Seed dispersal of desert annuals

Ecology
D Lawrence VenableJudith X Becerra

Abstract

We quantified seed dispersal in a guild of Sonoran Desert winter desert annuals at a protected natural field site in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Seed production was suppressed under shrub canopies, in the open areas between shrubs, or both by applying an herbicide prior to seed set in large, randomly assigned removal plots (10-30 m diameter). Seedlings were censused along transects crossing the reproductive suppression borders shortly after germination. Dispersal kernels were estimated for Pectocarya recurvata and Schismus barbatus from the change in seedling densities with distance from these borders via inverse modeling. Estimated dispersal distances were short, with most seeds traveling less than a meter. The adhesive seeds of P. recurvata went farther than the small S. barbatus seeds, which have no obvious dispersal adaptation. Seeds dispersed farther downslope than upslope and farther when dispersing into open areas than when dispersing into shrubs. Dispersal distances were short relative to the pattern of spatial heterogeneity created by the shrub and open space mosaic. This suggests that dispersal could contribute to local population buildup, possibly facilitating species coexistence. Overall, these results support the hypothe...Continue Reading

References

Aug 1, 1997·Theoretical Population Biology·J TuftoK Hindar
Feb 25, 2000·The American Naturalist·M J Clauss, D L Venable
Jun 17, 2000·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·R Nathan, H C Muller-Landau
Sep 19, 2000·American Journal of Botany·M L CainA E Strand
Dec 20, 2000·Theoretical Population Biology·P Chesson
Jun 23, 2005·Molecular Ecology·Andrea C Premoli, Thomas Kitzberger
Jun 1, 2007·Ecology·D Lawrence Venable
Sep 1, 1993·The American Naturalist·T Philippi
Oct 1, 1989·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·P Chesson, N Huntly
Jan 1, 1980·Oecologia·D Lawrence Venable, Lawrence Lawlor
Oct 1, 1981·Oecologia·Stephen Fllner, Avi Shmida

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 8, 2014·Ecology Letters·Jennifer R Gremer, D Lawrence Venable
Dec 10, 2015·Ecology·Eugenio Larios, D Lawrence Venable
Jan 31, 2019·Scientific Reports·Ho-Kyung SongJonathan M Adams
Feb 11, 2020·Frontiers in Microbiology·Juan Pablo ArayaAlexandra Stoll
Nov 20, 2016·Annual Review of Entomology·Raphaël BoulayThibaud Monnin

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.