Interaction of Eco-Evolutionary Drivers in Plant Adaptation

Dear Colleagues,

Explaining how natural selection drives evolution is a central topic in evolutionary biology. The concept of adaptive evolution dates back to

Darwin and it is generally viewed as a two-step process: variation is first generated within organisms, and variants then are screened via selection. Despite the ongoing debate regarding the extent, limits and constraints of adaptive evolution, it is considered a key concept for understanding many aspects of plant life, such as diversification, phenotypic convergence and interaction between species.

In the past, several studies have focused on plant adaptation, exploiting a wide range of approaches. In the last two decades, phylogenomics, population genomics, comparative genomics, landscape genomics and even epigenomics have offered a new framework for discussing the evidence for adaptive evolution, attempting to untangle its outcomes from those of other processes that produce similar patterns of genomic variation, such as demographic processes. On the other hand, since most plants are embedded within ecological communities of species that interact with each other and with the abiotic environment, it has become clear that ecological interactions at various levels may influence the outcome of evolution and that this outcome may in turn modify ecological processes.

This Special Issue of Plants welcomes original research papers that are

focused on the close link between ecology and adaptive evolution in plants. Contributions are expected to cover a wide variety of approaches, methods, taxonomic levels and time scales to demonstrate the interdependence between evolutionary and ecological factors in plant adaptation. Articles presenting a high-quality meta-analysis of previously published data are also welcome, provided these present new insights into the interplay between ecological and evolutionary drivers of adaptation. Review papers will not be considered for publication in this Special Issue.

Dr. Giovanni Zecca
Dr. Igor Bartish
Guest Editors

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• adaptive evolution
• adaptive divergence
• ecological drivers of evolution
• convergent evolution
• coevolution
• character displacement
• environmental adaptation
• life traits evolution