Structured and unstructured intraspecific propagule trait variation
across environmental gradients in a widespread mangrove
Abstract
Increasing studies have shown the importance of intraspecific trait
variation (ITV) on the ecological process. However, the patterns and
sources of ITV are still unclear, especially in the propagule of coastal
vegetation. Here, we measured fresh weight (FW), fresh length (FL),
maximum transverse diameter (TDmax), minimum transverse diameter (TDmin)
and the ratio of TDmax to TDmin (RTD) of the hypocotyl (propagule) of
Kandelia obovata for 66 genealogies across 26 sites. By combining
multiple factors of climate, ocean and maternal tree to analyze their
effects on the intraspecific trait variation of mangrove hypocotyl. The
results showed that value of establishment traits (FW, FL, TDmax and
TDmin which are related to mass) decreased along increasing latitudinal
gradients and they were directly positively regulated by temperature.
ITV of dispersal trait (RTD) was unstructured along latitudinal
gradients, which was constrained by fitness tradeoff. Our findings
indicate that establishment traits mainly varied between populations,
whereas dispersal traits mainly varied between individuals. This study
provides insights into the ITV of propagule in different functional
dimensions on a broad scale and that may help integrate ITV into future
analyses of mangrove protection.