Recruitment varies among milkweed seed sources for habitat specialist but not generalist

Jessamine Finch; Alexandra E. Seglias; Andrea T. Kramer; Kayri Havens

doi:10.1111/rec.13725

Recruitment varies among milkweed seed sources for habitat specialist but not generalist

Jessamine Finch^*, Alexandra E. Seglias, Andrea T. Kramer, Kayri Havens

^*Corresponding author for this work

Program in Biological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

If sufficient seedling establishment can be achieved, seed-based restoration provides an affordable, active restoration approach that can be implemented quickly at scale. However, establishment has served as a major restoration bottleneck, highlighting the need for improved understanding of seed germination niche and interactions with site conditions. Germination niche breadth (NB) is expected to increase with gene flow, resulting in broader environmental tolerance range, reduced sensitivity to site conditions, and less variation among seed sources. To investigate how germination NB relates to inter- and intraspecific variation in establishment from seed, we compared field recruitment for two milkweeds (Asclepias), the larval host plant of the monarch butterfly and thus a high priority group for habitat creation. Consistent with species-level NB derived from laboratory trials, there was strong evidence that early life stages of the habitat specialist (Asclepias incarnata) varied among seed collection regions (separated by 423–572 km) but no evidence that the generalist (A. syriaca) varied among seed sources collected across an approximately 750-km transect. Regeneration trends demonstrate that A. incarnata is significantly more sensitive to seed source and therefore requires more restricted seed zones. However, climate change may necessitate that we separate seed collection zones from seed application zones, upending the traditional framework of seed transfer zones. Until taxon-specific studies have identified the scale of adaptive, phenotypic variance, restoration practitioners should continue to adjust the scale of seed collection zones for milkweeds and other taxa based on species traits known to influence gene flow, such as abundance and habitat specificity.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	e13725
Journal	Restoration Ecology
Volume	31
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13725
State	Published - Jan 2023

Funding

The authors thank the hosts at our field sites, J. Durkin of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and K. Medley of the Tyson Research Center; the production staff of the Chicago Botanic Garden, especially B. Clark and C. Thomas; as well as R. Kreb, H. Kim, and the Belisle‐Iffrig family. The authors are grateful to J. Walck for his assistance in planning the experiment and reviewing results, as well as the Kramer‐Havens Lab for providing feedback on earlier drafts of this manuscript. This work was supported in part by the Program in Plant Biology and Conservation at Northwestern University, the Botanical Society of America, and the Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals. Portions of this text were included in a dissertation submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree doctor of philosophy (PhD) by J. Finch, Northwestern University (2019). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. The authors thank the hosts at our field sites, J. Durkin of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and K. Medley of the Tyson Research Center; the production staff of the Chicago Botanic Garden, especially B. Clark and C. Thomas; as well as R. Kreb, H. Kim, and the Belisle-Iffrig family. The authors are grateful to J. Walck for his assistance in planning the experiment and reviewing results, as well as the Kramer-Havens Lab for providing feedback on earlier drafts of this manuscript. This work was supported in part by the Program in Plant Biology and Conservation at Northwestern University, the Botanical Society of America, and the Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals. Portions of this text were included in a dissertation submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree doctor of philosophy (PhD) by J. Finch, Northwestern University (2019). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Keywords

Asclepias
germination niche
monarch butterfly
seed source
seed transfer zone
seed-based restoration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology
Nature and Landscape Conservation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1111/rec.13725

Cite this

@article{c5c45d29cd844d438972c7019d6dcf32,

title = "Recruitment varies among milkweed seed sources for habitat specialist but not generalist",

abstract = "If sufficient seedling establishment can be achieved, seed-based restoration provides an affordable, active restoration approach that can be implemented quickly at scale. However, establishment has served as a major restoration bottleneck, highlighting the need for improved understanding of seed germination niche and interactions with site conditions. Germination niche breadth (NB) is expected to increase with gene flow, resulting in broader environmental tolerance range, reduced sensitivity to site conditions, and less variation among seed sources. To investigate how germination NB relates to inter- and intraspecific variation in establishment from seed, we compared field recruitment for two milkweeds (Asclepias), the larval host plant of the monarch butterfly and thus a high priority group for habitat creation. Consistent with species-level NB derived from laboratory trials, there was strong evidence that early life stages of the habitat specialist (Asclepias incarnata) varied among seed collection regions (separated by 423–572 km) but no evidence that the generalist (A. syriaca) varied among seed sources collected across an approximately 750-km transect. Regeneration trends demonstrate that A. incarnata is significantly more sensitive to seed source and therefore requires more restricted seed zones. However, climate change may necessitate that we separate seed collection zones from seed application zones, upending the traditional framework of seed transfer zones. Until taxon-specific studies have identified the scale of adaptive, phenotypic variance, restoration practitioners should continue to adjust the scale of seed collection zones for milkweeds and other taxa based on species traits known to influence gene flow, such as abundance and habitat specificity.",

keywords = "Asclepias, germination niche, monarch butterfly, seed source, seed transfer zone, seed-based restoration",

author = "Jessamine Finch and Seglias, {Alexandra E.} and Kramer, {Andrea T.} and Kayri Havens",

note = "Funding Information: The authors thank the hosts at our field sites, J. Durkin of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and K. Medley of the Tyson Research Center; the production staff of the Chicago Botanic Garden, especially B. Clark and C. Thomas; as well as R. Kreb, H. Kim, and the Belisle‐Iffrig family. The authors are grateful to J. Walck for his assistance in planning the experiment and reviewing results, as well as the Kramer‐Havens Lab for providing feedback on earlier drafts of this manuscript. This work was supported in part by the Program in Plant Biology and Conservation at Northwestern University, the Botanical Society of America, and the Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals. Portions of this text were included in a dissertation submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree doctor of philosophy (PhD) by J. Finch, Northwestern University (2019). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Funding Information: The authors thank the hosts at our field sites, J. Durkin of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and K. Medley of the Tyson Research Center; the production staff of the Chicago Botanic Garden, especially B. Clark and C. Thomas; as well as R. Kreb, H. Kim, and the Belisle-Iffrig family. The authors are grateful to J. Walck for his assistance in planning the experiment and reviewing results, as well as the Kramer-Havens Lab for providing feedback on earlier drafts of this manuscript. This work was supported in part by the Program in Plant Biology and Conservation at Northwestern University, the Botanical Society of America, and the Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals. Portions of this text were included in a dissertation submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree doctor of philosophy (PhD) by J. Finch, Northwestern University (2019). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration.",

year = "2023",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1111/rec.13725",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "31",

journal = "Restoration Ecology",

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AU - Seglias, Alexandra E.

AU - Kramer, Andrea T.

AU - Havens, Kayri

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank the hosts at our field sites, J. Durkin of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and K. Medley of the Tyson Research Center; the production staff of the Chicago Botanic Garden, especially B. Clark and C. Thomas; as well as R. Kreb, H. Kim, and the Belisle‐Iffrig family. The authors are grateful to J. Walck for his assistance in planning the experiment and reviewing results, as well as the Kramer‐Havens Lab for providing feedback on earlier drafts of this manuscript. This work was supported in part by the Program in Plant Biology and Conservation at Northwestern University, the Botanical Society of America, and the Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals. Portions of this text were included in a dissertation submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree doctor of philosophy (PhD) by J. Finch, Northwestern University (2019). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Funding Information: The authors thank the hosts at our field sites, J. Durkin of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and K. Medley of the Tyson Research Center; the production staff of the Chicago Botanic Garden, especially B. Clark and C. Thomas; as well as R. Kreb, H. Kim, and the Belisle-Iffrig family. The authors are grateful to J. Walck for his assistance in planning the experiment and reviewing results, as well as the Kramer-Havens Lab for providing feedback on earlier drafts of this manuscript. This work was supported in part by the Program in Plant Biology and Conservation at Northwestern University, the Botanical Society of America, and the Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals. Portions of this text were included in a dissertation submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree doctor of philosophy (PhD) by J. Finch, Northwestern University (2019). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration.

PY - 2023/1

Y1 - 2023/1

N2 - If sufficient seedling establishment can be achieved, seed-based restoration provides an affordable, active restoration approach that can be implemented quickly at scale. However, establishment has served as a major restoration bottleneck, highlighting the need for improved understanding of seed germination niche and interactions with site conditions. Germination niche breadth (NB) is expected to increase with gene flow, resulting in broader environmental tolerance range, reduced sensitivity to site conditions, and less variation among seed sources. To investigate how germination NB relates to inter- and intraspecific variation in establishment from seed, we compared field recruitment for two milkweeds (Asclepias), the larval host plant of the monarch butterfly and thus a high priority group for habitat creation. Consistent with species-level NB derived from laboratory trials, there was strong evidence that early life stages of the habitat specialist (Asclepias incarnata) varied among seed collection regions (separated by 423–572 km) but no evidence that the generalist (A. syriaca) varied among seed sources collected across an approximately 750-km transect. Regeneration trends demonstrate that A. incarnata is significantly more sensitive to seed source and therefore requires more restricted seed zones. However, climate change may necessitate that we separate seed collection zones from seed application zones, upending the traditional framework of seed transfer zones. Until taxon-specific studies have identified the scale of adaptive, phenotypic variance, restoration practitioners should continue to adjust the scale of seed collection zones for milkweeds and other taxa based on species traits known to influence gene flow, such as abundance and habitat specificity.

AB - If sufficient seedling establishment can be achieved, seed-based restoration provides an affordable, active restoration approach that can be implemented quickly at scale. However, establishment has served as a major restoration bottleneck, highlighting the need for improved understanding of seed germination niche and interactions with site conditions. Germination niche breadth (NB) is expected to increase with gene flow, resulting in broader environmental tolerance range, reduced sensitivity to site conditions, and less variation among seed sources. To investigate how germination NB relates to inter- and intraspecific variation in establishment from seed, we compared field recruitment for two milkweeds (Asclepias), the larval host plant of the monarch butterfly and thus a high priority group for habitat creation. Consistent with species-level NB derived from laboratory trials, there was strong evidence that early life stages of the habitat specialist (Asclepias incarnata) varied among seed collection regions (separated by 423–572 km) but no evidence that the generalist (A. syriaca) varied among seed sources collected across an approximately 750-km transect. Regeneration trends demonstrate that A. incarnata is significantly more sensitive to seed source and therefore requires more restricted seed zones. However, climate change may necessitate that we separate seed collection zones from seed application zones, upending the traditional framework of seed transfer zones. Until taxon-specific studies have identified the scale of adaptive, phenotypic variance, restoration practitioners should continue to adjust the scale of seed collection zones for milkweeds and other taxa based on species traits known to influence gene flow, such as abundance and habitat specificity.

KW - Asclepias

KW - germination niche

KW - monarch butterfly

KW - seed source

KW - seed transfer zone

KW - seed-based restoration

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Recruitment varies among milkweed seed sources for habitat specialist but not generalist

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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