Phenotypic plasticity influences the size, shape and dynamics of the geographic distribution of an invasive plant.

ABSTRACT: Phenotypic plasticity has long been suspected to allow invasive species to expand their geographic range across large-scale environmental gradients. We tested this possibility in Australia using a continental scale survey of the invasive tree Parkinsonia aculeata (Fabaceae) in twenty-three sites distributed across four climate regions and three habitat types. Using tree-level responses, we detected a trade-off between seed mass and seed number across the moisture gradient. Individual trees plastically and reversibly produced many small seeds at dry sites or years, and few big seeds at wet sites and years. Bigger seeds were positively correlated with higher seed and seedling survival rates. The trade-off, the relation between seed mass, seed and seedling survival, and other fitness componen

SUBMITTER: Pichancourt JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3288080 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature