Camouflaged plants are shorter than non-camouflaged plants in the alpine zone
Camouflaged plants are shorter than non-camouflaged plants in the alpine zone
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DOI：
10.1098/rsbl.2022.0560
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发表时间：
2023-05
期刊：
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Tao Huang;Zhe Chen;BO Xu;Han-Jin Sun;Yang Niu
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Tao Huang;Zhe Chen;BO Xu;Han-Jin Sun;Yang Niu
据报道，伪装是植物的一种防御策略，而我们对这种防御颜色进化的理解仍然有限。在本研究中，我们测试了以下假设：在相同的栖息地中，伪装植物比非伪装植物短。根据横断山冰下地带的物种名录和植物标本馆采集的植物标本，测量了621个物种（无论是否伪装）中的2915个个体的植物高度，并以海拔信息作为参考。我们发现，尽管考虑了系统发育和海拔的影响，伪装植物明显短于非伪装植物。有趣的是，在非伪装植物中发现植物高度和海拔之间呈负相关，但在伪装植物中则不然。这些结果揭示了防御色与植物高度之间的相关性。伪装可能是从较短的祖先进化而来的，因为它们可能会受到更强的选择并提供更有效的防御。
Camouflage has been reported as a defensive strategy in plants, while our understanding of the evolution of such defensive coloration is still limited. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that camouflaged plants are shorter than non-camouflaged ones in the same habitat. Based on a species list from the subnival zone from the Hengduan Mountains, SW China and the herbarium collection, we measured the plant heights of 2915 individuals from 621 species (either camouflaged or not), with elevation information as a reference. We show that camouflaged plants were significantly shorter than non-camouflaged ones, though the effects of phylogeny and elevation were considered. Interestingly, a negative correlation between plant height and elevation was found in non-camouflaged plants, but not in camouflaged ones. These results revealed the correlation between defensive coloration and plant height. Camouflage may have evolved from shorter ancestors because they may suffer stronger selection and provide a more efficient defence.