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The effect of seed-dispersal timing on seedling recruitment is modulated by environmental conditions that vary across altitude in a threatened palm.

Publication ,  Journal Article
de Souza, AC; Donohue, K; de Mattos, EA
Published in: Annals of botany
July 2022

The timing of seed dispersal determines the environmental conditions that plants face during early life stages. In seasonal environments, selection is expected to favour dispersal timing that is matched to environmental conditions suitable for successful recruitment. Our aim here was to test whether the timing of seed dispersal influences seedling establishment success in two populations of Euterpe edulis that are located at contrasting altitudes, have different seed-dispersal phenologies and are subjected to distinct climatic conditions.We sowed E. edulis seeds in contrasting altitudes on different dates, and monitored seed germination, emergence and seedling establishment at each altitude over 4 years. At the high-altitude site, five seed-dispersal cohorts were established during the natural dispersal period. At the low-altitude site, three seed-dispersal cohorts were established during natural dispersal, and two were established either before or after natural dispersal.At the high-altitude site, seed-dispersal timing did not affect seed germination, seedling emergence or seedling establishment success. In contrast, at the low-altitude site, late seed dispersal near the end of the wet season resulted in a lower probability of seedling establishment, possibly due to the exposure of seeds, germinants and seedlings to unfavourable drought conditions. In addition, at the low-altitude site, the natural seed-dispersal period was poorly matched to favourable environmental conditions for seedling establishment.The greater effect of seed-dispersal timing on seedling establishment at the low-altitude site is probably related to a more seasonal and drought-prone environment that favours a restricted period of seed dispersal. The magnitude of the effect of dispersal timing on seedling establishment success was modulated by environmental conditions that vary across altitude. Furthermore, reproductive phenology appears to be subject to more intense selection at the lower limit of the altitudinal range, due to a more restrictive window of opportunity for successful seedling establishment.

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Published In

Annals of botany

DOI

EISSN

1095-8290

ISSN

0305-7364

Publication Date

July 2022

Volume

129

Issue

7

Start / End Page

839 / 856

Related Subject Headings

  • Seeds
  • Seedlings
  • Seed Dispersal
  • Plants
  • Plant Biology & Botany
  • Germination
  • Altitude
  • 3108 Plant biology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0705 Forestry Sciences
 

Citation

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de Souza, A. C., Donohue, K., & de Mattos, E. A. (2022). The effect of seed-dispersal timing on seedling recruitment is modulated by environmental conditions that vary across altitude in a threatened palm. Annals of Botany, 129(7), 839–856. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcac038
Souza, Aline C. de, Kathleen Donohue, and Eduardo A. de Mattos. “The effect of seed-dispersal timing on seedling recruitment is modulated by environmental conditions that vary across altitude in a threatened palm.Annals of Botany 129, no. 7 (July 2022): 839–56. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcac038.
de Souza, Aline C., et al. “The effect of seed-dispersal timing on seedling recruitment is modulated by environmental conditions that vary across altitude in a threatened palm.Annals of Botany, vol. 129, no. 7, July 2022, pp. 839–56. Epmc, doi:10.1093/aob/mcac038.
Journal cover image

Published In

Annals of botany

DOI

EISSN

1095-8290

ISSN

0305-7364

Publication Date

July 2022

Volume

129

Issue

7

Start / End Page

839 / 856

Related Subject Headings

  • Seeds
  • Seedlings
  • Seed Dispersal
  • Plants
  • Plant Biology & Botany
  • Germination
  • Altitude
  • 3108 Plant biology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0705 Forestry Sciences