Phylogenetic relationship and soil salinity shape intraspecific trait variability of Phragmites australis in the Yellow River Delta

Soil salinization has been one of the main causes ecosystem degradation in many estuarine wetlands under global climate changes, but it remains unclear how shifts phenotypic variability and genetic diversity foundation plant species wetlands. To reveal effects on natural populations species, we investigated intraspecific variation Phragmites australis using five functional traits (shoot height, leaf length, panicle seed number per panicle, mass seed) ten microsatellite markers sites across Yellow River Delta. The salinity was indicated by electrical conductivity, reproductive strategy estimated ratio length to shoot height. linear models showed that had significantly negative correlations soil salinity, while a positive correlation salinity. However, there were no significant relationships between or within high all ( He > 0.5), differentiation very weak F ST from 0.0074 0.0212), which suggested strong flow among populations. Genetic structure analyses two phylogenetic groups P. distributed four surveyed Our study also found signals seed, suggesting substantial role relationship (technically, neutral relatedness) salt adaptation . provides novel insight into adaptative responses individual population genetics offers implications for ecological restoration adaptive management saline lands