Niche Variation in Endemic <i>Lilium pomponium</i> on a Wide Altitudinal Gradient in the Maritime Alps
The relationship between altitudinal and ecological gradients has long been a dominant theme in plant ecology; moreover, how species respond to climate change has renewed this interest. Mediterranean mountains are often hotspots of endemism, and some endemic species have local distributions that spa...
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/6/833 |
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| author | Ninon Fontaine Perrine Gauthier Gabriele Casazza John D. Thompson |
| author_facet | Ninon Fontaine Perrine Gauthier Gabriele Casazza John D. Thompson |
| author_sort | Ninon Fontaine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The relationship between altitudinal and ecological gradients has long been a dominant theme in plant ecology; moreover, how species respond to climate change has renewed this interest. Mediterranean mountains are often hotspots of endemism, and some endemic species have local distributions that span different climatic belts; hence, local variations in topography and fine-scaled niche conditions may play crucial roles in their persistence along such gradients. Studies of the fine-scaled niche are, however, very rare; most studies involve broad-scale variations in climatic parameters. The Turban lily, <i>Lilium pomponium</i> L. is endemic to the Maritime and Ligurian Alps, where it occurs across a wide altitudinal gradient. Previous work has shown no link between climatic marginality and geographic range limits on morphological traits and genetic variability; however, possible variations of local topographic and ecological parameters have not yet been examined. The objective of this paper is to characterise local ecological niche conditions of <i>L. pomponium</i> populations in the different bioclimatic zones it occupies along the altitudinal gradient. The species occurs in four main types of microecological niches. One of these niche types, with a high mineral cover, is the most abundant—type 2: it was detected in 39% of sampled quadrats and occurs across the whole bioclimatic gradient. Other niche types are more limited to subsections of the gradient: type 3 (in 19% of sampled quadrats) is restricted to high-altitude sites (>1070 m.a.s.l.) and is characterised by high vegetation and litter cover; type 4 (26%) corresponds to more forested habitats on substrates with low water retention capacities, in more inland zones close to the centre of <i>L. pomponium</i> distribution and across a range of altitudes; and type 1 (16% of quadrat) only occurs in the Mediterranean part of the gradient, close to distribution limits in pockets of soil among large blocks of rocks, mainly found at mid-altitudes. Despite heterogeneity in the spatial locations of niche types, there is no correspondence between ecological gradients and the distribution limits of this species. Knowledge of the fine-scaled ecological conditions that determine niche types is thus essential for conservation management of the habitats of this species and for the exploration of its possible response to ongoing climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:55:27Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:55:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-f561d8f6987247ecaefc7ea1c394f85f2023-11-30T22:01:43ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-03-0111683310.3390/plants11060833Niche Variation in Endemic <i>Lilium pomponium</i> on a Wide Altitudinal Gradient in the Maritime AlpsNinon Fontaine0Perrine Gauthier1Gabriele Casazza2John D. Thompson3Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, FranceCentre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, FranceDipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genoa, ItalyCentre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, FranceThe relationship between altitudinal and ecological gradients has long been a dominant theme in plant ecology; moreover, how species respond to climate change has renewed this interest. Mediterranean mountains are often hotspots of endemism, and some endemic species have local distributions that span different climatic belts; hence, local variations in topography and fine-scaled niche conditions may play crucial roles in their persistence along such gradients. Studies of the fine-scaled niche are, however, very rare; most studies involve broad-scale variations in climatic parameters. The Turban lily, <i>Lilium pomponium</i> L. is endemic to the Maritime and Ligurian Alps, where it occurs across a wide altitudinal gradient. Previous work has shown no link between climatic marginality and geographic range limits on morphological traits and genetic variability; however, possible variations of local topographic and ecological parameters have not yet been examined. The objective of this paper is to characterise local ecological niche conditions of <i>L. pomponium</i> populations in the different bioclimatic zones it occupies along the altitudinal gradient. The species occurs in four main types of microecological niches. One of these niche types, with a high mineral cover, is the most abundant—type 2: it was detected in 39% of sampled quadrats and occurs across the whole bioclimatic gradient. Other niche types are more limited to subsections of the gradient: type 3 (in 19% of sampled quadrats) is restricted to high-altitude sites (>1070 m.a.s.l.) and is characterised by high vegetation and litter cover; type 4 (26%) corresponds to more forested habitats on substrates with low water retention capacities, in more inland zones close to the centre of <i>L. pomponium</i> distribution and across a range of altitudes; and type 1 (16% of quadrat) only occurs in the Mediterranean part of the gradient, close to distribution limits in pockets of soil among large blocks of rocks, mainly found at mid-altitudes. Despite heterogeneity in the spatial locations of niche types, there is no correspondence between ecological gradients and the distribution limits of this species. Knowledge of the fine-scaled ecological conditions that determine niche types is thus essential for conservation management of the habitats of this species and for the exploration of its possible response to ongoing climate change.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/6/833ecological micro-nichealtitudedistribution rangecentre-periphery hypothesisendemic plant |
| spellingShingle | Ninon Fontaine Perrine Gauthier Gabriele Casazza John D. Thompson Niche Variation in Endemic <i>Lilium pomponium</i> on a Wide Altitudinal Gradient in the Maritime Alps Plants ecological micro-niche altitude distribution range centre-periphery hypothesis endemic plant |
| title | Niche Variation in Endemic <i>Lilium pomponium</i> on a Wide Altitudinal Gradient in the Maritime Alps |
| title_full | Niche Variation in Endemic <i>Lilium pomponium</i> on a Wide Altitudinal Gradient in the Maritime Alps |
| title_fullStr | Niche Variation in Endemic <i>Lilium pomponium</i> on a Wide Altitudinal Gradient in the Maritime Alps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Niche Variation in Endemic <i>Lilium pomponium</i> on a Wide Altitudinal Gradient in the Maritime Alps |
| title_short | Niche Variation in Endemic <i>Lilium pomponium</i> on a Wide Altitudinal Gradient in the Maritime Alps |
| title_sort | niche variation in endemic i lilium pomponium i on a wide altitudinal gradient in the maritime alps |
| topic | ecological micro-niche altitude distribution range centre-periphery hypothesis endemic plant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/6/833 |
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