Do Big Plants Have Big Seeds?

Thompson, Krista A.; Rabinowitz, D.

doi:10.1086/284947

Cited by 114 publications

(92 citation statements)

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“…The regressions and sign tests indicated no signi®cant relationship between seed mass and tree height (Table 3) in agreement with other studies of trees (Hodgson and Mackey 1986; Thompson and Rabinowitz 1989;Leishman and Westoby 1992). Therefore, tree height was not taken into account in making contrasts.…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 89%

Seed size and shade-tolerance: a comparative analysis of North American temperate trees

Hewitt

1998

Oecologia

121

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Large seed size is a trait associated with plant species of mature, closed habitats, and is thought to supply an ample nutrient reserve necessary for seedling establishment. While this relationship has been shown for annuals and short-lived perennials, it is poorly documented for trees. A comparative method was used to determine whether North American temperate tree species which typically establish in shady conditions have larger seeds than those requiring more open conditions. Both angiosperms (hardwoods) and gymnosperms (conifers) were involved in the study. A significant relationship was found between large seed mass and shade-tolerance for angiosperms, but not for gymnosperms. These contrasting results seem to relate to unique evolutionary opportunities or constraints in different taxa. The absence of a relationship for gymnosperms is discussed in terms of character traits which might prevent seed size selection in response to shade. The finding for angiosperms underlines the importance of the regeneration niche in promoting coexistence among temperate hardwood species through seed size differentiation.

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Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 89%

Seed size and shade-tolerance: a comparative analysis of North American temperate trees

Hewitt

1998

Oecologia

121

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“…Seed traits may be associated with vegetative traits (Primack 1987;Thompson & Rabinowitz 1989;Leishman et al 1995), and the variability of the latter may be also related to the environmental conditions. To account for this potentially confounding effect, our study also included 5 vegetative traits (plant size, growth form, clonality, longevity and onset of flowering) whose importance in Mediterranean grasslands has been proven in other studies (Montalvo et al 1991;Fernández Ales et al 1993;Stemberg et al 2000).…”

Section: Seed and Vegetative Plant Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance and habitat segregation in Mediterranean grassland species: the importance of seed weight

Azcárate

Sánchez

Arqueros

et al. 2002

J Vegetation Science

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Abstract. We analysed the relationship between seed txaits (weight, shape and dispersal structures) and the abundance and habitat segregation of Mediterranean grassland species. To take into account possible correlations with other plant traits, the study also includes 5 vegetative traits (growth form, plant longevity, clonality, onset of flowering and plant size) of commonly accepted functional importance. Data were recorded for 85 species from dehesa grasslands in central Spain. Species abundance was measured in upper (dry and less productive, high stress) and lower (moist and more productive, low stress) slope zones in the same área. Habitat segregation was estimated using an index based on the relative frequencies of species in upper and lower slope zones. Múltiple regression models were fitted using species, as well as phylogenetically independent contrasts, as data points. Annual small-seeded species without specialised dispersal structures are over-represented in dehesa grasslands. Abundance was negatively related to seed weight in upper slope zones. None of the recorded plant traits were related to abundance in the lower slope zones. Habitat segregation was mainly related to seed weight, but also to some vegetative traits. Annual, early flowering and smallseeded species were relatively more abundant in the upper than the lower slope zones. This pattem is independent of phylogeny. Our results suggest that in dry Mediterranean grasslands, abundance of many species is determined by dispersal (production of numerous small seeds) rather than by competitive ability.

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“…Nevertheless, selection seems to be operative for seed characteristics for the maintenance of populations in a wide range of environment as argued by Thompson and Rabinowitz (1989). The greater seed number and size allow the individuals better chances of survival and competitive ability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…al., 2003). The species of diverse habitats may show several modifications of various morphological traits (Thompson, 1990, Thompson andRabinowitz, 1989). This differentiation is usually pertinent to habitat conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial pattern of variation in populations of Acacia nilotica in semi-arid environment

Mahmood

Ahmed

Hussain³

et al. 2005

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Variability among populations was analyzed in five provenances of Acacia nilotica from spatially variable habitats. Populations of A. nilotica developed in response to their habitat conditions. The level of variability was significantly high among the populations. Phenotypic variability was extremely high for leaf and stipular spine characteristics. The nature of morphological variability for vegetative traits appeared environmentally controlled. The differentiation of leaf and stipular spine expression seems to have an adaptive significance for the species in terms of water economy. Although, seed and pod characteristics are genetically controlled showing a lower proportion of variability but these traits supported r and k-selection that may allow the species to survive under a wide array of contrasting habitats. The study suggested that populations of A. nilotica are differentiated in relation to the heterogeneity of environment. These populations became adapted to their habitat through the variability of morphological expressions. The morphologically differentiated populations of the species had allowed them to maintain themselves in a wide array of environmental situations enabling A. nilotica to occupy ample ecological ranges.

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Do Big Plants Have Big Seeds?

Cited by 114 publications

References 0 publications

Seed size and shade-tolerance: a comparative analysis of North American temperate trees

Seed size and shade-tolerance: a comparative analysis of North American temperate trees

Abundance and habitat segregation in Mediterranean grassland species: the importance of seed weight

Spatial pattern of variation in populations of Acacia nilotica in semi-arid environment

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