Description: Metal hyperaccumulation is a common trait in many Brassicaceae species. However, neither its ecological consequences nor the role of ecological interactions on natural trait variation have been studied. Here, we address this aspect with a novel conceptual model. We focus on two genetic model species (Arabidopsis halleri, Noccaea caerulescens) for utilizing the molecular knowledge about then and for providing foundations for future genetic work. We combine field and greenhouse studies, high-end molecular tools, population genetic methods and experimental approaches of community ecology. Specifically, we want to disentangle the role of genetic factors and variation in negative and positive plantplant interactions for the evolution of variability in metal hyperaccumulation between and within populations. Vice-versa, we will investigate the role of this trait for determining the type of biotic interactions dominating within natural populations and communities. We hypothesize that a tradeoff between competitive abilities and stress tolerance exists in this system, affecting the performance of individual plants and determining the extent of population genetic and phenotypic variation. We furthermore hypothesize that facilitation in populations and communities with metal accumulating plants will positively affect genetic diversity within the populations, especially under stressful conditions.
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Origins: /Bund/UBA/UFORDAT
Tags: Pflanzenökologie ? Pflanzensoziologie ? Populationsökologie ? Synökologie ? Genotyp ? Pflanzengenetik ? Genetik ? Gewächshaus ? Ökologische Potenz ? Belastungsfaktor ? Pflanzenart ? Pflanzenbestand ? Stress ? Metall ? Biologische Konkurrenz ? Pflanzengesellschaft ? Biotischer Faktor ? Schwermetallakkumulation ? Evolution ? Studie ? Feldstudie ? Kausalzusammenhang ? Ökologische Wirksamkeit ? Phänotyp ? Genetische Vielfalt ? Population ? Wettbewerbsfähigkeit ? Biodiversität ? Diversität ? Art [Spezies] ? Brassicaceae ? Interaktionsanalyse ? Noccaea caerulescens ? Pflanzenerbgut ? Arabidopsis halleri ?
Region: Baden-Württemberg
Bounding boxes: 9° .. 9° x 48.5° .. 48.5°
License: cc-by-nc-nd/4.0
Language: Englisch/English
Time ranges: 2011-07-06 - 2014-12-31
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