Intraspecific trait variation and trade-offs within and across populations of a toxic dinoflagellate

TY - JOUR

T1 - Intraspecific trait variation and trade-offs within and across populations of a toxic dinoflagellate

AU - Brandenburg, Karen M.

AU - Wohlrab, Sylke

AU - John, Uwe

AU - Kremp, Anke

AU - Jerney, Jacqueline

AU - Krock, Bernd

AU - Van de Waal, Dedmer B.

N1 - 6590, AqE; Data Archiving: data archived at Dryad

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Abstract Intraspecific trait diversity can promote the success of a species, as complementarity of functional traits within populations may enhance its competitive success and facilitates resilience to changing environmental conditions. Here, we experimentally determined the variation and relationships between traits in 15 strains of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii derived from two populations. Measured traits included growth rate, cell size, elemental composition, nitrogen uptake kinetics, toxin production and allelochemical potency. Our results demonstrate substantial variation in all analysed traits both within and across populations, particularly in nitrogen affinity, which was even comparable to interspecific variation across phytoplankton species. We found distinct trade-offs between maximum nitrogen uptake rate and affinity, and between defensive and competitive traits. Furthermore, we identified differences in trait variation between the genetically similar populations. The observed high trait variation may facilitate development and resilience of harmful algal blooms under dynamic environmental conditions.

AB - Abstract Intraspecific trait diversity can promote the success of a species, as complementarity of functional traits within populations may enhance its competitive success and facilitates resilience to changing environmental conditions. Here, we experimentally determined the variation and relationships between traits in 15 strains of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii derived from two populations. Measured traits included growth rate, cell size, elemental composition, nitrogen uptake kinetics, toxin production and allelochemical potency. Our results demonstrate substantial variation in all analysed traits both within and across populations, particularly in nitrogen affinity, which was even comparable to interspecific variation across phytoplankton species. We found distinct trade-offs between maximum nitrogen uptake rate and affinity, and between defensive and competitive traits. Furthermore, we identified differences in trait variation between the genetically similar populations. The observed high trait variation may facilitate development and resilience of harmful algal blooms under dynamic environmental conditions.

KW - Eco-evolutionary dynamics

KW - biodiversity

KW - population ecology

KW - harmful algal blooms

KW - Alexandrium ostenfeldii

KW - international

UR - https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6502mg2

U2 - 10.1111/ele.13138

DO - 10.1111/ele.13138

M3 - Article

SN - 1461-023X

VL - 21

SP - 1561

EP - 1571

JO - Ecology Letters

JF - Ecology Letters

IS - 10

ER -