Research project Natural selection underlying counter-gradient patterns:
Environmental and genetic effects of geothermal soil heating on timing of reproduction
In this project, we examine how small-scale differences in temperature caused by geothermal soil heating influence plastic responses of flowering phenology, and how this response influences natural selection and genetic responses. We test three predictions: (1) Natural selection act to compensate for maladaptive plastic responses, (2) This selection is partly mediated by interactions with pollinators and insect prey, (3) Higher soil temperatures are associated with small-scale spatial genetic differentiation and local adaptation exhibiting a counter-gradient pattern.
Project description
We use four approaches to test these hypotheses; observational field studies, field experiments, climate chamber experiments and reciprocal transplantations of offspring from controlled crosses into field sites representing the full gradient of soil heating to assess phenotypic selection, genotypic selection and local adaptation.
Environmental and genetic effects of geothermal soil heating on timing of reproduction
Project members
Project managers
Johan Ehrlén
Professor
Members
Alicia Valdés
Forskare
