Vascular plants of the Médanos de Samalayuca natural protected area, Chihuahua, Mexico

Background: Inland sand dunes are expanding and increasing mobility. Knowledge on the plants growing on them is keystone for their management. One of the largest inland dune systems in Mexico is the Médanos de Samalayuca area. Questions: How many and which species of vascular plants are in Samalayuca? Which is the distribution pattern of that flora? Are there endemisms? Are there species of conservation concern? Studied species: Vascular plants. Study site and dates: Médanos de Samalayuca protected area, northern Chihuahua, Mexico; 2017-2022. Methods: A database was generated based on literature, electronic sources, herbarium specimens, photographing, and collection and identification of materials. Distribution, endemism level and conservation status were recorded. Results: The updated checklist of vascular plants for Samalayuca includes 400 species of 246 genera and 65 families. Most species grow in Mixed desert scrub and in Sand dune vegetation. Almost a half are restricted to the Megamexico 1 region, followed by the North American element. One species is Threatened according to the Mexican Official Norm NOM-059, while two are Vulnerable and one is Almost threatened according to the IUCN. Ribes fontinale appears to be extinct. Conclusions: Considering the arid, extreme climate and the low stability of the psammophilous vegetation, the flora of Samalayuca is richer than expected. The area is home to regional and local endemics. The data and information generated here is baseline for further management programs and action planning to protect these fragile ecosystems and the adjacent communities

Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale

Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale

Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale