Seed dispersal by wind decreases when plants are water‐stressed, potentially counteracting species coexistence and niche evolution

Zhu, Jinlei; Lukić, Nataša; Rajtschan, Verena; Walter, Julia; Schurr, Frank M.

doi:10.1002/ece3.8305

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 64 publications

(81 reference statements)

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“…Secondly, the grid-based nature of our model makes it easy to incorporate empirical information on impacts of environmental heterogeneity on plant fecundity and dispersal. For instance, our study species tend to produce fewer seeds and disperse to shorter distances when water-stressed (Zhu et al, 2021), which may reinforce the effects of positive density-dependence on population spread detected here (Figures 2 and 4). By incorporating environmental heterogeneity, it would also be possible to study the real-world relevance of density-dependence for plant population spread through patchy landscapes (Dahirel et al, 2021;Maciel & Lutscher, 2015;Pachepsky & Levine, 2011).…”

Section: Applying the General Framework To Other Study Systemssupporting

confidence: 83%

“…To simulate species‐specific seed dispersal for different population densities, we used the mechanistic WALD model (Bullock et al, 2012; Katul et al, 2005; Skarpaas & Shea, 2007; Zhu et al, 2021), which is a seed dispersal kernel model that models the probability that a seed travels over distance x as

p ()(, x) goodbreak= {(\frac{λ}{2 π x^{3}})}^{1 / 2} \exp (][, goodbreak- \frac{λ {(x - μ)}^{2}}{2 μ^{2} x}),

where the location parameter μ = H r * U / V t , the scale parameter λ = ( H r / σ ) 2 , U is the horizontal wind speed at seed release height H r , V t is seed terminal velocity and σ is a turbulent flow parameter reflecting wind speed variation (Katul et al, 2005).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Density dependence of seed dispersal and fecundity profoundly alters the spread dynamics of plant populations

et al. 2023

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Plant population spread has fundamental ecological and evolutionary importance. Both determinants of plant population spread, fecundity and dispersal, can be density‐dependent, which should cause feedback between population densities and spread dynamics. Yet it is poorly understood how density‐dependence affects key characteristics of spread: spread rate at which the location of the furthest forward individual moves, edge depth (the geographical area over which individuals contribute to spread) and population continuity (occupancy of the spreading population). We present a general modelling framework for analysing the effects of density‐dependent fecundity and dispersal on population spread and parameterize this framework with experimental data from a common‐garden experiment using five wind‐dispersed plant species grown at different densities. Our model shows that density‐dependent fecundity and dispersal strongly affect all three population spread characteristics for both exponential and lognormal dispersal kernels. Spread rate and edge depth are strongly correlated but show weaker correlations with population continuity. Positive density‐dependence of fecundity increases all three spread characteristics. Increasingly positive density‐dependence of dispersal increases spread rate and edge depth but generally decreases population continuity. Density‐dependent fecundity and dispersal are largely additive in their effect on spread characteristics. For population continuity, the joint effects of density‐dependent fecundity and dispersal are somewhat contingent on the dispersal kernel. The common‐garden experiment and the experimentally parameterized mechanistic dispersal model revealed density‐dependent fecundity and dispersal across study species. All study species exhibited negatively density‐dependent fecundity, but they differed qualitatively in the density‐dependence of dispersal distance and probability of long‐distance dispersal. The negative density‐dependence of fecundity and dispersal found for three species reinforced each other in reducing spread rate and edge depth. The positively density‐dependent dispersal found for two species markedly increased spread rate and edge depth. Population continuity was hardly affected by population density in all study species except Crepis sancta in which it was strongly reduced by negatively density‐dependent fecundity. Synthesis. Density‐dependent fecundity and seed dispersal profoundly alter population spread. In particular, positively density‐dependent dispersal should promote the spread and genetic diversity of plant populations migrating under climate change but also complicate the control of invasive species.

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Section: Applying the General Framework To Other Study Systemssupporting

confidence: 83%

p ()(, x) goodbreak= {(\frac{λ}{2 π x^{3}})}^{1 / 2} \exp (][, goodbreak- \frac{λ {(x - μ)}^{2}}{2 μ^{2} x}),

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Density dependence of seed dispersal and fecundity profoundly alters the spread dynamics of plant populations

et al. 2023

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“…σ was estimated following Katul et al (2005) (Supporting information). To calculate the mean dispersal distance, we simulated 10 6 dispersal events for each plant species by randomly drawing a unique combination of parameters for U , H r , V t and σ for each dispersal event (Travis et al 2011, Zhu et al 2021).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of maternal environment and dispersal ability in plants' transgenerational plasticity

Lukić

Zhu

Schurr

et al. 2023

Oikos

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Transgenerational effects enable the transmission of environmental cues from parents to offspring. Adaptive maternal effects are expected to evolve if the maternal (or parental) environment contains information about the environment experienced by offspring. This correlation between maternal and offspring environments should be strongest in plant species with reduced dispersal ability. However, studies relating dispersal ability to the strength of maternal effects are rare. This study aimed to explore whether and how the dispersal distance of species and individuals affects offspring plant performance. Using seven common European plant species, we conducted a multi‐year common garden experiment exposing maternal plants to three different water conditions (mesic, drought and waterlogging). At the end of the season in the first year, seed heads were collected from the lower and upper parts of each mother plant and used for dispersal distance calculation. Offspring coming from the maternal lower and upper parts were exposed to the same water treatments as mothers. Contrasting our hypothesis, we found that maternal water experience and species' dispersal abilities did not influence offspring performance (plant aboveground, belowground, reproductive and dead biomass). We did not detect maternal effects, meaning that offspring plants with the same water conditions as their mothers had the same fitness as offspring with different water conditions. However, opposite to our expectations, the longer dispersal distance of individual seeds ensured a stronger maternal effect when exposed to the same water stress as their mothers. Consequently, a stressful environment would select for long‐distance dispersal.

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Correlated evolution of dispersal traits and habitat preference in the melicgrasses

Brightly,

Bedoya,

Carlson

et al. 2024

American J of Botany

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PremiseSeed dispersal is a critical process impacting individual plants and their communities. Plants have evolved numerous strategies and structures to disperse their seeds, but the evolutionary drivers of this diversity remain poorly understood in most lineages. We tested the hypothesis that the evolution of wind dispersal traits within the melicgrasses (Poaceae: Meliceae Link ex Endl.) was correlated with occupation of open and disturbed habitats.MethodsTo evaluate wind dispersal potential, we collected seed dispersal structures (diaspores) from 24 melicgrass species and measured falling velocity and estimated dispersal distances. Species’ affinity for open and disturbed habitats were recorded using georeferenced occurrence records and land cover maps. To test whether habitat preference and dispersal traits were correlated, we used phylogenetically informed multilevel models.ResultsMelicgrasses display several distinct morphologies associated with wind dispersal, suggesting likely convergence. Open habitat taxa had slower‐falling diaspores, consistent with increased wind dispersal potential. However, their shorter stature meant that dispersal distances, at a given wind speed, were not higher than those of their forest‐occupying relatives. Species with affinities for disturbed sites had slower‐falling diaspores and greater wind dispersal distances, largely explained by lighter diaspores.ConclusionsOur results are consistent with the hypothesized evolutionary relationship between habitat preference and dispersal strategy. However, phylogenetic inertia and other plant functions (e.g., water conservation) likely shaped dispersal trait evolution in melicgrasses. It remains unclear if dispersal trait changes were precipitated by or predated changing habitat preferences. Nevertheless, our study provides promising results and a framework for disentangling dispersal strategy evolution.

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Seed dispersal by wind decreases when plants are water‐stressed, potentially counteracting species coexistence and niche evolution

Cited by 3 publications

References 64 publications

Density dependence of seed dispersal and fecundity profoundly alters the spread dynamics of plant populations

Density dependence of seed dispersal and fecundity profoundly alters the spread dynamics of plant populations

The role of maternal environment and dispersal ability in plants' transgenerational plasticity

Correlated evolution of dispersal traits and habitat preference in the melicgrasses

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