title: Adaptive plasticity to heterogeneous environments increases capacity for division of labor in the clonal invader Carpobrotus edulis (Aizoaceae).
abstract: •
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Clonality has been proposed as an important mechanism favoring plant invasions, but few studies have been conducted to determine the role of clonal traits on successful invaders. An interesting trait associated with clonality is the capacity for division of labor. Division of labor requires a negative spatial correlation between the availabilities of two essential resources and ramet specialization for locally abundant resources to increase the overall performance of the clone. We hypothesized that the capacity for division of labor in the clonal invader Carpobrotus edulis will be selected in those clones from patchy environments where this trait could be an advantage.•
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphological and physiological division of labor was compared between clones from coastal sand dunes (where nutrients and light show a negative spatial covariance) and from rocky coasts (where nutrients and light are homogenously distributed).•
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clones from coastal sand dunes showed a greater capacity than clones from rocky coasts for division of labor. Specialization for abundance was found at the morphological (biomass allocated to roots) and the physiological (photochemical efficiency) level.•
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The greater ability for division of labor in the patchy environment where the presence of this trait would be more beneficial demonstrates the existence of local adaptation and suggests that rapid evolution in clonal traits could be contributing to the success of the invader C. edulis. This study is one of the few showing that division of labor is under selection and is the first reporting adaptive division of labor of an aggressive invader.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3001-455 Portugal.
authors.forename: Sergio R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Roiloa
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3001-455 Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Echeverria
authors.affiliation: Ecology Unit, Faculty of Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Spain.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez-Otero
authors.affiliation: Ecology Unit, Faculty of Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Spain.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Retuerto
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3001-455 Portugal.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D035722:Aizoaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D018533:Biomass; D017753:Ecosystem; D008027:Light; D010788:Photosynthesis; D063148:Plant Dispersal; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000502:physiology*; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: Aizoaceae; Carpobrotus edulis; biomass allocation; chlorophyll fluorescence; clonal integration; division of labor; leaf-spectral reflectance; local adaptation; plant invasions