Spreading recruitment over time to cope with environmental variability

Braza, R. D.; García, María Begoña Villar

doi:10.1007/s11258-010-9821-y

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Previous studies in P. coronopus had already suggested a key role of recruitment (Waite 1984, Braza andGarcı´a 2011). Our analyses of sensitivities and contributions showed that, irrespective of the spatial scale of comparison, recruitment was indeed the most relevant vital rate for stochastic population growth.…”

Section: Variation In Population Dynamics Across Spatial Scalessupporting

confidence: 61%

“…In this study, we analyze intraspecific demographic variation in the widespread short-lived herb Plantago coronopus, and apply SLTRE to assess the effects of differences in vital rates between and within distinct regions of its distribution. Previous studies have shown that populations of P. coronopus differ substantially in life history and demography, both at local (Waite and Hutchings 1982, Braza et al 2010, Braza and Garcı´a 2011 and continental scales . Across the species' latitudinal gradient, for example, central populations showed higher fecundity, whereas northern peripheral populations presented higher recruitment ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variation in stochastic demography between and within central and peripheral regions in a widespread short‐lived herb

Villellas

Morris

García

2013

Ecology

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Analyzing intraspecific variation in population dynamics in relation to environmental factors is crucial to understand the current and future distributions of plant species. Across ranges, peripheral populations are often expected to show lower and more temporally variable vital rates than central populations, although it remains unclear how much any differences in vital rates actually contribute to differences in population growth rates. Moreover, few demographic studies accounting for environmental stochasticity have been carried out both at continental and regional scales. In this study we calculated stochastic growth rates in five central and six northern peripheral populations of the widespread shortlived herb Plantago coronopus along the Atlantic Coast in Europe. To evaluate at two spatial scales how mean values and variability of vital rates (i.e., fecundity, recruitment, survival, growth, and shrinkage) contributed to the differences in stochastic growth rates, we performed Stochastic Life Table Response Experiment (SLTRE) analyses between and within central and peripheral regions. Additionally, we searched for correlations between vital rate contributions and local environmental conditions. Lower mean values and greater variability for some vital rates in peripheral than in central populations had an overall negative but nonsignificant effect on the stochastic growth rates in the periphery. Different life cycle components accounted for differences in population growth depending on spatial scale, although recruitment was the vital rate with the highest influence both between and within regions. Interestingly, the same pattern of differentiation among populations was found within central and peripheral areas: in both regions, one group of populations displayed positive contributions of growth and shrinkage and negative contributions of recruitment and survival; the opposite pattern was found in the remaining populations. These differences in vital rate contributions among populations within regions were correlated with precipitation regime, whereas at the continental scale, differences in contribution patterns were related to temperature. Altogether, our results show how populations of P. coronopus exhibit life cycle differences that may enable the species to persist in locations with widely varying environmental conditions. This demographic flexibility may help to explain the success of widespread plants across large and heterogeneous ranges.

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Section: Variation In Population Dynamics Across Spatial Scalessupporting

confidence: 61%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in stochastic demography between and within central and peripheral regions in a widespread short‐lived herb

Villellas

Morris

García

2013

Ecology

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“…Given the frequent and severe drought and temperature stress conditions in Mediterranean environments and sustained biotic stress pressure, the lack of foliage robustness can be a significant limitation to survival of juvenile plants and can explain why successful seedling establishment in Mediterranean conditions can occur only in favourable years with moderate stress conditions (Braza & García, ; Prévosto, Gavinet, Ripert, & Fernandez, ). Therefore, we suggest that the main advantage of juvenile needles is more effective photosynthesis, which provides the young seedling with necessary carbon building blocks for establishing extensive root systems and later on for development of more durable adult needles which are more resistant to mechanical stress and more tolerant to drought.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural controls on photosynthetic capacity through juvenile‐to‐adult transition and needle ageing in Mediterranean pines

2018

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Needle photosynthetic potentials strongly vary among primary (juvenile) and secondary (adult) needles (heteroblasty) in Pinus species, but there is limited understanding of the underlying structural, diffusional and chemical controls. We studied differences in needle photosynthetic characteristics among current‐year juvenile and adult needles and among different‐aged adult needles in Mediterranean pines Pinus halepensis Mill., P. pinea L. and P. nigra J. F. Arnold subsp. salzmannii (Dunal) Franco, hypothesizing that needle anatomical modifications upon juvenile‐to‐adult transition lead to reduced photosynthetic capacity due to greater limitation of photosynthesis by mesophyll conductance and due to an increase in the share of support tissues at the expense of photosynthetic tissues. We also hypothesized that such alterations occur with needle ageing, but to a lower degree. Photosynthetic capacity per dry mass was 2.4‐ to 2.7‐fold higher in juvenile needles, and this was associated with 3.4‐ to 3.7‐fold greater mesophyll diffusion conductance, 2‐ to 2.5‐fold greater maximum carboxylase activity of Rubisco (Vcmax) and 2.2‐ to 3‐fold greater capacity for photosynthetic electron transport (Jmax). The latter differences were driven by modifications in mesophyll volume fraction and changes in the share of nitrogen between structural and photosynthetic functions. Analogous changes in photosynthetic characteristics occurred with needle ageing, but their extent was less. These results indicate that conifer foliage photosynthetic machinery undergoes a profound change from a fast return strategy in juveniles to slow return stress‐resistant strategy in adults and that this strategy shift is driven by modifications in foliage biomass investments in support and photosynthetic functions as well as by varying mesophyll diffusional controls on photosynthesis. Changes in needle morphophysiotype during tree and needle ageing need consideration in predicting changes in tree photosynthetic potentials through tree ontogeny and during and among growing seasons. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.13087/suppinfo is available for this article.

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“…Each fruit produces two types of seeds in variable number: up to four large, basal seeds, and one or no small apical seeds. Basal seeds further differentiate morphologically and functionally from apical ones, in possessing a mucilaginous coat that facilitates water absorption (Dowling 1933) and showing faster and higher germination rates (Braza and García 2011). Thus, basal seeds seem to be better adapted to habitats with low water or resources supply.…”

Section: Species and Populations Studiedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergence between phenotypic and genetic variation within populations of a common herb across Europe

et al. 2014

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Citation: Villellas, J., R. Berjano, A. Terrab, and M. B. Garcia. 2014. Divergence between phenotypic and genetic variation within populations of a common herb across Europe. Ecosphere 5(5):56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES13-00291.1Abstract. Analyzing the pattern and causes of phenotypic and genetic variation within and among populations might help to understand life history variability in plants, and to predict their responses to changing environmental conditions. Here we compare phenotypic variation and genetic diversity of the widespread herb Plantago coronopus across Europe, and evaluate their relationship with environmental and geographical factors. Genetic diversity was estimated in 18 populations from molecular markers with AFLP. Phenotypic variation was measured in a subset of 11 populations on six life history traits (plant size, plant growth, fecundity, seed mass, mucilage production and ratio between two functionally different seed morphs). To account for ecological and geographical correlates, we estimated variability in local temperature, precipitation and intraspecific competition, and accounted for the central vs. peripheral position of populations. Phenotypic variation and genetic diversity were not significantly correlated within populations throughout the species' range. Phenotypic variation was positively linked to precipitation variability, whereas genetic diversity was correlated with the position of populations, suggesting that both types of variation are shaped by different processes. Precipitation seems to have acted as a selective agent for variation within populations in most life history traits, whereas the species' post-glacial demographic history has likely reduced genetic diversity in northern peripheral populations with respect to central ones. The positive association between precipitation variability and phenotypic variation also suggests that plant populations may have higher adaptive potential in ecologically variable rather than stable environments. Our study offers an additional criterion when predicting the future performance of species under environmental changes.

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Spreading recruitment over time to cope with environmental variability

Cited by 15 publications

References 38 publications

Variation in stochastic demography between and within central and peripheral regions in a widespread short‐lived herb

Variation in stochastic demography between and within central and peripheral regions in a widespread short‐lived herb

Structural controls on photosynthetic capacity through juvenile‐to‐adult transition and needle ageing in Mediterranean pines

Divergence between phenotypic and genetic variation within populations of a common herb across Europe

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