Seed Mass and Dispersal Capacity in Wind-Dispersed Diaspores

Greene, David F.; Johnson, Edward A.

doi:10.2307/3545096

Cited by 224 publications

(191 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(31 reference statements)

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“…B 281: 20140675 larger seeds generally produced fleshy fruits. Anemochorous species may experience stronger constraints on maximum seed size owing to the aerodynamics of wind dispersal [12], while in fleshy-fruited species (and zoochorous species in general) seed size may be less tightly constrained. Birds often display size increases on islands and size coupling between fruits and frugivores is common [39,40].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The repeated evolution of large seeds on islands

Kavanagh

Burns

2014

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Several plant traits are known to evolve in predictable ways on islands. For example, herbaceous species often evolve to become woody and species frequently evolve larger leaves, regardless of growth form. However, our understanding of how seed sizes might evolve on islands lags far behind other plant traits. Here, we conduct the first test for macroevolutionary patterns of seed size on islands. We tested for differences in seed size between 40 island-mainland taxonomic pairings from four island groups surrounding New Zealand. Seed size data were collected in the field and then augmented by published seed descriptions to produce a more comprehensive dataset. Seed sizes of insular plants were consistently larger than mainland relatives, even after accounting for differences in growth form, dispersal mode and evolutionary history. Selection may favour seed size increases on islands to reduce dispersibility, as longdistance dispersal may result in propagule mortality at sea. Alternatively, larger seeds tend to generate larger seedlings, which are more likely to establish and outcompete neighbours. Our results indicate there is a general tendency for the evolution of large seeds on islands, but the mechanisms responsible for this evolutionary pathway have yet to be fully resolved.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Selection acting to increase seed size may reduce wind dispersal distances in anemochorous species [12]. The same may be true for fleshy-fruited plants, although tests for directional changes in seed size of fleshy-fruited species have yet to be conducted.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The repeated evolution of large seeds on islands

Kavanagh

Burns

2014

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…Another axis might concern response to disturbance. Here opinion is more divided, although some combination of life history and number, size and dispersal capacity of seeds seems most likely to prevail (Greene & Johnson, 1993 ;Willson, 1993 ;van Dorp et al, 1996 ;Askew et al, 1997).…”

Section: mentioning

confidence: 99%

Specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content as alternative predictors of plant strategies

1999

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A key element of most recently proposed plant strategy schemes is an axis of resource capture, usage and availability. In the search for a simple, robust plant trait (or traits) that will allow plants to be located on this axis, specific leaf area is one of the leading contenders. Using a large new unpublished database, we examine the variability of specific leaf area and other leaf traits, the relationships between them, and their ability to predict position on the resource use axis. Specific leaf area is found to suffer from a number of drawbacks ; it is both very variable between replicates and much influenced by leaf thickness. Leaf dry-matter content (sometimes referred to as tissue density) is much less variable, largely independent of leaf thickness and a better predictor of location on an axis of resource capture, usage and availability. However, it is not clear how useful dry matter content will be outside northwest Europe, and in particular in dry climates with many succulents.

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“…This is not surprising because previous studies showed that an increase in diaspore size and weight reduced abiotic dispersal (Greene and Johnson, 1993;Monty et al, 2008).…”

Section: Dispersal Steps and Agents -mentioning

confidence: 80%

Diaspore heteromorphism in the invasive Bromus tectorum L. (Poaceae): Sterile florets increase dispersal propensity and distance

Monty

Maebe

Mahy

et al. 2016

Flora

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Please cite this article as: Monty, Arnaud, Maebe, Laura, Mahy, Grégory, Brown, Cynthia S., Diaspore heteromorphism in the invasive Bromus tectorum L.(Poaceae): sterile florets increase dispersal propensity and distance.Flora http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.flora. 2016.06.004 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.  Bromus tectorum is a troublesome invasive grass in North America.  The sterility of terminal florets induces a diaspore heteromorphism.  Dispersal of diaspores with and without sterile florets attached was investigated.  Primary and secondary dispersal by biotic and abiotic agents were considered.  Across the study, diaspores with sterile florets were better dispersers. 2 AbstractWithin a species, the distance travelled by a particular diaspore depends on its morphology. In Poaceae, the presence of terminal sterile florets can lead to diaspore heteromorphism, which may influence dispersal. We tested the hypothesis that the presence of sterile florets favored dispersal in Bromus tectorum L., an invasive grass in the Western US.We used field and controlled experiments to study the dispersal of caryopses with and without sterile florets attached (respectively complex and simple diaspores), as well as pieces of inflorescence that detached from the mother plants. We considered both primary and secondary dispersal, as well as abiotic and biotic dispersal agents. The distance travelled by the diaspores and their attachment to animal fur were related to the presence and number of sterile florets.Abiotic agents moved diaspores over relatively short distances, both in terms of primary and secondary dispersal. A significant proportion of diaspores attached to fur, suggesting a potential for dispersal over longdistances. Complex diaspores were better dispersers than simple ones (and pieces of inflorescence), and this pattern was consistent across the study. However, among complex diaspores, the number of sterile florets had little or no influence.Considering primary and secondary dispersal by abiotic and biotic agents provided a general picture of the dispersal ecology of B. tectorum. For all the dispersal steps and dispersal agents we studied, the presence of sterile florets favored dispersal. These results highlight the functional significance of diaspore heteromorphism induced by floret sterility in the dispersal of Poaceae.

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Seed Mass and Dispersal Capacity in Wind-Dispersed Diaspores

Cited by 224 publications

References 21 publications

The repeated evolution of large seeds on islands

The repeated evolution of large seeds on islands

Specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content as alternative predictors of plant strategies

Diaspore heteromorphism in the invasive Bromus tectorum L. (Poaceae): Sterile florets increase dispersal propensity and distance

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