Abstract
Reproductive effort in dandelions (Taraxacum officinale Weber) from two different habitats was compared. One dandelion population occupied a 5-year-old alfalfa (Medicago spp.) field, an environment subject to regular disturbance but with a relatively low density of neighbours. Individuals from the second population were derived from a number of undisturbed sites where the density of neighbouring grasses was high. Three hypotheses were evaluated with respect to the observed patterns of reproductive effort. One hypothesis, that reproductive effort was a function of differences between habitats in resource availability, did not provide an explanation for our results. A second hypothesis considered patterns of reproductive effort when mortality rates varied with degree of disturbance and neighbour density, which was a consequence of each habitat representing a different successional environment. A third hypothesis used a life-history approach to predict reproductive effort when mortality schedules were size d...
Published Version
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