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Elevation and phylogeny shape herbaceous seed dormancy in a biodiversity hotspot of southwest China
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  • Kai Chen,
  • Zi-Hong Chen,
  • Yuan-Yuan Huang,
  • Zhong-Hua Jiang
Kai Chen
Baoshan University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Zi-Hong Chen
Baoshan University
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Yuan-Yuan Huang
Baoshan University
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Zhong-Hua Jiang
Baoshan University
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Abstract

Seed dormancy contributes greatly to successful establishment and community stability and shows large variation over a continuous status scale in mountain ecosystems. Although empirical studies have shown that seed dormancy status (SDS) is shaped by elevation and phylogenetic history in mountain ecosystems, few studies have quantified their combined effects on SDS. Here, we collected mature seeds from 51 populations of 11 Impatiens species (Balsaminaceae) along an elevational gradient in the Gaoligong Mountains of southwest China and downloaded 19 bioclimatic variables from WorldClim v.2.1 for each Impatiens population. We used internal transcribed spacer (ITS), atpB-rbcL, and trnL-F molecular sequences from the GenBank nucleotide database to construct a phylogenetic tree of the 11 species of Impatiens. SDS was estimated using mean dormancy percentage of fresh seeds germinated at three constant temperatures (15, 20, and 25 °C). Logistic regression model analysis was performed to quantify the effects of phylogeny and environment on SDS. Results showed that there was a significant phylogenetic signal of SDS in the Impatiens species. Furthermore, elevation and phylogeny accounted for 63.629% of the total variation in SDS among the Impatiens populations. The logistic model indicated that climatic factors accounted for 20.832% of the total variation in SDS among the Impatiens species, and model residuals were significantly correlated with phylogeny, but not with elevation. Our results indicated that seed dormancy is phylogenetically conserved, and climate drives elevational patterns of SDS variation in mountain ecosystems. This study provides new insights into the response of seed plant diversity to climate change.
11 Jan 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
11 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
11 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
16 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
03 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 Feb 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
05 Mar 20231st Revision Received
09 Mar 2023Submission Checks Completed
09 Mar 2023Assigned to Editor
09 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Mar 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
22 Mar 2023Editorial Decision: Accept