Abstract Detail

The evolution of functional traits in plants: is the giant still sleeping?

Mason, Chase [1], Medieros, Juliana [2], Caruso, Christina (Chris) [3].

The evolution of functional traits in plants: is the giant still sleeping?

In 2003, the International Journal of Plant Sciences published a special issue on the evolution of functional traits in plants. This special issue was motivated by the observation that the fields of plant ecophysiology and evolutionary biology were not well integrated, leading to mistaken conclusions about the adaptive nature of plant functional traits. The organizers of the 2003 special issue referred to the prospect of integrating ecophysiology and evolution as "waking the sleeping giant", and assembled a collection of papers to encourage the next generation of ecophysiologists to study the micro- and macroevolution of plant functional traits. Now that 15 years have passed, the International Journal of Plant Sciences is organizing a special issue on the evolution of functional traits in plants, and this colloquium to accompany it. The special issue and colloquium will highlight the progress that has been made, but also the gaps that remain in our understanding of plant functional trait evolution and the most promising modern approaches to address them. Focal topics will include (1) genomic mapping of functional traits, especially focused on performance curves, tradeoffs and trait networks; (2) phylogenetic comparative approaches for the study of the evolution of functional traits (including performance curves and multivariate traits), particularly approaches that accommodate phylogenetic uncertainty and phylogenetic networks; (3) the evolution of whole-plant cross-organ integration in resource-use strategies; (4) the evolution of whole-plant traits such as architecture and biomass allocation that are not organ-specific, and modeling approaches for understanding these traits and their relationship to resource use strategies; (5) intraspecific variation in functional traits and its importance relative to interspecific variation for understanding trait evolution, especially tradeoffs, evolvability, the predictability of evolution across scales, and the consequences for community assembly and ecosystem processes; (6) genomic approaches to understanding the genetic basis of microevolution in functional traits; (7) the evolution of functional traits in the context of biotic interactions, including microbes, herbivores, pollinators, and competitors; (8) the evolution of belowground functional traits, especially biotic and abiotic selective agents acting on roots (including the microbiome as an extended phenotype); (9) the effects of functional traits on plant demography; (10) modern techniques in quantitative paleobotany with respect to improved understanding of the evolution of functional traits; and (11) the role of functional trait evolution in crop physiology, including local adaptation and risk strategies under environmental stress.

Related Links:
IJPS Special Issue Call for Papers

1 - University of Central Florida, Department of Biology, 4110 Libra Drive, Orlando, FL, 32816, US
2 - Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH, 44094, USA
3 - University of Guelph, College of Biological Science, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada

Keywords:
functional traits
evolution
ecology
adaptation
genomic mapping
phylogenetic comparative methods
intraspecific trait variation
resource use strategies
trait integration
microevolution
biotic interactions
belowground traits
demography
paleobotany
crop physiology
macroevolution
ecophysiology
plant architecture.

Presentation Type: Colloquium Presentations
Session: CO04, The Evolution of Functional Traits in Plant: Is the Giant Still Sleeping?
Location: Tucson J/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 1:30 PM
Number: CO04SUM
Abstract ID:13
Candidate for Awards:None