Adaptive geographical clines in the growth and defense of a native plant
For the second time this month we recognize the work of PhD student Nash Turley from the Johnson Lab. In collaboration with researchers from Cornell and UNB, he coauthored a paper which recently appeared in Ecological Monographs. This paper reports clines in growth and plant defenses in common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca. Their evidence suggests that these clines are driven by a combination of geographical variation in precipitation and herbivory across the species’ range. More generally, this paper contributes to research on the role of climate change and biotic interactions in driving latitudinal variation and adaptation within populations.
Nice work Nash!