Long-term plasticity in growth, storage and defense allocation produces drought-tolerant juvenile shrubs of Prosopis alpataco R.A. Philippi (Fabaceae)
- 作者：Alejandra E. Vilela ; vilela@agro.uba.ar ; Paola R. Agü ; ero ; Damiá ; n A. Ravetta ; Luciana Gonzá ; lez-Paleo
- 关键词：TNC ; Spines ; Biomass allocation ; Plasticity ; Allometric trajectory ; Climate change
- 刊名：Flora - Morphology ; Distribution ; Functional Ecology of Plants
- 出版年：2012
- 期刊代码：5_03672530
- 类别：abs
- 出版时间：June, 2012
- 卷：207
- 期：6
- 页码：436-441
- 文件大小：442 K
摘要
Evaluation of phenotypic plasticity of plants is important to predict the long-term fate of populations exposed to environmental change. Climate scenarios predict a decrease in rainfall and increase in temperature for Northern Patagonia (Argentina). The long-term assessment of the effect of water shortage on allocation patterns of Prosopis alpataco provides insights into how climate change could affect this dominant shrub of the Monte Desert. A single-factor (water supply) field experiment was conducted. Phenotypic plasticity in biomass partitioning and allocation to storage and defense was assessed over the course of pre-reproductive growth during five years. Water-effect and size-dependent effects were sorted out. Our results indicate that as plants grow larger, root:shoot ratio increases, as well as total non-structural carbohydrates pool, irrespective of water treatment. Increasing belowground allocation through partitioning to reserves instead of allocation to non-storage mass, favors carbohydrate forms that later can be mobilized. Spine mass ratio increased 3-fold in response to drought. These conservative strategies might facilitate the persistence of Prosopis alpataco in a novel and drier environment, through the production of drought-tolerant juvenile individuals.