Idiosyncratic shifts in life-history traits at species’ geographic range edges

Anthropogenic changes drive shifts in species’ geographic distributions and increase the occurrence of leading or trailing-edge marginal populations. Theoretical predictions and empirical observations indicate substantial changes in life-history traits in marginal populations, often involving dispersal and reproductive abilities. Using a common garden experiment, we studied the variation of life-history traits of populations sampled on spatial gradients extending from range-core to range-edge habitats for three expanding (miner’s lettuce Claytonia perfoliata, Danish scurvygrass Cochlearia danica, and rock samphire Crithmum maritimum) and one receding plant species (dune pansy Viola tricolor subs. curtisii). We monitored life-history traits related to dispersal, phenology, survival, reproductive output, and selfing ability. Significant shifts in life-history traits between central and marginal populations strongly differed among species. Marginal populations of the three expanding specie...