Seed predation increases from the Arctic to the Equator and from high to low elevations

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 5(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2019

Species interactions have long been predicted to increase in intensity toward the tropics and low elevations because of gradients climate, productivity, or biodiversity. Despite their importance for understanding global ecological evolutionary processes, plant-animal interaction are particularly difficult test systematically across large geographic gradients, evidence from smaller, disparate studies is inconclusive. By measuring postdispersal seed predation using 6995 standardized depots along 18 mountains Pacific cordillera, we found that increases by 17% Arctic Equator 4000 meters above sea level level. Clines total predation, likely driven invertebrates, were consistent treeline ecotones within continuous forest better explained climate seasonality than biodiversity, latitude. These results suggest species play predictably greater roles tropical, lowland, other less seasonal ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Phylogenetic relatedness mediates persistence and density of soil seed banks

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 108(5), P. 2121 - 2131

Published: May 25, 2020

Abstract Soil seed banks can strongly affect survival and expansion of plant populations by spreading mortality risks distributing genetic diversity through time. Knowledge the main factors regulating ability seeds to persist in soil beyond first germination season is however limited. While morphological physiological traits, degree environmental uncertainty are considered important shaping banking strategies plants, global assessments that explicitly account for phylogenetic relatedness lacking. Using a bank database comprising data 2,350 angiosperms, we examined extent which two properties, i.e. type (transient vs. persistent) density viable banks, determined relatedness. We then tested correlations between these properties with mass dormancy (dormant non‐dormant), contribution relative climatic habitat‐related variables properties. found significant signal density, providing evidence form persistent not randomly distributed across phylogeny. was phylogenetically correlated production dormant smaller seeds, per se were poor predictors persistence. Interestingly, (mainly disturbance canopy openness) but climate significantly plants banks. Synthesis . Our study show plays an role explaining angiosperms how relate early life‐history variables. These findings represent starting point assess generality as bet‐hedging strategy unpredictable environments provide insights into might respond changes.

Language: Английский

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Cracking the case: Seed traits and phylogeny predict time to germination in prairie restoration species

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 8(11), P. 5551 - 5562

Published: May 8, 2018

Abstract Traits are important for understanding how plant communities assemble and function, providing a common currency studying ecological processes across species, locations, habitat types. However, the majority of studies relating species traits to community assembly rely upon vegetative mature plants. Seed traits, which understudied relative whole‐plant key communities. This is particularly true restored communities, typically started de novo from seed, making seed germination critical first step in an early filter establishment. We experimentally tested effects (mass, shape, embryo size ratio) phylogeny on response 32 commonly used prairie grassland restoration Midwestern USA , analyzing data using time‐to‐event (survival) analysis. As also influenced by dormancy, dormancy break treatments employed restoration, we two pretreatments (cold stratification gibberellic acid application) time germination. phylogeny, all affected Of tested, variables related shape (height variance) best predicted response, with high‐variance (i.e., pointier narrower) seeds germinating faster. Phylogenetic position (the location phylogenetic tree other species) was predictor that is, closely showed similar patterns despite fact measured signal, therefore provided residual information not already captured traits. position, were predictors suite restoration. Shape especially important, while mass, often only trait assembly, strong timing. These findings illustrate importance rarely incorporated into functional can be advance practice guiding planning mix design.

Language: Английский

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Selecting native plants for restoration using rapid screening for adaptive traits: methods and outcomes in a Great Basin case study

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 29(4)

Published: Aug. 5, 2020

Partnerships between researchers and restoration practitioners can improve outcomes, which is especially important for in challenging settings. Here, we describe one such partnership the Great Basin, United States, used trait‐based methods practitioner knowledge to identify most promising seed sources restoration. Managers this region either use widely available commercial seeds, are often sourced from far outside seeding area, or take extra steps locally collected seeds. We asked whether local, wild‐collected seeds of two native plants, Elymus elymoides Poa secunda , had traits more conducive seedling establishment degraded sites, relative sources. Seeds were four remnant populations within lands managed by Winnemucca Bureau Land Management. Collections screened characteristics previously identified as associated with increased performance Basin systems, provide a detailed methodology these measurements. Relative beneficial establishment, including phenology, root allocation, form, overall size that suggest would be likely establish better than Using phenotypic criteria, wild selected agronomic production increase quantities restoration, field trials ongoing using field‐increased These results support collaborative efforts identify, collect, screen, availability local success.

Language: Английский

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Water the odds? Spring rainfall and emergence‐related seed traits drive plant recruitment

Oikos, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 130(10), P. 1665 - 1678

Published: Aug. 27, 2021

Recruitment of new individuals from seed is a critical component plant community assembly and reassembly, especially in the context ecosystem disturbance recovery. While frameworks typically aim to predict how communities will be filtered on basis traits influencing established responses environment, more complex: seeds (affected by dormancy germination function) establishing plants root leaf can both influence outcomes within single growing season. This creates potential role for diverse set seedling traits, environmental variability shorter timescales (e.g. seasonal versus annual dynamics), than are considered. We followed thousands individual comprising eleven herbaceous grassland species through first season, seeking uncover (precipitation amount timing) trait‐based filters emergence survival assembling communities. saw biggest recruitment limitation when failed emerge, driven independently dry spring interspecific variation mass (positive effect) (negative effect). Seedling rates were higher emergence, with weaker predictive roles like allocation under drought), lesser impacts summer rainfall soil moisture survival. Interestingly, most trait relationships not conditional rainfall, suggesting water‐independent mechanisms their respective advantages. Although complex process, our findings suggest that useful way anticipate outcomes, particularly if dynamic early‐stage conditions rainfall) attributes dormancy) receive greater attention. Given importance turnover global change land management efforts, this an area ripe continued expansion applied ecology.

Language: Английский

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Germination Data Analysis by Time-to-Event Approaches

Plants, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 9(5), P. 617 - 617

Published: May 12, 2020

Germination data are analyzed by several methods, which can be mainly classified as germination indexes and traditional regression techniques to fit non-linear parametric functions the temporal sequence of cumulative germination. However, due nature data, often different from other biological abovementioned methods may present some limits, especially when ungerminated seeds at end an experiment. A class that could allow addressing these issues is represented so-called "time-to-event analysis", better known in scientific fields "survival analysis" or "reliability analysis". There relatively little literature about application reviews dealt only with parts possible approaches such either non-parametric semi-parametric ones. The study aims give a contribution knowledge reliability assessing all main same provided sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cohorts. results obtained confirmed although advantages disadvantages, they generally represent valuable tool analyze providing parameters whose usefulness depends on purpose research.

Language: Английский

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Elevation filters seed traits and germination strategies in the eastern Tibetan Plateau

Ecography, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 44(2), P. 242 - 254

Published: Nov. 17, 2020

Seeds are the colonizing propagules for many plants and may therefore contribute to filtering of species during process colonization community assembly. Environmental seed traits occur among influence composition, or within environmental breadth that a given inhabits. To test evidence such traits, we measured morphological germination seeds 408 angiosperm collected across an elevational gradient in eastern Tibetan Plateau grasslands. We tested at level, as well 22 those occurred different elevations, order whether within‐species variation reflected among‐species patterns. Elevational patterning both morphology germination. were smaller, more elongated had higher surface area:volume ratio shorter times elevation. Seed was associated with smaller germinated faster, leading earlier from high Within species, observed several but differed how distributed These results suggest taxonomic differences composition plant communities, be variably selected by elevation species.

Language: Английский

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Effects of the phylogeny and seed traits on germination of Polygonaceae species from Subtropical Forest, Southeast China

Botany, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 103, P. 1 - 10

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Seed germination directly influences seeding survival. Phylogenetically related species often exhibit similar traits; however, several environmental factors also play important roles in determining germination. In this study, we tested inter-specific variability seeds and investigated relations between responses, seed morphology, phylogenetic relatedness 9 of Polygonaceae. dimensions (length, width, height) were examined using a Stereo Microscope equipped with microscope camera. Water permeability was assessed by measuring the mass three replicates 25 seeds. Seeds at five different alternating temperature regimes: 5/10, 10/20, 20/30, 25/35, 35/40 °C under two conditions: 24 h darkness (dark treatment) 12 light/12 (light light regimes. The findings highlighted significant differences water uptake, behavior. Some exhibited physiological dormancy while other responded readily to temperature. size positively correlated performance, morphology distance matrix not distances. These suggest that phylogeny is an factor role traits, cues more intense evolution traits

Language: Английский

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Drivers of phenological transitions in the seedling life stage

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

Abstract Plant functional ecology research has primarily focused on juvenile and adult plants even though regeneration from seed can be the most consequential life‐history bottleneck with cascading influence later stages of growth reproduction. Understandings relationships among phenology, morphology growth‐related traits have improved our knowledge plant strategies adaptive responses to changing climate. However, whether phenological morpho‐physiological exist during is unknown. We also lack understanding relative importance these compared those phenology other factors like phylogeny, geographic location a species native or non‐native location. To better understand gaps in knowledge, we evaluated three (days germination, first third true leaves) six (seed mass, rate, root elongation root: shoot ratio, specific leaf area seedling C:N) associated for 131 forb globally distributed grasslands. Morpho‐physiological showed several significant correlations traits. Boosted regression trees revealed that their predicting varied (34%–51%). Interestingly, was comparable phylogeny (36%–46%). In general, faster phenologies produced seedlings grew faster. The strongest at germination (29%) decreased (8%–15%) stages. Native versus origin had little no impact (0%–2%) phenology. Strong between days indicate signatures local adaptation earliest life Similar trait values forbs imply matching may essential establishment. While associations not been previously recognized, results suggest are complex variable across regeneration. Better variation help capture shifts ongoing climate change used develop novel approaches seed‐based restoration. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Repeatability and intraclass correlations from time-to-event data: towards a standardized approach

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 222, P. 123102 - 123102

Published: Feb. 18, 2025

Language: Английский

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