The continuum between semelparity and iteroparity: plastic expression of parity in response to season length manipulation in Lobelia inflata.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Semelparity and iteroparity are considered to be distinct and alternative life-history strategies, where semelparity is characterized by a single, fatal reproductive episode, and iteroparity by repeated reproduction throughout life. However, semelparous organisms do not reproduce instantaneously; typically reproduction occurs over an extended time period. If variation in reproductive allocation exists within such a prolonged reproductive episode, semelparity may be considered iteroparity over a shorter time scale.This continuity hypothesis predicts that "semelparous" organisms with relatively low probability of survival after age at first reproduction will exhibit more extreme semelparity than those with high probability of adult survival. This contrasts with the concept

SUBMITTER: Hughes PW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4005853 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature