Geographical variation in the response to nitrogen deposition in Arabidopsis lyrata petraea.
The adaptive responses to atmospheric nitrogen deposition for different European accessions of Arabidopsis lyrata petraea were analysed using populations along a strong atmospheric N-deposition gradient. Plants were exposed to three N-deposition rates, reflecting the rates at the different locations, in a full factorial design. Differences between accessions in the response to N were found for important phenological and physiological response variables. For example, plants from low-deposition areas had higher nitrogen-use efficiencies (NUE) and C : N ratios than plants from areas high in N deposition when grown at low N-deposition rates. The NUE decreased in all accessions at higher experimental deposition rates. However, plants from high-deposition areas showed a limited capacity to increase their NUE at lower experimental deposition rates. Plants from low-deposition areas had faster growth rates, higher leaf turnover rates and shorter times to flowering, and showed a greater increase in growth rate in response to N deposition than those from high-deposition areas. Indications for adaptation to N deposition were found, and results suggest that adaptation of plants from areas high in N deposition to increased N deposition has resulted in the loss of plasticity.
Vergeer
Philippine
P
Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Van Den Berg
Leon L J
LLJ
Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, Yorkshire YO10 5DD, UK.
Bulling
Mark T
MT
Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, Yorkshire YO10 5DD, UK.
Ashmore
Mike R
MR
Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, Yorkshire YO10 5DD, UK.
Kunin
William E
WE
Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005843:Geography; D007055:Iceland; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009664:Norway; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil; D006113:United Kingdom
D000393:Air Pollutants; D012987:Soil; D009584:Nitrogen