Germination speed modulates priority effects: Evidence from a large-scale field study.

ABSTRACT: Priority effects, where species that arrive first influence later arriving species, are often considered in terms of seed arrival time. However, the timing of seedling emergence may play a more critical role, as this defines when plants start interacting. Further, initial seed density may also be important, allowing early-arriving species with low initial seed density to overcome seed limitation, while also potentially allowing late-arriving high-density species to overcome the disadvantage of arriving late. In this large-scale, multi-site field experiment, we manipulated species arrival and emergence timing by sowing fast- and slow-germinating meadow species in various arrival orders and seed densities across two climatically contrasting sites in Sweden. Our findings demonstrate that germ

SUBMITTER: van Steijn TLH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12830169 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature