Manifestation of phenotypic plasticity of psammophytes under environmental stresses

Most studies on animals have conducted comparative studies to deduce the possible relationships among developmental stability, canalization and phenotypic plasticity, there is a lack of direct evidence in plants, which should be better study materials. To investigate the correlations among developmental stability, canalization and plasticity in plants, we conducted a field experiment with Abutilon theophrasti, by subjected plants to three densities under infertile vs. fertile soil conditions, and measured leaf size, leaf fluctuating asymmetry (FA), and calculated coefficient of variation among leaves within individuals (CVleaf) and among individuals (CVin) and relative plasticity (PIrel) and its degree in leaf size at three growth stages, to analyze the responses of their correlations to density and how they may vary with soil conditions or growth stages. Results showed a decrease of FA, CVleaf and PIrel and an increase of CVin in leaf size, with increased density. In most cases, there were no correlations among these variables, but negative correlations between CVin and PIrel, positive correlations between FA and PIrel at high density and/or in fertile soil, in infertile soil. It suggested that higher FA may indicate the state of faster growth rather than an indicator of environmental stresses; there are correlations among developmental stability, canalization and plasticity, which may be complex, affected by other factors. The loss of developmental stability may be beneficial for plant response to environmental stresses, while decreased canalization can be either disadvantageous or advantageous, depending on that the size variation results from an increase or decrease of smaller individuals, and whether its correlations with other variables reflect beneficial or adverse environmental effects.

Download Full-text

Effects on human performance of combined environmental stresses.

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e415712004-001 ◽

1970 ◽

Author(s):

Walter F. Grether

Keyword(s):

Human Performance ◽

Environmental Stresses

Download Full-text

Ecology and biogeography in the introduction to “De bestiis marinis” by Georg Wilhelm Steller

Archives of Natural History ◽

10.3366/anh.2019.0554 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 63-74

Author(s):

Stefano Mattioli

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Phenotypic Plasticity ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

Functional Traits ◽

Marine Mammals ◽

Main Part ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Restricted Range ◽

Direct Influence ◽

Modern Biology

The rediscovery of the original, unedited Latin manuscript of Georg Wilhelm Steller's “De bestiis marinis” (“On marine mammals”), first published in 1751, calls for a new translation into English. The main part of the treatise contains detailed descriptions of four marine mammals, but the introduction is devoted to more general issues, including innovative speculation on morphology, ecology and biogeography, anticipating arguments and concepts of modern biology. Steller noted early that climate and food have a direct influence on body size, pelage and functional traits of mammals, potentially affecting reversible changes (phenotypic plasticity). Feeding and other behavioural habits have an impact on the geographical distribution of mammals. Species with a broad diet tend to have a wide distribution, whereas animals with a narrow diet more likely have only a restricted range. According to Steller, both sea and land then still concealed countless animals unknown to science.

Download Full-text