In this study, the effect of introducing non-local plant material into a certain environment for restoration purposes was investigated. Several studies already showed that plants exhibit local adaptation to their sympatric environment (Howe et al., 2003; Savolainen et al., 2007; Leimu and Fischer, 2008; Salmela, 2014). We hypothesized that if A. arenaria shows evidence of local adaptation, we expect the plants of the experimental site, and closely related ones, to have a greater performance than allopatric populations (Vander Mijnsbrugge et al., 2010). Results indicated an increase in survival with increasing distance from the study site in the first phase of the experiment. In the second phase, the relation between survival and distance was no longer significant. However, when the data from both phases were combined, the positive relation between distance and survival proved to be significant. This could be an indication that more distant populations have a higher survival in a foreign environment. On the other hand, the condition of the plants was not significantly dependent on the geographical distance. Taking both results into consideration, we cannot say we found evidence for local adaptation in marram grass, but we saw an effect of the origin of the plants on the survival.
It is not unusual that local adaptation is not found in experiments. In the meta-analysis of Leimu and Fischer (2008), they stated that local adaptation in plants is far less common than previously thought. Several explanations can be given as to why we did not find evidence for local adaptation in this species. As previously stated, local adaptation will normally be favoured in cases with variation in selection regimes between habitats. If there is spatia...
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...period to at least a decade to be able to incorporate temporal variation as well. Also, we transferred the plants into the field when they were still young seedlings. This way, we only have results from the first life stages of the plants. Studies already proved that a lot of plant traits can change during the ontogeny of plants (Mason et al., 2013; Barton, 2014). Because of this, mature plants might respond differently to the same circumstances. Also, we cannot completely exclude maternal environmental effects as a possible factor for the observed pattern, since the seeds were collected directly in the field. It is commonly known that the maternal environment can influence important life-history traits of the offspring (Roach and Wulff, 1987). If the experiment were to be conducted for a longer period of time, these maternal effects would normally be eliminated.
Many variations and species of plants can be found all around the world and in different habitats. These variations and characteristics are due to their adaptations to the natural habitat surrounding them. In three of many climatic zones, the arid, tropical and temperate zone, plants that vary greatly from each other are found in these locations. In this experiment, we’ll be observing the connection between the adaptations of the plants to their environment at the Fullerton Arboretum. The arboretum is a space containing numerous plants from different environments. The plants are carefully looked after and organized into their specific habitat. Therefore, we’ll be able to take a look at the plants within multiple
A population of Plantago lanceolata (ribwort plantain) on the path was found to have higher trampling tolerance than populations away from the path; this reflected the sharp differences in the conditions of the plant at these sites. Ribwort Plant had generally a higher tolerance to trampling than any other plants as more were found on the path, but there were less compared with other plants as distance increased from the path. These results suggest that the competition level found on the path was sufficient enough to impose a selection pressure for the evolution of tolerance in a sensitive species, but in some areas the distribution of Ribwort Plantain were the same. This provides that other conditions affect the tolerance of trampling for Ribwort Plantain.
Table 1 shows averages of each replicate for each series of seeds relating to mortality rate/germination rate, budding rate, and mean plant weight (total, with buds, and without buds).
Brassica rapa is a mustard plant that can be found throughout North America, and is common in areas undergoing extreme change, such as changes in climate. There is an important relationship between the ecological and genetic factors that influence the growth of Brassica rapa (Mitchell-Olds 1996). So, the environmental elements, as well as the genetic information, are essential to the growth rate and survival of Brassica rapa. This plant is capable of reproducing quickly, and the root systems are usually quite small, although some Brassica rapa have developed larger root systems (Mitchell-Olds 1996). This plant is commonly used in experiments because of its ability to germinate rapidly. Brassica rapa is capable of sprouting within a stage of about two weeks, and this trait allows scientists to perform experiments in a short period of time.
As a result of these factors, the flora has adapted to these conditions in a variety of ways including their shape, leaf type, root system, and color. One of the most prominent adapt...
According to Klug, &Ward (2009), members of a certain population from another are distinguished by the presence of unique genetic characteristics. It is believed that large populations have greater diversity of alleles, compared to the small populations. In most cases, the diversity of alleles designates a greater potential for any evolution of new genes combination. This also shows greater capacity for evolution in adapting different environmental condition. On the other hand, individuals in small populations are possible to be hereditarily, anatomically as well physiologically more consistently than in large populations.
Two members of the group were instructed to visit the laboratory each day of the experiment to water and measure the plants (Handout 1). The measurements that were preformed were to be precise and accurate by the group by organizing a standardized way to measure the plants. The plants were measured from the level of the soil, which was flat throughout all the cups, to the tip of the apical meristems. The leaves were not considered. The watering of the plants took place nearly everyday, except for the times the lab was closed. Respective of cup label, the appropriate drop of solution was added to the plant, at the very tip of the apical meristems.
We used wheatgrass were 40 wheatgrass seeds, two empty pots, soil, and water. We first added soil for both pots and 20 wheatgrass seeds in each pot. My partner and I decided that we label pot one experiment which is “sugar and water” and pot two control which is “water” only. The experiment was for almost four weeks we had to make sure both get the same room temperature and water, so we can see the results after this amount of time. Both pots had same room temperature so both can have the same amount of sunlight also, the same amount of water which is a glass of water from the sink once a week. In the experiment pot we added a glass of water with one teaspoon of sugar and the control pot glass of water. Every week we used to see both pots grow almost the same. At the end of the experiment, my partner and I measured the length for both plants and we recorded the average for each plant, so we can know the rate of growth
Plant defences are those mechanisms employed by plants in response to herbivory and parasitism. According to Hanley et al. (2007), “the tissues of virtually all terrestrial, freshwater, and marine plants have qualities that to some degree reduce herbivory, including low nitrogen concentration, low moisture content, toxins or digestibility-reducing compounds”. The type of chemical defence may be species specific (Scott 2008). The defences that plants possess may be in the form of chemical production or in the form of physical defences such as thorns or spikes and even through reinforced, rigid leaves. “The compounds that are produced in response to herbivory can either have a direct effect on the attacker itself (e.g. toxins or digestibility reducers), or serve as indirect defenses by attracting the natural enemies of the herbivores” (Bezemer & van Dam 2005). This essay will focus on chemical plant defences and in particular the effects of terpenes, phenolics, nitrogen-based defences as well as allelopathy in plants.
Each plant species has a unique pattern of resource allocation that is genetically determined but not fixed. Plants can adjust there allocation pattern when they experience different environments and the presence of other species. Phenotypic plasticity goes hand in hand with resource allocation as well. When a plant has to adjust itʻs resource allocation, sometimes it uses itʻs resources to help the plant grow different characteristic so that the plant can have a greater chance of living in the environment. For example, if a plant from an environment that does not experience wind on the regular basis enters a new environment that has a lot of wind the plant may change itʻs resource allocation and spend more of itʻs resources growing deeper
The plants that we know today as terrestrial organisms were not always on land. The land plants of today can be linked back to aquatic organisms that existed millions of years ago. In fact, early fossil evidence shows that the earliest land plants could have arisen some 450 million years ago (Weng & Chappie 2010). Plants that used to reside strictly in water were able to adapt in ways that allowed them to move onto land. It is speculated the need for plants to move onto land was created by water drying up, causing plants to have less room and pushing them to move onto land. Although the exact cause of plant’s need to move to a terrestrial environment is unclear, it is known that plants had to undergo several adaptations to be able to live on land. These adaptations include: lignin, cellulose, suberin, and changes to plant’s surface, including the formation of a waxy cuticle.
According to Darwin and his theory on evolution, organisms are presented with nature’s challenge of environmental change. Those that possess the characteristics of adapting to such challenges are successful in leaving their genes behind and ensuring that their lineage will continue. It is natural selection, where nature can perform tiny to mass sporadic experiments on its organisms, and the results can be interesting from extinction to significant changes within a species.
On the first level, when foreign, but previously non-invasive species is first introduced to a new area, the new species may play a role in a community that was previously unfulfilled; it may fill a vacant niche in the ecosystem. Originally this new species may be seen as a useful contributor to its new surroundings because it has only (temporarily) increased biodiversity in the area (Meinesz, 2003).
That is, the conservation of selected plants and animals in se¬lected areas outside their natural habitat is known as ex-situ con¬servation. The stresses on living organisms due to competition for food, water, space etc. can be avoided by ex-situ conservation there by providing conditions necessary for a secure life and breeding. Such strategies include establishment of botanical gardens, zoos, conservation strands and gene, pollen seed, seedling, tissue culture and DNA
There are numerous adaptations that plants make to suit its environment. The cotton plants are ones that have adapted its structural features, internal functions and behaviour responses to cope with its new environment and condition.