Eschscholzia californica shows evidence of fitness based local and home-site advantage regardless of morphological patterns

Authors

Soren A. Biel, Cal Poly HumboldtFollow
Sage Brislen, Cal Poly HumboldtFollow
Ernesto Chaves-Velasco, Cal Poly HumboldtFollow
Shannon Still, Cal Poly HumboldtFollow
Kerry Byrne, Cal Poly HumboldtFollow
Justin Luong, Cal Poly HumboldtFollow

Publication Date

2025

College

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Document Type

Poster

Description

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), the state flower, varies in lifespan and phenotype across its range. It's widely used in restoration, yet local adaptation is poorly understood. We conducted two common garden studies in coastal and inland California using seeds from seven locations. After greenhouse germination, plants were grown in Santa Cruz and Davis. We measured survival, growth, reproduction, and leaf traits. Results show evidence of local adaptation in fitness (survival and seed production), though not always in morphology. This suggests local seed sourcing is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity in restoration amid climate change.