Arid environments select for larger seeds in pines (Pinus spp.)

Salazar‐Tortosa, Diego; Castro, Jorge; Saladin, Bianca; Zimmermann, Niklaus E.; Casas, Rafael Rubio de

doi:10.1007/s10682-019-10016-1

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Likewise, we failed to detect any relationship between seed dormancy and mass, a somewhat surprising result, as larger seed size could be an alternative mechanism to dormancy to cope with unfavorable (dry) spells (Rubio de Casas et al 2017, Salazar-Tortosa et al 2020 Results for the phylogenetic logistic regression to evaluate the effect of seed functional traits and phylogeny on seed dormancy; seed dormancy was considered a binary variable (0 = non-dormant; 1 = dormant), dispersal syndrome had three states (anemochory, autochory, zoochory), dispersal seasons were considered to be six 2-month periods: onset rainy = November/December, mid-rainy = January/ February, rainy-to-dry season transition = March/April, onset dry = May/June, mid-dry = July/August, dry-to-rainy season transition = September/October. The degree of phylogenetic correlation in the data was a = 1.5.…”

Section: The Evolutionary Ecology Of Seed Dormancy In the Cerradomentioning

confidence: 77%

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Many roads to success: different combinations of life‐history traits provide accurate germination timing in seasonally dry environments

Escobar

Casas

Morellato

2021

Oikos

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Germination timing is determined by several plant life-history traits. Seed dormancy regulates the time and place of early plant development and spreads recruitment risks over time. Dispersal phenology and syndrome can influence germination timing and buffer spatial heterogeneity. The ecological requirements for germination (the germination niche) can also influence when and where germination takes place. To date, the relative importance of each of these four traits to ensure the phenological adaptation of individual species in diverse communities remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the functional interactions among them and their relevance in heterogenous, seasonally dry environments.We collected seed dispersal phenology and syndrome for 82 species of the Brazilian savanna (cerrado) and evaluated the dormancy and germination behavior of the seeds of every taxon. Based on these data, we developed two new ecological indexes to estimate the likelihood of a non-dormant seed to germinate upon dispersal (∆G) and the overall variability of germination through time (σT). We then evaluated the influence of each trait on germination timing within a phylogenetically controlled framework.Our results show that even though germination is concentrated at the beginning of the rainy season, seed dispersal takes place year-round. Non-dormant seeds released during the dry season were characterized by high ∆G values that delayed their germination until the onset of the favorable season. Simultaneously, seed dormancy and spatial dispersal (i.e., the two risk-reduction mechanisms) were negatively correlated

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: The Evolutionary Ecology Of Seed Dormancy In the Cerradomentioning

confidence: 77%

Many roads to success: different combinations of life‐history traits provide accurate germination timing in seasonally dry environments

Escobar

Casas

Morellato

2021

Oikos

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“…Our finding of an among‐species competition–colonisation trade‐off supports and quantifies previously held theories about species life histories and is indicative of alternative strategies within wind‐dispersed pines whereby, in high‐light conditions, larger‐seeded species have high establishment success and seedling biomass, while smaller‐seeded species have high dispersal and seedling RGR. The comparatively high tolerance of seedlings from larger‐seeded species to environmental stress, particularly drought, is thought to be advantageous in more arid habitats (Salazar‐Tortosa et al., 2020), while the high RGR of smaller‐seeded pines has been suggested as an explanation for their greater ability to spread and colonise new open habitats compared to the larger‐seeded species (Grotkopp & Rejmánek, 2007; Grotkopp et al., 2002; Rejmánek & Richardson, 1996). One way around the constraints imposed by a trade‐off between seed mass and terminal velocity in pines is primary or secondary dispersal by animals, which can allow high dispersal distances of large seeds with reduction in investment in both the diaspore wing and the size of the cones required to house these structures (Benkman, 1995; Salazar‐Tortosa et al., 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The comparatively high tolerance of seedlings from larger-seeded species to environmental stress, particularly drought, is thought to be advantageous in more arid habitats (Salazar-Tortosa et al, 2020), while the high RGR of smaller-seeded pines has been suggested as an explanation for their greater ability to spread and colonise new open habitats compared to the larger-seeded species (Grotkopp & Rejmánek, 2007;Grotkopp et al, 2002;Rejmánek & Richardson, 1996). One way around the constraints imposed by a trade-off between seed mass and terminal velocity in pines is primary or secondary dispersal by animals, which can allow high dispersal distances of large seeds with reduction in investment in both the diaspore wing and the size of the cones required to house these structures (Benkman, 1995;Salazar-Tortosa et al, 2020). For example, P. coulteri, the largest-seeded species examined here, can be secondarily dispersed by seed-rodents in its native range (Borchet et al, while in other species animal dispersal may be the primary dispersal mechanism with the diaspore wing either completely absent (e.g.…”

Section: Strong Evidence Of An Among-species Competition-colonisation...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Competition–colonisation trade‐offs are found among but not within wind‐dispersed Pinus species

Wyse

Hulme

2022

Functional Ecology

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1. The competition-colonisation trade-off is recognised as a key mechanism for diversity maintenance, whereby weak competitors can avoid competition with stronger competitors due to their greater dispersal ability. To date, most theoretical and empirical work has focused on trade-offs among different species yet a within-species perspective is crucial to assess the scope for natural selection on competition-colonisation trade-offs.2. For six wind-dispersed Pinus species encompassing a wide range of seed masses, we examined whether within and among species there was evidence that heavier seeds typically disperse shorter distances but produce seedlings that are stronger competitors with a higher likelihood of successful establishment, under different treatment conditions.3. Within species, we found seedling establishment to be independent of diaspore terminal velocity (a measure of dispersal potential), which would maximise the variation in potential dispersal distances and locations reached by the seeds shed from a parent tree, and therefore the chances that some offspring will reach a favourable recruitment site. However, among Pinus species the likelihood of seedling emergence and survival was higher in species that produce heavier seeds with higher terminal velocity. 4. We found a marked competition-colonisation trade-off among all six species consistent with expectations from coexistence theory. In contrast, within species, there was no evidence of competition-colonisation trade-offs for any species, despite differences in the relationships between diaspore mass and terminal velocity. This is consistent with weak selection within species for a competitioncolonisation trade-off. The results suggest that within-species trade-offs do not influence the risk of invasive spread.

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“…We predicted that the freeze treatment would result in reduced plant survival and reproduction, compared to the control, due to overwinter damage to plant structures (Lubbe and Henry, 2019a, 2019b, 2020). Furthermore, we predicted that the freeze treatment would lead to fewer flowers and seeds (Inouye, 2008), but increased allocation to larger seeds (i.e., greater mass), if plants are cued by freezing stress to expect harsher environmental conditions, which may favor larger seeds (Salazar‐Tortosa et al, 2020). We predicted that the late addition treatment would delay the onset of the growing season, leading to less time for photosynthesis and lower allocation to reproduction.…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of snow on reproduction of perennial Thalictrum dioicum: Plants survive but seedlings fail to recruit with reduced snow cover

Ósvaldsson

Chesler

Burns

2022

American J of Botany

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Premise Future reductions in snow cover are expected in temperate climates, likely leading to more soil‐freezing events and damage to plant tissues. However, whether and how plants can compensate for this damage may depend on the timing of damage and on plant allocations to seed size and number. We need more information about how seed production, germination, and seedling recruitment might respond to changes in snow cover. Methods We manipulated snow cover over three seasons in a common garden experiment with four treatments: (1) “control,” where snowpack was left unmanipulated throughout the winter season; (2) “late addition,” where snowpack was experimentally increased at the end of the winter season in order to delay the onset of spring; (3) “late removal,” where snowpack was experimentally reduced at the end of the winter season in order to advance the onset of spring; and (4) “freeze,” a consistent removal treatment, where snowpack was experimentally reduced following every substantial snowfall in order to induce freeze‐thaw events in the soil. In all treatments, we measured survival, growth, reproduction, and recruitment of a native perennial herb, Thalictrum dioicum. Results Reduced snow cover minimally influenced adult survival. Instead, individuals that experienced reduced snow cover throughout the winter produced more massive seeds, whereas individuals that experienced a single snow removal at the end of the season produced less massive seeds. Seedling recruitment was lower in the removal treatments than in the control, as a result of failure to germinate in the freeze treatment and seedling mortality in the late removal treatment. Conclusions Both reduced snow cover throughout the winter and a single late snow removal in the spring reduced seedling recruitment, but for different reasons, suggesting that a holistic approach to the life cycle is needed to understand responses to shifting climates.

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Arid environments select for larger seeds in pines (Pinus spp.)

Cited by 11 publications

References 88 publications

Many roads to success: different combinations of life‐history traits provide accurate germination timing in seasonally dry environments

Many roads to success: different combinations of life‐history traits provide accurate germination timing in seasonally dry environments

Competition–colonisation trade‐offs are found among but not within wind‐dispersed Pinus species

Effects of snow on reproduction of perennial Thalictrum dioicum: Plants survive but seedlings fail to recruit with reduced snow cover

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