DOI: 10.5061/dryad.5ps42
title: Data from: Plastic responses contribute to explaining altitudinal and temporal variation in potential flower longevity in high Andean Rhodolirion montanum

description: The tendency for flower longevity to increase with altitude is believed by
 many alpine ecologists to play an important role in compensating for low
 pollination rates at high altitudes due to cold and variable weather
 conditions. However, current studies documenting an altitudinal increase
 in flower longevity in the alpine habitat derive principally from studies
 on open-pollinated flowers where lower pollinator visitation rates at
 higher altitudes will tend to lead to flower senescence later in the
 life-span of a flower in comparison with lower altitudes, and thus could
 confound the real altitudinal pattern in a species´ potential flower
 longevity. In a two-year study we tested the hypothesis that a plastic
 effect of temperature on flower longevity could contribute to an
 altitudinal increase in potential flower longevity measured in
 pollinator-excluded flowers in high Andean Rhodolirium montanum Phil.
 (Amaryllidaceae). Using supplemental warming we investigated whether
 temperature around flowers plastically affects potential flower longevity.
 We determined tightly temperature-controlled potential flower longevity
 and flower height for natural populations on three alpine sites spread
 over an altitudinal transect from 2350 and 3075 m a.s.l. An experimental
 increase of 3.1°C around flowers significantly decreased flower longevity
 indicating a plastic response of flowers to temperature. Flower height in
 natural populations decreased significantly with altitude. Although
 temperature negatively affects flower longevity under experimental
 conditions, we found no evidence that temperature around flowers explains
 site variation in flower longevity over the altitudinal gradient. In a
 wetter year, despite a 3.5°C temperature difference around flowers at the
 extremes of the altitudinal range, flower longevity showed no increase
 with altitude. However, in a drier year, flower longevity increased
 significantly with altitude. The emerging picture suggests an increase in
 flower longevity along the altitudinal gradient is less common for
 potential flower longevity than for open-pollination flower longevity.
 Independently of any selection that may occur on potential longevity,
 plastic responses of flowers to environmental conditions are likely to
 contribute to altitudinal variation in flower longevity, especially in dry
 alpine areas. Such plastic responses could push flowers of alpine species
 towards shorter life-lengths under climate change, with uncertain
 consequences for successful pollination and plant fitness in a warming
 world.
description: Height profile of mean
 air temperature during the Rhodolirium montanum's flowering season of
 2014-2015 austral summerMean temperature at 15
 min intervals for data loggers installed at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 150 cm above
 ground level on three Andean sites HIGH (3075 m.a.s.l.), MID (2650
 m.a.s.l.), LOW (2350 m.a.s.l.) over the 2014-2015 Austral
 summer.Height_profile.csvVirgin flower longevity of the alpine Rhodolirium montanum on a supplemental warming experimentData from a supplemental warming experiment on plants of Rhodolirium montanum at the Andes of Central Chile. In the study site, patches of same area were defined enclosing 5 or more genets. Open Top Chamber was put in a half of the patches in vegetative stage before flowering. Floral longevity of pollinator-excluded flowers was measured in days. Mean daily air temperature at 15 cm above ground was measured during the life span of each flower.Exp_longevity.csvSoil moisture at different altitudes in the central Chilean AndesPoint soil moisture readings on three Andean sites HIGH (3075 m.a.s.l.), MID (2650 m.a.s.l.), LOW (2350 m.a.s.l.) over the 2014-2015 Austral summer obtained with a TDR.Soil_Moisture.csvFlower dry weight of Rhodolirium montanum in Central Chilean AndesDry weights in milligrams of 25 fresh haphazardly selected flowers (1 per genet, including the tepals and ovary) per site: HIGH (3075 m a.s.l), MID (2650 m a.s.l.), LOW (2350 m a.s.l.).flower_weight.csvPotential flower longevity of the alpine Rhodolirium montanumData collected during two consecutive austral summers (Yr 1: 2013-2014; Yr 2: 2014-2015) at three site over an altitudinal transect in the Andes of central Chile. Pollinator-excluded flowers were observed daily during the entire flowering season. Flower longevity was defined as the number of days perianth remain open. Mean daily air temperature at 15 cm and 1.5 m above ground was measured for each flower during their life span.Obs_Longevity.csv