A common garden study of six distinct Fremont cottonwood populations across an elevation gradient and covering a range of genetic variation to determine responses to different heat conditions. The common gardens had mean annual temperatures of 11, 17, and 23°C and all received regular watering throughout the growing season. Results found that all genotypes in the hottest garden produced comparatively small leaves that decomposed quickly and supported lower abundances of aquatic invertebrates, whereas the same genotypes in the coldest garden produced litter with distinct morphologies and decomposition rates.
Jeplawy, J.R., Cooper, H.F., Marks, J., Lindroth, R.L., Andrews, M.I., Compson, Z.G., Gehring, C., Hultine, K.R., Grady, K., Whitham, T.G. and Allan, G.J., 2021. Plastic responses to hot temperatures homogenize riparian leaf litter, speed decomposition, and reduce detritivores. Ecology, 102(10), p.e03461.