Study of Environmental Adaptation Mechanisms in the Model Plant Anthyllis vulneraria

Section: Plant Population Biology

Responsible staff: Laura Daco, Guy Colling

Research strategy: Understanding and Preserving Nature

Climate is a key factor determining the distribution of plants on Earth. Predictions of rapid climate change have generated great interest in studying the possible responses of plants to environmental change, such as migration to other locations, phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation. The aim of this project is to study the potential impact of predicted climate change on the model plant Anthyllis vulneraria using environmental gradients. To this end, scientists in the Plant Population Biology Section are investigating whether plants from high‑altitude and high‑latitude populations have a lower evolutionary potential than plants from lowland and central European populations, and whether there are genotypes in these populations that are pre‑adapted to future climatic conditions. The expected results will contribute to a better understanding of the role of plasticity, genetic diversity and local adaptation in plants. They will also have implications for biodiversity conservation and management.

Collaboration : Philipps-Universität Marburg

Recent publications:

Daco L., Colling G., Matthies D. (2024) Clinal variation in quantitative traits but not in evolutionary potential along elevational and latitudinal gradients in the widespread Anthyllis vulneraria. American Journal of Botany e16360. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.16360

Daco L., Matthies D., Hermant S., and Colling G. (2022) Genetic diversity and differentiation of populations of Anthyllis vulneraria along elevational and latitudinal gradients. Ecology and evolution, 12(8), e9167. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9167

Daco L., Colling G., and Matthies D. (2021) Altitude and latitude have different effects on population characteristics of the widespread plant Anthyllis vulneraria. Oecologia, 197(2), 537-549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-021-05030-6