Data from: Is adaptation associated with long-term persistence beyond a geographic range limit?

Adaptation to new habitats might facilitate species’ range shifts in
response to climate change. In 2005, we transplanted experimental
populations of coastal dune plant Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia into four
sites within and one site beyond its poleward range limit. Beyond-range
transplants had high fitness and often delayed reproduction. To test for
adaptation associated with experimental range expansion, we transplanted
descendants from beyond and within-range populations after 10 generations
in situ into two sites within the range, one at the range edge, and two
sites beyond the range. We expected to detect adaptation to beyond-range
conditions due to substantial genetic variation within experimental
populations and environmental variation among sites. However, individuals
from beyond-range experimental populations were not fitter than those from
within the range when planted at either beyond-range site, indicating no
adaptation to the beyond-range site or beyond-range environments in
general. Beyond-range descendants also did not suffer lower fitness within
the range. Although reproduction was again delayed beyond the range, late
reproduction was not favored more strongly beyond than within the range,
and beyond-range descendants did not delay reproduction more than
within-range descendants. Persistence in beyond-range environments may not
require adaptation, which could allow a rapid response to climate change.