine rivularis auct. non Schur and why does it matter in the genomic era: Resolving the long-standing taxonomic confusion","authors":"Judita Zozomová-Lihová , Hana Majerová , Marek Šlenker , Edina Kminiaková , Gabriela Šrámková , Karol Marhold","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125921","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125921","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate taxonomic treatment and classification is essential for advanced genomic research, but not always straightforward. Here, we address the long-standing taxonomic confusion regarding the names <em>Cardamine rivularis</em> Schur and <em>C. rivularis</em> auct. non Schur, which refer to different entities involved in allopolyploidization events. A number of studies from the 1970s to the present have misclassified the parental species of the Alpine neopolyploids <em>C. insueta</em> and <em>C. schulzii</em>, disregarding morphological and genetic evidence. This prompted us to search for an appropriate taxonomic solution, which has remained problematic for decades. Here, we apply whole-genome resequencing, ddRADseq, and morphometrics to support <em>C. rivularis</em> Schur and <em>C. rivularis</em> auct. non Schur as separate species and, in particular, to distinguish the latter from the widespread <em>C. pratensis</em> s.str. Despite the evidence of introgression, we demonstrate their genetic distinction with subtle morphological differentiation, indicating cryptic speciation. The Alpine populations hitherto provisionally treated as <em>C. rivularis</em> auct. non Schur are described as the new species <em>C. pseudorivularis</em> Landolt ex Marhold & Lihová; those from the Eastern Carpathians are assigned to <em>C. marholdii</em> Tzvelev, and the adjacent Eastern Carpathian foothill populations are described as <em>C. ucranica</em> Marhold & Lihová. We emphasize that <em>C. pseudorivularis</em>, not <em>C. rivularis</em>, was involved in the polyploidization events in the Alps that have attracted the attention of many researchers, and we appeal for the correct taxonomic classification. Notably, populations of <em>C. rivularis</em> Schur from the Rhodopes also produce allotriploids, which should not be confused with the well-studied triploid <em>C. insueta</em> in the Alps.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 125921"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883744","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125918
Ernesto Gianoli
Climbing plants are found in numerous plant families and play a key role in the community and ecosystem dynamics of forests worldwide. The climbing habit is often understood as allowing plants to reach better lit layers and enhance light capture. Therefore, it should be nearly absent in environments with abundant light and canopies rarely imposing significant shade on lower layers. Arid ecosystems fit the latter description, yet climbing plants are consistently present there. To address this issue, I considered their climbing mechanism. First, I explored the distribution of climbing plants in arid environments vs their climbing mechanism in Chile, a country with a marked latitudinal gradient in aridity. Results showed that root climbers are excluded –and scramblers are nearly excluded– from the desert, while both tendril-bearing and twining vines increase their relative presence in the desert compared to the forest. Second, to test whether stem twiners and tendril bearers are intrinsically more resistant to drought than scramblers, I compiled data from studies measuring physiological resistance to drought-induced embolism. Results showed that there was no difference in this trait among species with different climbing mechanisms. Finally, I discuss that twining and tendril-bearing climbers could be favored in arid environments because of their higher efficiency in finding (and attaching to) shrubs, which will grant them substantial benefits in terms of abiotic conditions and/or herbivory protection. Although there is surely no single explanation for the presence of climbing plants in deserts, I would suggest that the role of climbing mechanisms deserves further exploration.
{"title":"Why are there climbing plants in the desert?","authors":"Ernesto Gianoli","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125918","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125918","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climbing plants are found in numerous plant families and play a key role in the community and ecosystem dynamics of forests worldwide. The climbing habit is often understood as allowing plants to reach better lit layers and enhance light capture. Therefore, it should be nearly absent in environments with abundant light and canopies rarely imposing significant shade on lower layers. Arid ecosystems fit the latter description, yet climbing plants are consistently present there. To address this issue, I considered their climbing mechanism. First, I explored the distribution of climbing plants in arid environments vs their climbing mechanism in Chile, a country with a marked latitudinal gradient in aridity. Results showed that root climbers are excluded –and scramblers are nearly excluded– from the desert, while both tendril-bearing and twining vines increase their relative presence in the desert compared to the forest. Second, to test whether stem twiners and tendril bearers are intrinsically more resistant to drought than scramblers, I compiled data from studies measuring physiological resistance to drought-induced embolism. Results showed that there was no difference in this trait among species with different climbing mechanisms. Finally, I discuss that twining and tendril-bearing climbers could be favored in arid environments because of their higher efficiency in finding (and attaching to) shrubs, which will grant them substantial benefits in terms of abiotic conditions and/or herbivory protection. Although there is surely no single explanation for the presence of climbing plants in deserts, I would suggest that the role of climbing mechanisms deserves further exploration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 125918"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790243","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125919
Azim U. Mallik, Philippe St. Martin
Resource sharing in ramets located in heterogeneous environments is an important regeneration strategy for clonal plants. Primarily clonal herbs have been used as model systems in studying eco-physiological integration of clonal plants that often maintain dominance by sharing resources among ramets. Many forest understorey shrubs are clonal and their rapid expansion after canopy removing disturbance may impede forest regeneration. Such is the case with Kalmia angustifolia L. (hereafter called Kalmia), in the boreal forest of eastern Canada. Kalmia is known for its ability to establish a persistent heath within 6–8 years after fire. We asked if the persistent dominance of Kalmia is related to its resource sharing in ramets and shade tolerance. More specifically we asked if i) rhizome severing (by trenching) and shade would affect above- and belowground traits of Kalmia by breaking resource sharing among ramets, ii) Kalmia being shade-tolerant, low shade may not affect these traits, but high shade would, and iii) trenching and high shade together would have the strongest negative effect than either trenching or high shade alone. With a five-year field experiment we tested resource sharing of Kalmia in ramets subjected to trenching and 0, 34, 62, 79 and 98 % shade treatment in an established heath. We hypothesized that i) trenching alone and in combination with high shade will result in lower cover, stem density, and biomass of Kalmia ramets due to breakdown in resource sharing, ii) low shade (≤ 62 %) may not affect it’s above- and below ground traits but high shade (≥ 62 %) will, and iii) trenching and high shading together will have a strong interactive effect resulting lower cover, stem density, and biomass. We found that overall, trenching had no significant effect on individual response variables whereas only the highest shade dramatically decreased cover (82 %), number of live stems (92 %), aboveground biomass (93 %) and belowground biomass (80 %). We conclude that Kalmia is a very shade tolerant shrub, and it does not rely on rhizomatous resource sharing among ramets in established heath.
{"title":"No evidence of rhizomatous resource sharing of Kalmia angustifolia in established heath","authors":"Azim U. Mallik, Philippe St. Martin","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125919","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125919","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Resource sharing in ramets located in heterogeneous environments is an important regeneration strategy for clonal plants. Primarily clonal herbs have been used as model systems in studying eco-physiological integration of clonal plants that often maintain dominance by sharing resources among ramets. Many forest understorey shrubs are clonal and their rapid expansion after canopy removing disturbance may impede forest regeneration. Such is the case with <em>Kalmia angustifolia</em> L. (hereafter called <em>Kalmia</em>), in the boreal forest of eastern Canada. <em>Kalmia</em> is known for its ability to establish a persistent heath within 6–8 years after fire. We asked if the persistent dominance of <em>Kalmia</em> is related to its resource sharing in ramets and shade tolerance. More specifically we asked if i) rhizome severing (by trenching) and shade would affect above- and belowground traits of <em>Kalmia</em> by breaking resource sharing among ramets, ii) <em>Kalmia</em> being shade-tolerant, low shade may not affect these traits, but high shade would, and iii) trenching and high shade together would have the strongest negative effect than either trenching or high shade alone. With a five-year field experiment we tested resource sharing of <em>Kalmia</em> in ramets subjected to trenching and 0, 34, 62, 79 and 98 % shade treatment in an established heath. We hypothesized that i) trenching alone and in combination with high shade will result in lower cover, stem density, and biomass of <em>Kalmia</em> ramets due to breakdown in resource sharing, ii) low shade (≤ 62 %) may not affect it’s above- and below ground traits but high shade (≥ 62 %) will, and iii) trenching and high shading together will have a strong interactive effect resulting lower cover, stem density, and biomass. We found that overall, trenching had no significant effect on individual response variables whereas only the highest shade dramatically decreased cover (82 %), number of live stems (92 %), aboveground biomass (93 %) and belowground biomass (80 %). We conclude that <em>Kalmia</em> is a very shade tolerant shrub, and it does not rely on rhizomatous resource sharing among ramets in established heath.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 125919"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840273","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125909
Hua Liang , Cheng Zhou , Wan Hu , Sujuan Wei , Dengmei Fan , Shuang Tian , Zhiyong Zhang
Mixed-ploidy species, which contain individuals with different numbers of chromosome sets (e.g., diploids and polyploids), serve as exceptional natural laboratories for studying evolution in action. Previous studies have revealed that the Enkianthus chinensis species complex comprises tetraploid and hexaploid populations. However, whether diploid populations exist within this complex and how ploidy types are geographically distributed remain unclear. It also remains uncertain whether polyploids in this complex exhibited distinct responses to Quaternary climate changes compared to diploids in subtropical China, if they exist in subtropical China. Here, we first employed flow cytometry to assess cytotype distribution and then investigated the phylogeographic structure and demographic history of the complex using two chloroplast intergenic spacers (psbA-trnH and rpl32-trnL). The results revealed that the complex was composed solely of tetraploid and hexaploid populations with no diploid populations being detected, implying either diploid ancestor extinction or ancient polyploidization outside subtropical China. Tetraploids and hexaploids exhibited largely non-overlapping distributions possibly due to their divergent ecological tolerances. Twenty-seven chloroplast haplotypes were identified, forming six allopatric clades (Clades I–VI). NST (population differentiation based on ordered haplotypes) was significantly large than GST (differentiation based on unordered haplotypes) in this complex, indicative of significant phylogeographic structure. Molecular dating suggested the six clades diverged in the late Pliocene (∼2.74 million years ago, Ma), suggesting the E. chinensis complex could have diversified prior to the Quaternary and persisting in multiple glacial refugia. Demographic analyses revealed recent range expansions in two clades (IV and VI) during the Last Glaciation (ca. 0.019 Ma and 0.049 Ma, respectively). Range expansions in these clades may correlate with cooler, wetter conditions during the Last Glaciation, aligning with patterns observed in sky island organisms (high elevation organisms on isolated mountains). Phylogenetic analyses indicated that hexaploids likely originated via multiple independent events, while the absence of extant diploids complicates tracing tetraploid evolution, necessitating future genomic work. Overall, this study advances understanding of polyploid evolution in subtropical China and provides insights for conservation strategies and germplasm utilization under ongoing climate change.
{"title":"Cytotype distribution and chloroplast phylogeography of Enkianthus chinensis complex, a mixed-ploidy species complex in subtropical China and adjacent areas","authors":"Hua Liang , Cheng Zhou , Wan Hu , Sujuan Wei , Dengmei Fan , Shuang Tian , Zhiyong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125909","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125909","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mixed-ploidy species, which contain individuals with different numbers of chromosome sets (e.g., diploids and polyploids), serve as exceptional natural laboratories for studying evolution in action. Previous studies have revealed that the <em>Enkianthus chinensis</em> species complex comprises tetraploid and hexaploid populations. However, whether diploid populations exist within this complex and how ploidy types are geographically distributed remain unclear. It also remains uncertain whether polyploids in this complex exhibited distinct responses to Quaternary climate changes compared to diploids in subtropical China, if they exist in subtropical China. Here, we first employed flow cytometry to assess cytotype distribution and then investigated the phylogeographic structure and demographic history of the complex using two chloroplast intergenic spacers (<em>psb</em>A-<em>trn</em>H and <em>rpl</em>32-<em>trn</em>L). The results revealed that the complex was composed solely of tetraploid and hexaploid populations with no diploid populations being detected, implying either diploid ancestor extinction or ancient polyploidization outside subtropical China. Tetraploids and hexaploids exhibited largely non-overlapping distributions possibly due to their divergent ecological tolerances. Twenty-seven chloroplast haplotypes were identified, forming six allopatric clades (Clades I–VI). <em>N</em><sub>ST</sub> (population differentiation based on ordered haplotypes) was significantly large than <em>G</em><sub>ST</sub> (differentiation based on unordered haplotypes) in this complex, indicative of significant phylogeographic structure. Molecular dating suggested the six clades diverged in the late Pliocene (∼2.74 million years ago, Ma), suggesting the <em>E. chinensis</em> complex could have diversified prior to the Quaternary and persisting in multiple glacial refugia. Demographic analyses revealed recent range expansions in two clades (IV and VI) during the Last Glaciation (ca. 0.019 Ma and 0.049 Ma, respectively). Range expansions in these clades may correlate with cooler, wetter conditions during the Last Glaciation, aligning with patterns observed in sky island organisms (high elevation organisms on isolated mountains). Phylogenetic analyses indicated that hexaploids likely originated via multiple independent events, while the absence of extant diploids complicates tracing tetraploid evolution, necessitating future genomic work. Overall, this study advances understanding of polyploid evolution in subtropical China and provides insights for conservation strategies and germplasm utilization under ongoing climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 125909"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684902","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125908
Gisela C. Stotz , Ernesto Gianoli
Phenotypic integration, the pattern and magnitude of association among traits, can influence plant performance. Phenotypic integration is thought to increase under stressful conditions, yet the evidence is largely mixed. Broader, multi-species tests of this hypothesis across natural stress gradients are key to understanding the generality of phenotypic integration as a potential stress response. Importantly, how phenotypic integration associates with other functional strategies remains underexplored. Across six sites at the low end of an aridity gradient in the Atacama Desert, we evaluated in 17 plant species whether integration was higher in the populations inhabiting the more arid sites. We also tested for the association between phenotypic integration and resource-use strategy and life cycle. Across species, phenotypic integration was higher in the more arid sites. Although species showed a more resource-conservative strategy in the more arid sites, a resource-acquisitive strategy was positively associated with phenotypic integration, thus suggesting that these are complementary strategies. Lastly, the magnitude of phenotypic integration was similar in annual and perennial species. Overall, our results are consistent with the notion that phenotypic integration could be a stress-response mechanism. Phenotypic integration was unrelated to the extent of exposure to stress (annual vs. perennial species). Results suggest that resource conservation and phenotypic integration are likely complementary stress response strategies, mainly adopted by those species less able to cope with drought stress. Our findings highlight the need to further study the ecological significance of phenotypic integration as a potential stress response, given its likely relevance in the current global change scenario.
{"title":"Phenotypic integration increases with aridity across species, independent of their life cycle or resource-use strategy","authors":"Gisela C. Stotz , Ernesto Gianoli","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125908","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125908","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phenotypic integration, the pattern and magnitude of association among traits, can influence plant performance. Phenotypic integration is thought to increase under stressful conditions, yet the evidence is largely mixed. Broader, multi-species tests of this hypothesis across natural stress gradients are key to understanding the generality of phenotypic integration as a potential stress response. Importantly, how phenotypic integration associates with other functional strategies remains underexplored. Across six sites at the low end of an aridity gradient in the Atacama Desert, we evaluated in 17 plant species whether integration was higher in the populations inhabiting the more arid sites. We also tested for the association between phenotypic integration and resource-use strategy and life cycle. Across species, phenotypic integration was higher in the more arid sites. Although species showed a more resource-conservative strategy in the more arid sites, a resource-acquisitive strategy was positively associated with phenotypic integration, thus suggesting that these are complementary strategies. Lastly, the magnitude of phenotypic integration was similar in annual and perennial species. Overall, our results are consistent with the notion that phenotypic integration could be a stress-response mechanism. Phenotypic integration was unrelated to the extent of exposure to stress (annual vs. perennial species). Results suggest that resource conservation and phenotypic integration are likely complementary stress response strategies, mainly adopted by those species less able to cope with drought stress. Our findings highlight the need to further study the ecological significance of phenotypic integration as a potential stress response, given its likely relevance in the current global change scenario.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 125908"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555337","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125902
Manuel Tiburtini , Luca Scrucca , Lorenzo Peruzzi
Morphometrics provides a rigorous quantitative-statistical framework for assessing morphological independence among taxa in plant systematics. Despite its importance, current methods for analyzing morphological data are often not appropriate. A new workflow to conduct linear morphometric analyses in plant systematics is presented here. We introduce a Bayesian framework for species circumscription using Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs), which enables rigorous testing of alternative taxonomic hypotheses. In addition, we present a set of algorithms for morphometric analyses: a lumping-splitting algorithm, methods for computing class-wise morphometric distances, and tools for visualising admixture patterns in morphometric data. We also developed a comprehensive guide for performing linear morphometric analyses in plant systematics and exemplified the new workflow using the Juniperus oxycedrus group. This framework creates a meaningful link between morphology-based taxonomy and formal statistical methods, aligning with the probabilistic concept of evolutionary lineages (UPCEL).
{"title":"Using Gaussian Mixture Models in plant morphometrics","authors":"Manuel Tiburtini , Luca Scrucca , Lorenzo Peruzzi","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125902","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125902","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Morphometrics provides a rigorous quantitative-statistical framework for assessing morphological independence among taxa in plant systematics. Despite its importance, current methods for analyzing morphological data are often not appropriate. A new workflow to conduct linear morphometric analyses in plant systematics is presented here. We introduce a Bayesian framework for species circumscription using Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs), which enables rigorous testing of alternative taxonomic hypotheses. In addition, we present a set of algorithms for morphometric analyses: a lumping-splitting algorithm, methods for computing class-wise morphometric distances, and tools for visualising admixture patterns in morphometric data. We also developed a comprehensive guide for performing linear morphometric analyses in plant systematics and exemplified the new workflow using the <em>Juniperus oxycedrus</em> group. This framework creates a meaningful link between morphology-based taxonomy and formal statistical methods, aligning with the probabilistic concept of evolutionary lineages (UPCEL).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 125902"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145424587","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125904
Juri Nascimbene , Michele Di Musciano , Gabriele Gheza
In this study, by means of resampling epiphytic lichens in a timespan of fifteen years in forest stands of the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Natural Park (N Italy – Southern Alps), we aim at detecting changes in lichen assemblages by comparing temporal β-diversity patterns between tree individuals of different ages and considering the response pattern of thallus growth forms. Our results indicate that on veteran trees lichen composition seems to be more stable over time. This view is corroborated by lower values of temporal beta-diversity as compared to young trees which are more prone to changes of their lichen biota. In this perspective, dynamics of gains and losses, that translate into compositional changes over time, seem to be more rapid on young than on veteran trees. While the results on the overall dynamics of gains and losses in terms of taxonomic changes are still difficult to interpret, the frequency changes of different thallus growth forms are more explicit in the time frame of our study, indicating a decline in broad-lobed foliose and alectorioid lichens. Overall, our results further support the importance of retaining and increasing the occurrence of veteran trees for long term lichen conservation.
本研究通过对意大利北部-南阿尔卑斯地区Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino自然公园森林林分15年的附生地衣重新采样，通过比较不同树龄树木个体间β-多样性的时间格局，以及考虑菌体生长形式的响应模式，来检测地衣组合的变化。我们的研究结果表明，随着时间的推移，老树的地衣成分似乎更稳定。与更容易发生地衣生物群变化的幼树相比，较低的时间β多样性值证实了这一观点。从这个角度来看，随着时间的推移，收益和损失的动态，转化为成分的变化，似乎在年轻的树木上比在老树上更快。虽然在分类学变化方面的整体得失动态的结果仍然难以解释，但在我们的研究时间框架内，不同菌体生长形式的频率变化更为明显，表明宽叶叶地衣和鳞片样地衣的减少。总的来说，我们的研究结果进一步支持了保留和增加老树的发生对长期地衣保护的重要性。
{"title":"Resampling epiphytic lichens in coniferous forests of the Southern Alps: Veteran trees promote compositional stability","authors":"Juri Nascimbene , Michele Di Musciano , Gabriele Gheza","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125904","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125904","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, by means of resampling epiphytic lichens in a timespan of fifteen years in forest stands of the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Natural Park (N Italy – Southern Alps), we aim at detecting changes in lichen assemblages by comparing temporal β-diversity patterns between tree individuals of different ages and considering the response pattern of thallus growth forms. Our results indicate that on veteran trees lichen composition seems to be more stable over time. This view is corroborated by lower values of temporal beta-diversity as compared to young trees which are more prone to changes of their lichen biota. In this perspective, dynamics of gains and losses, that translate into compositional changes over time, seem to be more rapid on young than on veteran trees. While the results on the overall dynamics of gains and losses in terms of taxonomic changes are still difficult to interpret, the frequency changes of different thallus growth forms are more explicit in the time frame of our study, indicating a decline in broad-lobed foliose and alectorioid lichens. Overall, our results further support the importance of retaining and increasing the occurrence of veteran trees for long term lichen conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 125904"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145473509","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125907
Miguel A. Munguía-Rosas , Román M. Vásquez-Elizondo , Jorge O. López-Martínez
The coexistence of closely related plant species has long intrigued community ecologists. This is because shared evolutionary history and recent divergence make it highly plausible that sister species share habitats, resource requirements, and biotic interactions, increasing the probability of interspecific competition and, ultimately, the exclusion of the poorest competitor. Paradoxically, empirical research has revealed that the coexistence of close relatives is common. However, the underlying mechanisms of coexistence are often unknown, and cryptic niche separation may sometimes occur on a small scale. Here, we assess niche differentiation and functional strategies in terms of resource acquisition(mainly light) in two sister species of Cnidoscolus in their area of sympatry (Yucatan Peninsula): C. aconitifolius and C. souzae. We found that niche differentiation between C. aconitifolius and C. souzae ranged 23–28 % at the large scale and 39–44 % at the small scale. Cnidoscolus aconitifolius can be found in warmer sites, with greater solar irradiance than C. souzae. Moreover, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius presented lower leaf dry matter and greater plasticity in the leaf-specific area and photosynthetic performance than C. souzae. We therefore suggest that C. aconitifolius presents a relatively greater acquisitive strategy than C. souzae. Cnidoscolus aconitifolius also presented greater performance than C. souzae, and the magnitude of this difference was greater in highly illuminated environments. We suggest that a differential ecological strategy regarding resource acquisition allows some niche partitioning in the light axis and this may at least partially explain the existence of the study species within a larger area of sympatry.
{"title":"Niche differentiation and resource-use strategies in two co-occurring sister species of Neotropical shrubs: Cnidoscolus aconitifolius and C. souzae","authors":"Miguel A. Munguía-Rosas , Román M. Vásquez-Elizondo , Jorge O. López-Martínez","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125907","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125907","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The coexistence of closely related plant species has long intrigued community ecologists. This is because shared evolutionary history and recent divergence make it highly plausible that sister species share habitats, resource requirements, and biotic interactions, increasing the probability of interspecific competition and, ultimately, the exclusion of the poorest competitor. Paradoxically, empirical research has revealed that the coexistence of close relatives is common. However, the underlying mechanisms of coexistence are often unknown, and cryptic niche separation may sometimes occur on a small scale. Here, we assess niche differentiation and functional strategies in terms of resource acquisition(mainly light) in two sister species of <em>Cnidoscolus</em> in their area of sympatry (Yucatan Peninsula): <em>C. aconitifolius</em> and <em>C. souzae</em>. We found that niche differentiation between <em>C. aconitifolius</em> and <em>C. souzae</em> ranged 23–28 % at the large scale and 39–44 % at the small scale. <em>Cnidoscolus aconitifolius</em> can be found in warmer sites, with greater solar irradiance than <em>C. souzae</em>. Moreover, <em>Cnidoscolus aconitifolius</em> presented lower leaf dry matter and greater plasticity in the leaf-specific area and photosynthetic performance than <em>C. souzae</em>. We therefore suggest that <em>C</em>. <em>aconitifolius</em> presents a relatively greater acquisitive strategy than <em>C. souzae</em>. <em>Cnidoscolus aconitifolius</em> also presented greater performance than <em>C. souzae</em>, and the magnitude of this difference was greater in highly illuminated environments. We suggest that a differential ecological strategy regarding resource acquisition allows some niche partitioning in the light axis and this may at least partially explain the existence of the study species within a larger area of sympatry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 125907"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578528","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125906
Mercedes Valerio , Ricardo Ibáñez , Jan Lepš , Lars Götzenberger
Mediterranean semi-natural grasslands are biodiversity hotspots threatened by increased frequency of drought events, soil erosion and desertification. Soil amendment with sewage sludge is considered a sustainable practice to increase soil fertility and avoid erosion, though detailed studies on its long-term effects on vegetation dynamics are still missing. Understanding how fertilization with sewage sludge affects Mediterranean semi-natural grasslands is of multifaceted interest, from perspectives of waste management, ecosystem conservation, and vegetation ecology. We analyzed the vegetation dynamics of a grazing-excluded, semi-natural Mediterranean grassland over 20 years in response to a single sludge fertilization event. We studied the persistence of the effects of fertilization, the long-term temporal trajectory of the community, the response of species with different functional traits and from different functional groups, and the influence of fertilization on the interannual vegetation response to temperature and precipitation. Our findings revealed significant alterations in community species composition lasting over two decades following fertilization. However, fertilization effects seemed to start decreasing in the last years. Fertilization favored annuals with higher Specific Leaf Area. Fertilization also influenced the interannual response of the community to autumn temperature, June and summer drought differently depending on the species functional group and traits; herbaceous perennials with higher Leaf Dry Matter Content and lower leaf area decreased with summer drought, while the influence of summer drought in annuals and woody perennials was reduced. Our work underscores the importance of long-term ecological dynamics to understand the temporal magnitude of fertilization impacts on the species composition and functioning of plant communities.
{"title":"Twenty-year effect of sewage-sludge fertilization in a Mediterranean grassland: Impact on species composition, functional groups and interrelation with climate","authors":"Mercedes Valerio , Ricardo Ibáñez , Jan Lepš , Lars Götzenberger","doi":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125906","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125906","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mediterranean semi-natural grasslands are biodiversity hotspots threatened by increased frequency of drought events, soil erosion and desertification. Soil amendment with sewage sludge is considered a sustainable practice to increase soil fertility and avoid erosion, though detailed studies on its long-term effects on vegetation dynamics are still missing. Understanding how fertilization with sewage sludge affects Mediterranean semi-natural grasslands is of multifaceted interest, from perspectives of waste management, ecosystem conservation, and vegetation ecology. We analyzed the vegetation dynamics of a grazing-excluded, semi-natural Mediterranean grassland over 20 years in response to a single sludge fertilization event. We studied the persistence of the effects of fertilization, the long-term temporal trajectory of the community, the response of species with different functional traits and from different functional groups, and the influence of fertilization on the interannual vegetation response to temperature and precipitation. Our findings revealed significant alterations in community species composition lasting over two decades following fertilization. However, fertilization effects seemed to start decreasing in the last years. Fertilization favored annuals with higher Specific Leaf Area. Fertilization also influenced the interannual response of the community to autumn temperature, June and summer drought differently depending on the species functional group and traits; herbaceous perennials with higher Leaf Dry Matter Content and lower leaf area decreased with summer drought, while the influence of summer drought in annuals and woody perennials was reduced. Our work underscores the importance of long-term ecological dynamics to understand the temporal magnitude of fertilization impacts on the species composition and functioning of plant communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56093,"journal":{"name":"Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 125906"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578689","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}
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