Anyone interested in plants may already have asked themselves why some trees host a wide diversity and large numbers of epiphytes while others have none. This may occur by chance or could be derived from specific patterns driven by tree traits. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Chaves et al. evaluated how individual […]

There are several emerging generalizations in invasion biology, but often the factors determining invasiveness are group-specific. Similarly to certain other plant families, Araceae species (arums or aroids) that have large native ranges and that have been widely introduced are more likely to become invasive. What is unique to the family is the great diversity of […]

Climbing monocots can develop into large bodied plants despite being confined by primary growth. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Hesse et al. measured surprisingly high stem biomechanical properties (in bending and torsion) in Flagellaria indica and showed that the lack of secondary growth is overcome by a combination of tissue maturation processes […]

Mediterranean high-mountain ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change, causing biodiversity loss, habitat degradation and landscape modifications. In a new study published in AoB PLANTS, Evangelista et al. used phytosociological relevés to conduct a re-visitation study in order to analyze changes in floristic composition over the last 42 years in the central Apennines (Majella National Park). […]

The analysis of genetic structure and variability of isolated species is of critical importance in evaluating whether stochastic or human-caused factors are affecting rare species. Low genetic diversity compromises the ability of populations to evolve and reduces their chances of survival under environmental change. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Turchetto et al. […]

Phylogeographic studies give us the opportunity to reconstruct the historical migrations of species and link them with climatic and geographic variation. They are, therefore, a key tool to understanding the relationships among biology, geology and history. One of the most interesting biogeographical areas of the world is the Mediterranean region. However, in this area, the […]

Pollination studies often use visitation frequency of potential pollinators as an indicator of their importance, but this is only one component and may not reflect actual pollen-transfer rates. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Barrios Roque et al. used new approaches to understand the pollination biology of the pineland golden trumpet, Angadenia berteroi, […]

Ecological restoration is often conducted with limited consideration of genetic diversity and the environmental factors that drive variation within species. In a new study published in AoB PLANTS, Hufford et al. examined the genetic diversity and environmental variation among 16 populations of Stylidium hispidum, an endemic southwestern Australian triggerplant. As a result they were able […]

Invasive species are a threat to every ecosystem and thus there is a strong incentive to predict which species will become invasive before they become too widespread and unmanageable. In a recent study published in AoB PLANTS, Schwartz et al. conducted a multi-year, temporally replicated, greenhouse and field experiment based on plant functional traits, quantifying competitive ability and making phylogenetic […]

Offspring phenotypes may be altered by environments that their parents lived in.These environmentally-induced trans-generational effects may be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation. Little is known about the role of such epigenetic effects in evolution; however, it is expected to facilitate evolution. To expand geographic range, it is thought that most species would […]

A weed or not a weed? Many plant species grow somewhere on the continuum from undisturbed to very disturbed vegetation. Deciding on the degree of weediness is not an easy task, and is often based only on subjective observations. In a new study published in AoB PLANTS, Hanan-Alipi et al. compare data obtained during systematic […]

Calcium (Ca) and the toxic heavy metal cadmium (Cd) are antagonistic ions competing for uptake in plants when they co-occur in soil solutions, and high Ca concentrations can reduce the uptake of Cd in plants. However, less is known about the effects of low Ca bioavailability on Cd uptake and translocation in plants. In a […]