Aspen Bibliography

Climate Lags and Genetics Determine Phenology in Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

New Phytologist

Volume

238

Issue

6

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

First Page

2313

Last Page

2328

Publication Date

3-1-2023

Abstract

  • Spatiotemporal patterns of phenology may be affected by mosaics of environmental and genetic variation. Environmental drivers may have temporally lagged impacts, but patterns and mechanisms remain poorly known.
  • We combine multiple genomic, remotely sensed, and physically modeled datasets to determine the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of canopy phenology in quaking aspen, a widespread clonal dioecious tree species with diploid and triploid cytotypes.
  • We show that over 391 km2 of southwestern Colorado: greenup date, greendown date, and growing season length very by weeks and differ across sexes, cytotypes, and genotypes; phenology has high phenotypic plasticity and heritabilities of 31-61% (interquartile range); and snowmelt date, soil moisture, and air temperature predict phenology, at temporal lags of up to 3 yr.
  • Our study shows that lagged environmental effects are needed to explain phenological variation and that the effect of cytotype on phenology is obscured by its correlation with topography. Phenological patterns are consistent with responses to multiyear accumulation of carbon deficit or hydraulic damage.

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