The role of glycine betaine in range expansions; protecting mangroves against extreme freeze events
No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Hayes, Matthew A
Shor, Audrey C
Jesse, Amber
Miller, Christopher
Kennedy, John P
Feller, Ilka
Shor, Audrey C
Jesse, Amber
Miller, Christopher
Kennedy, John P
Feller, Ilka
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2020
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
- Due to a warming climate, mangrove populations within the Gulf of Mexico and along the Florida Atlantic coastline are expanding their range poleward. As mangroves expand their range limit, leading edge individuals are more likely to experience an increased incidence of freeze events. However, we still lack a clear understanding of the mechanisms used by mangroves to survive freezing conditions.
- Here, we conducted common garden experiments at different locations experiencing variable winter freeze conditions to show glycine betaine, an organic osmolyte, increases significantly with freeze exposure, playing an important role in the freeze tolerance of Avicennia germinans, a widespread Neotropical mangrove.
- We found glycine betaine accumulation was similar across all source populations and freeze exposure locations, suggesting glycine betaine is not a range limit adaptation and is instead used for freeze tolerance by A. germinans irrespective of source population. Plants sourced from populations that experience freezing conditions exhibited greater rates of survival, indicating range edge populations of A. germinans have other heritable adaptations in addition to glycine betaine for freeze tolerance.
- Synthesis. Continued mangrove expansion poleward will result in a greater incidence of freeze events for individuals at the leading edge. Our findings suggest freeze tolerance in this species may be genetically based and that leading edge A. germinans have the potential to survive extreme freeze events and recover post‐freeze, allowing for their continued expansion poleward. This process of selective survival may act to promote adaptation of freeze tolerance in range edge populations.
Journal Title
Journal of Ecology
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
This publication has been entered into Griffith Research Online as an Advanced Online Version.
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Environmental sciences
Biological sciences
Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
Persistent link to this record
Citation
Hayes, MA; Shor, AC; Jesse, A; Miller, C; Kennedy, JP; Feller, I, The role of glycine betaine in range expansions; protecting mangroves against extreme freeze events, Journal of Ecology