Reproductive effort in cotton grass tussock tundra

Abstract

Eriophorum vaginaium ssp. spifsum is a dominant plant species of undisturbed cotton grass tussock tundra in Alaska. It also quickly invades and dominates recently disturbed sites. The hypothesis tested in this research was that the success of E. vaginaium on disturbed sites might be achieved through a higher allocation of biomass to reproductive structures relative to other tundra species. Reproductive allocation of tundra plants in general also was compared with plants of the temperate zone.The results indicate that E. vaginaium is about average among the common tundra species in terms of total reproductive allocation, allocation to seeds, and the proportion of total reproductive allocation that is accounted for by viable seeds. Tundra species, on a relative basis, allocate less biomass to all reproductive structures than temperate species but not necessarily less biomass to the output of viable seeds.

Somatic Costs of Reproduction in Eight Subarctic Plant Species

“…The lower RE of four high-altitude populations is in line with previous findings of a decreasing reproductive effort with the severity of the environment (Billings and Mooney 1968, Bliss 1971, Chester and Shaver 1982. Sexual reproduction in cold environments can result in flower or fruit abortion (Chester and Shaver 1982) and/or failures in seed production due to, e.g., unfavourable weather conditions (Callaghan and Emanuelsson 1985). The lower reproductive allocation of populations at higher altitudes in our study could be related to these factors.…”

Do sexual dimorphisms in reproductive allocation and new shoot biomass increase with an increase of altitude? A case of the shrub willow Salix reinii (Salicaceae)

“…This is consistent with the fact that sexual reproduction is often small in alpine and arctic regions in comparison with the same or closely related species growing in warmer areas (Billings and Mooney, 1968;Bliss, 1971;Chester and Shaver, 1982). This is consistent with the fact that sexual reproduction is often small in alpine and arctic regions in comparison with the same or closely related species growing in warmer areas (Billings and Mooney, 1968;Bliss, 1971;Chester and Shaver, 1982).…”

Rapport des sexes, effort et succès de reproduction chez Rubus chamaemorus, plante herbacée vivace dioïque de distribution subarctique

“…4 % , Chester et Shaver 1982), soit environ 0,05 % de la biomasse totale, ce qui demeure bien infkrieur aux 15 a 30% des espkces annuelles (Ogden 1968dans Harper 1977. Comme la biomasse souterraine n'augmente pas significativement au cours d'une saison et que la proportion souterraine de la production annuelle est inftrieure B 3 % (Chester et Shaver 1982), la biomasse Cpigte donne une mesure approximative de la matikre skche fixte annuellement. Contrairement B ce qu'affirment Pritts et Hancock (1983), m&me lorsque 1'ER est tvalut sur une base annuelle, les espkces herbactes vivaces peuvent conserver un ER inftrieur B celui des annuelles.…”

“…Au moins 35% des bourgeons floraux femelles ont avortC avant la floraison et 43 % des fleurs femelles formCes n'ont pas produit de fruits (cf. 7 % , Chester et Shaver 1982). De frtquents gels nocturnes en juin 1984 ont pu causer la mort de bourgeons floraux femelles, surtout dans la muscinaie, site Cmergence prCcoce (cf.…”