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Marginal Calluna populations are more resistant to climate change, but not under high-nitrogen loads

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Abstract

The dominant plant species of European heathlands Calluna vulgaris is considered vulnerable to drought and enhanced nitrogen (N) loads. However, impacts may vary across the distribution range of Calluna heathlands. We tested the hypothesis that Calluna of southern and eastern marginal populations (MP) are more resistant to drought events than plants of central populations (CP), and that this is mainly due to trait differences such as biomass allocation patterns. Furthermore, we hypothesised that N fertilisation can offset differences in drought susceptibility between CP and MP. We conducted a full-factorial 2-year greenhouse experiment with Calluna plants of CP and MP and quantified growth responses in terms of biomass production, allocation and tissue δ13C signatures. Biomass production, shoot–root ratios and tissue δ13C values of 1-year-old plants were higher for CP than for MP, indicating a higher drought susceptibility of CP. These trait differences were not observed for 2-year-old plants. N fertilisation increased shoot–root ratios of 1- and 2-year-old plants and across populations due to a stimulation of the aboveground biomass allocation. As a consequence, population-related differences in drought susceptibility were offset for N-fertilised plants. We concluded that Calluna plants originating from different populations developed adaptive traits to local climates, which determined their drought sensitivity. However, the higher drought resistance of MP can be attenuated by an N-induced increase in shoot–root ratios. This suggests that analyses on plant growth responses to global change should include multi-factor approaches with a focus on different populations throughout a species’ distribution range.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Verein Naturschutzpark e.V. and the Naturpark Elbufer-Drawehn for collaboration and for permission to collect seeds in the Lüneburger Heide and the Nemitzer Heide. We are grateful to Susanne Osterloh from the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences for collecting seeds in the Oranienbaumer Heide. This study was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (research project ‘KLIMZUG-NORD’).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststrasse 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany

    Maren Meyer-Grünefeldt & Werner Härdtle

  2. Institute of Sustainable and Environmental Chemistry, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststrasse 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany

    Kristina Belz

  3. Área de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana S/N, 24071, León, Spain

    Leonor Calvo & Elena Marcos

  4. Institute of General Ecology and Environmental Protection, TU Dresden, Pienner Str. 7, 01737, Tharandt, Germany

    Goddert von Oheimb

Authors
  1. Maren Meyer-Grünefeldt
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  2. Kristina Belz
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  3. Leonor Calvo
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  4. Elena Marcos
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  5. Goddert von Oheimb
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  6. Werner Härdtle
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Correspondence to Werner Härdtle.

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Communicated by Miguel Franco.

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Meyer-Grünefeldt, M., Belz, K., Calvo, L. et al. Marginal Calluna populations are more resistant to climate change, but not under high-nitrogen loads. Plant Ecol 217, 111–122 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-015-0563-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-015-0563-8

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