Seed size-number trade-off in Euterpe edulis in plant communities of the Atlantic Forest

Pedro Henrique Santin Brancalion,Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues

doi:10.1590/s0103-90162014000300007

Pedro Henrique Santin Brancalion, Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0103-90162014000300007

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Journal: Scientia Agricola	Publication Date: Jun 1, 2014
Citations: 11	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo

Abstract

Investigations of seed size and number differences among plant populations growing in contrasting habitats can provide relevant information about ecological strategies that optimize reproductive effort. This may imply important consequences for biodiversity conservation and restoration. Therefore, we sought to investigate seed size-number trade-off in Euterpe edulis populations growing in plant communities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Seed dry mass and seed number per bunch were evaluated in 2008 and 2009 in large remnants of the Seasonally Dry Forest, Restinga Forest and Atlantic Rainforest in southeastern Brazil, in 20 individuals per site and year. Seed size and seed number varied among forest types, but a seed size-number trade-off was neither observed within nor among populations. Positive association between seed size and number was found in the Atlantic Rainforest, and reduced seed crop was not accompanied by heavier seeds in the Restinga Forest. Seed dry mass declined in 2009 in all three forest types. Compared to seed number in 2008, palms of both the Restinga Forest and the Atlantic Rainforest produced in 2009 higher yields of smaller seeds - evidence of between years seed size-number trade-off -, while the Seasonally Dry Forest population produced a reduced number of smaller seeds. Such a flexible reproductive strategy, involving neutral, positive, and negative associations between seed size and number could enhance the ecological amplitude of this species and their potential to adapt to different environment conditions.

Highlights

Seed size has been considered an important functional trait that determines the occurrence and distribution of plant species in ecological communities (Moles et al, 2005; Ben-Hur et al, 2012)
Positive association between seed size and number was found in the Atlantic Rainforest, and reduced seed crop was not accompanied by heavier seeds in the Restinga Forest
Compared to seed number in 2008, palms of both the Restinga Forest and the Atlantic Rainforest produced in 2009 higher yields of smaller seeds – evidence of between years seed size-number trade-off, while the Seasonally Dry Forest population produced a reduced number of smaller seeds

Summary

Introduction

Seed size has been considered an important functional trait that determines the occurrence and distribution of plant species in ecological communities (Moles et al, 2005; Ben-Hur et al, 2012). Community composition can be influenced by this trait as a result of dispersal limitation processes, since the capacity of propagule movement in the landscape through wind or vertebrate dispersers is affected by seed size (Fenner and Thompson, 2005), and by seedling establishment limitation processes, since seed mass may determine seedling fitness under different water, light and nutrient conditions (Leishman and Westoby, 1994; Bond et al, 1999; Seiwa, 1998). Seed size may be a key functional trait in the assessment of human-mediated disturbances in plant communities. The ability of plant species to regulate seed size in different plant communities and under divergent environmental conditions may determine their capacity to overcome new ecological filters imposed by human-mediated disturbances and, to persist in native ecosystems

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Results

Conclusion