Does masting scale with plant size? High reproductive variability and low synchrony in small and unproductive individuals.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

In a range of plant species, the distribution of individual mean fecundity is skewed and dominated by a few highly fecund individuals. Larger plants produce greater seed crops, but the exact nature of the relationship between size and reproductive patterns is poorly understood. This is especially clear in plants that reproduce by exhibiting synchronized quasi-periodic variation in fruit production, a process called masting.

Methods

We investigated covariation of plant size and fecundity with individual-plant-level masting patterns and seed predation in 12 mast-seeding species: Pinus pinea, Astragalus scaphoides, Sorbus aucuparia, Quercus ilex, Q. humilis, Q. rubra, Q. alba, Q. montana, Chionochloa pallens, C. macra, Celmisia lyallii and Phormium tenax.

SUBMITTER: Bogdziewicz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7539353 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature