Article
Natural variation in morphology among diverse populations of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and sweet birch (B. lenta)
Canadian Journal of Botany
(1979)
Abstract
Natural variation was studied in 47 morphological attributes of yellow birch and sweet birch collected from adult trees along five elevational transects in the Appalachian Mountains. Populations of one or both species were analyzed from 30 locales extending from southern North Carolina to northern Vermont and New Hampshire. The major objectives of the study were (1) to test for differences in foliage, fruits, bark, and pollen among species and among populations; (2) to determine if patterns of variation associated with latitude could be strengthened by elevational adjustments; and (3) to determine the degree of similarity in patterns of variation for the two species.The results indicated considerable within-population variation and significant differences among populations and species. However, few morphological characters showed consistent trends in size, shape, or pubescence with changes in elevation and latitude. Where relationships were consistent, they were not particularly strong as indicated by linear correlation coefficients (few exceed 0.70). These findings are in contrast to earlier studies demonstrating a strong relationship of growth periodicity to elevation and latitude of seedling populations grown in a uniform garden.Preliminary evidence suggests that expression of morphological variation may be greater in the less extreme portions of the species latitudinal and elevational distributions.
Disciplines
Publication Date
1979
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1139/b79-242
Citation Information
Terry L. Sharik. "Natural variation in morphology among diverse populations of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and sweet birch (B. lenta)" Canadian Journal of Botany Vol. 57 Iss. 18 (1979) p. 1932 - 1939 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/terry_sharik/130/