Intraspecific variability of the biomass allocation patterns under stress conditions: implications for Mediterranean plant adaptative strategies

Anno
2020
Proponente Laura Varone - Professore Associato
Sottosettore ERC del proponente del progetto
LS8_1
Componenti gruppo di ricerca
Componente Categoria
Carlo Ricotta Componenti strutturati del gruppo di ricerca
Maria Pepe Dottorando/Assegnista/Specializzando componente non strutturato del gruppo di ricerca
Giuseppe Fabrini Componenti strutturati del gruppo di ricerca
Componente Qualifica Struttura Categoria
Maria Fiore Crescente Tecnico Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale Altro personale aggregato Sapienza o esterni, titolari di borse di studio di ricerca
Abstract

Currently, plant ecological research is aimed at analysing the co-variation patterns in functional plant traits at an intraspecific level (i.e., within species). So far, these studies were analyzed only at the interspecific level, identifying a global pattern of trait variation along wide environmental gradients. Nevertheless, a growing number of experimental evidences highlighted that intraspecific variability is a component not at all negligible. To identify the source of functional trait variation, there is need of a better understanding, eventually leading to re-define the identified global pattern. Plant performance in an ecological context depends on plant capacity to acquire and use resources over the time. A direct expression of investment strategies resulting from different selective pressures is given by the relative amount of biomass present in the various organs i.e. biomass allocation. Biomass allocation, measured for each individual by biomass fractions or ratios, reflects plant capacity to uptake resources, especially water and nutrients, assuming therefore an important functional meaning. In this general context, this proposal aims at investigating the intraspecific variability in biomass allocation traits under water and nutrient stress to evaluate their ecological implication on plant capacity to counteract environmental stressors. Specifically, the proposal focuses on Mediterranean plant species that are a good model to study the population level of the intraspecific variability, as they experience different selective pressures due to remarkable environmental heterogeneity that promotes variability and can be a driver for species to promote a high phenotypic plasticity degree, mirrored in the different populations. Overall, the expected results of this project will allow to make more realistic previsions on the capacity of the Mediterranean species to persist under new climatic conditions.

ERC
LS8_1
Keywords:
ECOLOGIA, ECOFISIOLOGIA, CAMBIAMENTI CLIMATICI, EVOLUZIONE DI SISTEMI E ADATTAMENTO BIOLOGICO

© Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" - Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma