Journal
PLANT ECOLOGY & DIVERSITY
Volume 5, Issue 1, Pages 57-65Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/17550874.2012.667841
Keywords
Carduus acanthoides; Carduus nutans; evapotranspiration; seed dispersal; xerochasty
Categories
Funding
- National Science Foundation [DEB-0315860, DEB-0614065]
- NSF REU programme
- Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research [863.08.006]
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Background: Non-random seed release caused by plant responses to weather conditions is important for seed dispersal. Much is known about the effects of wind speed and turbulence, but our understanding of the effects of water loss on seed release is either qualitative, or indirect and phenomenological. Aims: To quantify the empirical relationship between water loss and seed release. Methods: Capitula of the invasive thistles Carduus acanthoides and C. nutans were collected from the field and treated for either 0, 1 or 2 days in the laboratory at three different vapour pressure deficit levels (3.4, 9.5 and 17.0 hPa) to cause a range of water loss values. Total seed release was quantified before and during wind tunnel trials. Results: Water loss was the only significant predictor of whether or not capitula released any seeds. The number of seeds released was predicted by water loss, capitulum diameter and herbivore damage, with the same amount of water loss having less effect on larger capitula. Conclusions: These results represent an important step towards using weather data to predict seed release for many xerochastic species. Incorporating the effects of water loss on seed release into mechanistic seed dispersal models will greatly improve predictions of when and how far seeds disperse.
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