Natural selection drives parallel divergence in the mountain plant Heliosperma pusillum s.l.

(1) The evolution of species or ecotypes can occur gradually through neutral and adaptive genetic changes. To explore the influence of natural selection during early phases of divergence, morphological and ecological discontinuity and its adaptive significance were investigated in six pairs of alpine and independently evolved montane populations of Heliosperma pusillum .; the latter are usually taxonomically recognised at the species rank in spite of their highly doubtful debatable taxonomic value. (2) We tested whether environmental conditions – characterised by Landolt indicator values from vegetation surveys and temperature measurements – and morphology of alpine and montane populations differ discretely and in parallel across six population pairs. By reciprocal transplantation experiments in natural environments in two population pairs and in climate chambers for five population pairs we compared fitness of native vs. non-native individuals. (3) Alpine and montane populations differ...

(1) 物种或生态型的演化可通过中性与适应性遗传变异逐步发生。为探究物种分化早期阶段自然选择的作用，本研究以六对高山与独立演化的山地矮生向日草（Heliosperma pusillum）种群为研究对象，考察其形态与生态分化及其适应性意义；尽管这类山地种群的分类学价值颇具争议，但其通常在分类学上被认定为独立物种等级。
(2) 本研究检验了两类对象是否在六对种群间呈现离散分化且趋势一致：一类是以植被调查的兰多尔特指示值（Landolt indicator values）与温度实测值表征的环境条件，另一类是高山与山地种群的形态特征。通过针对两对种群的原生境互置移栽实验，以及针对五对种群的气候箱模拟实验，研究者对比了本土个体与非本土个体的适合度。
(3) 高山与山地种群存在分化……