CommongardenExperimenten

CommongardenExperimenten, or common garden experiments, are a methodological approach used in ecology and evolutionary biology to disentangle genetic from environmental influences on phenotype. In these studies, individuals from multiple populations or genotypes are raised in a shared, standardized environment so that observed trait differences reflect genetic differences rather than local environmental conditions.

Design and execution typically involve selecting populations, collecting or propagating individuals, and establishing them in a controlled setting with uniform soil, light, temperature, and resource availability. Researchers measure traits such as growth rate, morphology, phenology, reproductive timing, and survival, usually with replication and randomized placement to minimize microenvironment bias. Genetic analyses may accompany phenotypic measurements to strengthen inferences.

Interpretation hinges on whether population differences persist in the common environment. If differences remain, this supports genetic differentiation or local adaptation. If differences diminish or disappear, phenotypic variation in the wild is largely due to environmental effects or plasticity. The approach can also inform estimates of heritability and genotype-by-environment interactions.

History and use extend to the early 20th century, with widespread application in plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates to study adaptation, plasticity, and fitness across environments. Common garden experiments are often used alongside reciprocal transplant designs to separate local adaptation from environmental effects and to investigate how organisms may respond to changing conditions.

Limitations include the loss of native ecological interactions and potential lab or garden-specific selection pressures. Maternal effects, epigenetic influences, and practical constraints such as space and resources can also shape outcomes.