2021/03/29 by Rostami, Bita, Francisco, Gerald, Bregoff, Haylee +1
#endemic #morphological trade-offs #serpentine #serpentine syndrome #tolerator
paper · doi:10.21973/n3f66p
Habitat specialization in abiotically stressful environments establishes refugia for native plant species. In California, serpentine habitats support plant communities adapted to high-stress environments. Serpentinite is a heavy-metal substrate that proves too toxic for many plants but provides a crucial competitive-free refuge for California's native species. The unique plant communities found on serpentine soil pose an opportunity to study the ecological specialization of serpentine tolerators, plants that survive on and off serpentine. To understand the effects of soil type on tolerator trade-offs, we conducted an observational study at McLaughlin Natural Reserve, a protected site for native serpentine tolerators. In this study, we asked if morphological adaptations observed across two serpentine tolerator species and between a specialist and avoider pair differ across soil types. We particularly examined the effects of species, serpentine soil, and their interaction on yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), and two species of Arctostaphylos- common manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita) and white-leaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida). Our results showed slight differences in intraspecific functional traits in tolerators’ on serpentine and non-serpentine soil. These findings contradicted previous studies that tolerators on serpentine generally trade competitive abilities in favor of abiotic stress-tolerant adaptations. However, there were significant interspecific trait differences, suggesting that the adaptations to edaphic factors result in various reproductive, drought-tolerant, and fire-based strategies.