Ecological niche and phenotypic differences among two alpine Rhododendron species and their natural hybrids in a common landscape
Species sharing an environment face similar selective pressures, often evolving adaptive divergence traits to reduce competition. Quantifying ecological niche and phenotypic traits among sympatric species is crucial for understanding ecologically moderated biodiversity. We integrate ecological and p...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005869 |
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| author | Yanghui Zhao Ying Zhang Liang Xu Yadan Yan Chuncheng Wang Yafeng Wen Donglin Zhang |
| author_facet | Yanghui Zhao Ying Zhang Liang Xu Yadan Yan Chuncheng Wang Yafeng Wen Donglin Zhang |
| author_sort | Yanghui Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Species sharing an environment face similar selective pressures, often evolving adaptive divergence traits to reduce competition. Quantifying ecological niche and phenotypic traits among sympatric species is crucial for understanding ecologically moderated biodiversity. We integrate ecological and phenotypic datasets to investigate the extent to which three sympatric alpine Rhododendron species in the mountainous southwest of China (parents: Rhododendron delavayi and R. irroratum; natural hybrid: R. agastum) differed in their adaptations to co-exist in a shared environment. We utilized principal component analysis, one-way analysis of variance, and niche-identity tests to summarize and compare environmental and phenotypic divergence. Leaf phenotypic traits related to structure, morphology, biomass, and physiology were analyzed, as they were key indicators of niche and phenotypic differences, crucial for the co-existence of sympatric Rhododendron species. We employed nested linear models, and phenotypic differentiation coefficients to assess inter- and intraspecific phenotypic variation. Pearson's correlation analysis and Mantel tests identified key environmental factors influencing leaf phenotypic variation. The results indicate that the three Rhododendron species exhibit different preferences for environmental factors such as annual mean temperature, temperature seasonality, annual precipitation, water vapor pressure, and soil organic matter. These distinct ecological preferences may represent specific ecological adaptations that facilitate their coexistence in sympatry. Leaf area, leaf length, leaf thickness, and leaf tissue density emerged as key indicators for distinguishing the leaf phenotypes of the three Rhododendron species. Elevation, temperature, and precipitation-related factors are significantly correlated with leaf phenotypic variation. The observed ecological niche and phenotypic differences observed likely resulted either causal effects or indirect consequences of ecologically mediated changes. Our study offered novel insights into the mechanisms underlying evolutionary versatility and ecological success among sympatric species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-38b2745a3c624bc1a8787024e4b2feb1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-38b2745a3c624bc1a8787024e4b2feb12025-01-23T05:26:58ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942025-01-0157e03382Ecological niche and phenotypic differences among two alpine Rhododendron species and their natural hybrids in a common landscapeYanghui Zhao0Ying Zhang1Liang Xu2Yadan Yan3Chuncheng Wang4Yafeng Wen5Donglin Zhang6College of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Hunan Big Data Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Protected Landscape Resources, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Yuelushan Laboratory Carbon Sinks Forests Variety Innovation Center, Changsha 410004, ChinaSchool of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550001, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Zhejiang Academy of Foresty, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310023,ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Hunan Big Data Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Protected Landscape Resources, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Yuelushan Laboratory Carbon Sinks Forests Variety Innovation Center, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Hunan Big Data Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Protected Landscape Resources, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Yuelushan Laboratory Carbon Sinks Forests Variety Innovation Center, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Hunan Big Data Engineering Technology Research Center of Natural Protected Landscape Resources, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Yuelushan Laboratory Carbon Sinks Forests Variety Innovation Center, Changsha 410004, China; Corresponding author at: College of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China.Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7273, USA; Corresponding author at: Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7273, USA.Species sharing an environment face similar selective pressures, often evolving adaptive divergence traits to reduce competition. Quantifying ecological niche and phenotypic traits among sympatric species is crucial for understanding ecologically moderated biodiversity. We integrate ecological and phenotypic datasets to investigate the extent to which three sympatric alpine Rhododendron species in the mountainous southwest of China (parents: Rhododendron delavayi and R. irroratum; natural hybrid: R. agastum) differed in their adaptations to co-exist in a shared environment. We utilized principal component analysis, one-way analysis of variance, and niche-identity tests to summarize and compare environmental and phenotypic divergence. Leaf phenotypic traits related to structure, morphology, biomass, and physiology were analyzed, as they were key indicators of niche and phenotypic differences, crucial for the co-existence of sympatric Rhododendron species. We employed nested linear models, and phenotypic differentiation coefficients to assess inter- and intraspecific phenotypic variation. Pearson's correlation analysis and Mantel tests identified key environmental factors influencing leaf phenotypic variation. The results indicate that the three Rhododendron species exhibit different preferences for environmental factors such as annual mean temperature, temperature seasonality, annual precipitation, water vapor pressure, and soil organic matter. These distinct ecological preferences may represent specific ecological adaptations that facilitate their coexistence in sympatry. Leaf area, leaf length, leaf thickness, and leaf tissue density emerged as key indicators for distinguishing the leaf phenotypes of the three Rhododendron species. Elevation, temperature, and precipitation-related factors are significantly correlated with leaf phenotypic variation. The observed ecological niche and phenotypic differences observed likely resulted either causal effects or indirect consequences of ecologically mediated changes. Our study offered novel insights into the mechanisms underlying evolutionary versatility and ecological success among sympatric species.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005869Ecological nicheRhododendronLeaf traitsSympatric distribution |
| spellingShingle | Yanghui Zhao Ying Zhang Liang Xu Yadan Yan Chuncheng Wang Yafeng Wen Donglin Zhang Ecological niche and phenotypic differences among two alpine Rhododendron species and their natural hybrids in a common landscape Global Ecology and Conservation Ecological niche Rhododendron Leaf traits Sympatric distribution |
| title | Ecological niche and phenotypic differences among two alpine Rhododendron species and their natural hybrids in a common landscape |
| title_full | Ecological niche and phenotypic differences among two alpine Rhododendron species and their natural hybrids in a common landscape |
| title_fullStr | Ecological niche and phenotypic differences among two alpine Rhododendron species and their natural hybrids in a common landscape |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological niche and phenotypic differences among two alpine Rhododendron species and their natural hybrids in a common landscape |
| title_short | Ecological niche and phenotypic differences among two alpine Rhododendron species and their natural hybrids in a common landscape |
| title_sort | ecological niche and phenotypic differences among two alpine rhododendron species and their natural hybrids in a common landscape |
| topic | Ecological niche Rhododendron Leaf traits Sympatric distribution |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005869 |
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