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Glison N, Romero D, Rosso V, Guerrero JC, Speranza PR. Understanding the Geographic Patterns of Closely-Related Species of Paspalum (Poaceae) Using Distribution Modelling and Seed Germination Traits. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1342. [PMID: 36987030 PMCID: PMC10052821 DOI: 10.3390/plants12061342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The sexual species of the Dilatata complex (Paspalum dasypleurum, P. flavescens, P. plurinerve, P. vacarianum, and P. urvillei) are closely related phylogenetically and show allopatric distributions, except P. urvillei. These species show microhabitat similarities and differences in germination traits. We integrated species distribution models (SDMs) and seed germination assays to determine whether germination divergences explain their biogeographic pattern. We trained SDMs in South America using species' presence-absence data and environmental variables. Additionally, populations sampled from highly favourable areas in the SDMs of these species were grown together, and their seeds germinated at different temperatures and dormancy-breaking conditions. Differences among species in seed dormancy and germination niche breadth were tested, and linear regressions between seed dormancy and climatic variables were explored. SDMs correctly classified both the observed presences and absences. Spatial factors and anthropogenic activities were the main factors explaining these distributions. Both SDMs and germination analyses confirmed that the niche of P. urvillei was broader than the other species which showed restricted distributions, narrower germination niches, and high correlations between seed dormancy and precipitation regimes. Both approaches provided evidence about the generalist-specialist status of each species. Divergences in seed dormancy between the specialist species could explain these allopatric distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Glison
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Avenida Eugenio Garzón 780, Montevideo 12900, Uruguay
| | - David Romero
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Sustentable y Gestión Ambiental del Territorio, Instituto de Ecología y Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Grupo Biogeografía, Diversidad & Conservación, Departamento Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Virginia Rosso
- Cátedra de Botánica Sistemática, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Avenida San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires C1417DSE, Argentina
| | - José Carlos Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Sustentable y Gestión Ambiental del Territorio, Instituto de Ecología y Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Rafael Speranza
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Avenida Eugenio Garzón 780, Montevideo 12900, Uruguay
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Collette JC, Sommerville KD, Lyons MB, Offord CA, Errington G, Newby ZJ, von Richter L, Emery NJ. Stepping up to the thermogradient plate: a data framework for predicting seed germination under climate change. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2022; 129:787-794. [PMID: 35212713 PMCID: PMC9292609 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcac026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Seed germination is strongly influenced by environmental temperatures. With global temperatures predicted to rise, the timing of germination for thousands of plant species could change, leading to potential decreases in fitness and ecosystem-wide impacts. The thermogradient plate (TGP) is a powerful but underutilized research tool that tests germination under a broad range of constant and alternating temperatures, giving researchers the ability to predict germination characteristics using current and future climates. Previously, limitations surrounding experimental design and data analysis methods have discouraged its use in seed biology research. METHODS Here, we have developed a freely available R script that uses TGP data to analyse seed germination responses to temperature. We illustrate this analysis framework using three example species: Wollemia nobilis, Callitris baileyi and Alectryon subdentatus. The script generates >40 germination indices including germination rates and final germination across each cell of the TGP. These indices are then used to populate generalized additive models and predict germination under current and future monthly maximum and minimum temperatures anywhere on the globe. KEY RESULTS In our study species, modelled data were highly correlated with observed data, allowing confident predictions of monthly germination patterns for current and future climates. Wollemia nobilis germinated across a broad range of temperatures and was relatively unaffected by predicted future temperatures. In contrast, C. baileyi and A. subdentatus showed strong seasonal temperature responses, and the timing for peak germination was predicted to shift seasonally under future temperatures. CONCLUSIONS Our experimental workflow is a leap forward in the analysis of TGP experiments, increasing its many potential benefits, thereby improving research predictions and providing substantial information to inform management and conservation of plant species globally.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen D Sommerville
- The Australian PlantBank, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, NSW 2567, Australia
| | - Mitchell B Lyons
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Catherine A Offord
- The Australian PlantBank, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, NSW 2567, Australia
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Graeme Errington
- The Australian PlantBank, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, NSW 2567, Australia
| | - Zoe-Joy Newby
- The Australian PlantBank, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, NSW 2567, Australia
| | - Lotte von Richter
- The Australian PlantBank, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, NSW 2567, Australia
| | - Nathan J Emery
- The Australian PlantBank, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, NSW 2567, Australia
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3
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Zhang Y, Liu Y, Sun L, Baskin CC, Baskin JM, Cao M, Yang J. Seed dormancy in space and time: global distribution, paleoclimatic and present climatic drivers, and evolutionary adaptations. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 234:1770-1781. [PMID: 35292965 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Seed dormancy is an important life history state that increases survival and fitness of seed plants, and thus it has attracted much attention. However, global biogeography, effects of paleoenvironment, evolutionary roles of dormancy transitions, and differences in adaptations of seed dormancy between life-forms are poorly understood. We compiled global distribution records for seed dormancy of 12 743 species and their phylogeny to explore the biogeographic patterns, environmental drivers, and evolutionary transitions between seed dormancy and nondormancy. Biogeographic patterns reveal a low proportion of dormancy in tropical rainforest regions and arctic regions and a high proportion of dormancy in remaining tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions for all species and woody species. Herbaceous plants show a greater proportion of dormancy in most global regions except arctic regions. Seasonal environments have a consistent positive influence on the dormancy pattern for both life-forms, but precipitation and temperature were important driving factors for woody and herbaceous plants, respectively. Seed dormancy was the dominating state during the evolutionary history of seed plants, and dormancy transitions had a significant relationship with paleotemperatures. Dormancy and nondormancy transitions in response to fluctuating environments during long-term evolutionary history may have played important roles in the diversification of seed plants. Our results add to the current knowledge about seed dormancy from macro-adaptive perspectives and the potential adaptive mechanisms of seed plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazhou Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lu Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Carol C Baskin
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | - Jerry M Baskin
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - Min Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Jie Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China
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Hodges JA, Price JN, Nicotra AB, Neeman T, Guja LK. Smoke and heat accelerate and increase germination in fire‐prone temperate grassy ecosystems. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A. Hodges
- Institute for Land, Water and Society Charles Sturt University Thurgoona New South Wales Australia
- Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
- National Seed Bank Australian National Botanic Gardens Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Jodi N. Price
- Institute for Land, Water and Society Charles Sturt University Thurgoona New South Wales Australia
| | - Adrienne B. Nicotra
- Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Teresa Neeman
- Statistical Consulting Unit Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Lydia K. Guja
- National Seed Bank Australian National Botanic Gardens Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
- Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
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Ottaviani G, Marcantonio M. Precipitation seasonality promotes acquisitive and variable leaf water-economics traits in southwest Australian granite outcrop species. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Southwestern Australia (SWA) is a global biodiversity hotspot characterized by a mediterranean climate and is among the world’s oldest and resource-poorest landscapes. Within this region, granite outcrops provide habitat complexity, and contribute to high levels of species diversity and endemism. Granite outcrop plant species are characterized by distinct anatomical, morphological and eco-physiological traits. So far, functional studies of SWA granite outcrop plants examined trait patterns along the stark aridity gradient that occurs in the region. Despite precipitation seasonality being an important climatic driver of plant species richness and distribution in mediterranean-type ecosystems, relationships between plant traits and precipitation seasonality remain understudied. Here, we investigated granite outcrop species’ responses to changes in precipitation seasonality in terms of average and variability values of leaf traits related to water use efficiency. We found that plants displayed more acquisitive and variable trait values with increasing precipitation seasonality. These patterns are likely associated with the long-term effect of the stable and predictable precipitation regime in the old SWA that may have fine-tuned plant water use strategies to maximize water acquisition during the most favourable season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluigi Ottaviani
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboñ, Czech Republic
| | - Matteo Marcantonio
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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6
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Collette JC, Ooi MKJ. Distribution of seed dormancy classes across a fire-prone continent: effects of rainfall seasonality and temperature. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2021; 127:613-620. [PMID: 33283853 PMCID: PMC8052917 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcaa203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Different seed dormancy classes control the timing of germination via different cues. The ecological dissimilarities between classes therefore suggest that they are likely to be subject to different selective pressures, and that species within each class will have diverse functional responses. We aimed to investigate this by assessing how variation in the distribution of dormancy classes is correlated with regional environmental factors, in particular rainfall seasonality and temperature. Additionally, we compare the relative proportions of species with physiological (PD) or physical (PY) dormancy to assess whether dormancy class influences their ability to persist under different rainfall seasonality regimes. METHODS Dormancy class was assigned for 3990 species from 281 genera occurring across two climate regions, with either winter or aseasonal rainfall, across temperate fire-prone Australia. All regions have similar vegetation and fire regimes. Using a Bayesian framework, we compared the distribution of dormancy classes across temperature and rainfall climate gradients, for threatened and common species. KEY RESULTS A high dormant:non-dormant species ratio highlighted the critical role of dormancy across our study regions. Critically, species showing PD were more likely to be threatened in aseasonal rainfall climate regions. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the assumption that dormancy is favoured in environments with stochastic disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin C Collette
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Australian PlantBank, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan NSW, Australia
- NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, NSW, Australia
| | - Mark K J Ooi
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, NSW, Australia
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Athugala YS, Gehan Jayasuriya KMG, Gunaratne AMTA, Baskin CC. Seed dormancy of 80 tropical montane forest species in Sri Lanka, the first dormancy profile for a tropical montane forest community. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2021; 23:293-299. [PMID: 33091220 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Community-level seed dormancy studies are important in understanding the dynamics of plant communities and adaptations of species to their habitat. Our aim was to develop a seed dormancy profile for tropical montane forests of Sri Lanka, which are a global biodiversity hotspot, and compare it to the profile made using a world database for this vegetation type. Germination, imbibition and embryo length : seed length ratio of seeds were determined for 80 Sri Lankan montane forest species. Seeds of 31 species were fast-germinating with a median length of germination (MLG) <30 days and the remaining 49 were slow-germinating with MLG >30 days. Embryos of six fast-germinating species grew prior to radicle emergence, indicating morphological dormancy (MD). The other 25 fast-germinating species had non-dormant (ND) seeds. Manually scarified seeds of two species imbibed significantly more water than non-scarified seeds, revealing physical dormancy (PY). Embryos of 20 slow-germinating species grew prior to radicle emergence, confirming morpho-physiological dormancy (MPD). The remaining slow-germinating species had a fully developed embryo and thus physiological dormancy (PD). The percentage of species with ND seeds and with MD, MDP, PD and PY was 31, 7.5, 25, 34 and 2.5, respectively. Species with dormant seeds (70%) dominate the Sri Lankan montane forest community similar to the world database, with 85% dormant seeds. Seed dormancy may be an adaptation that prevents seeds from germinating during the Sri Lankan dry season from December to March when conditions are unfavourable for seedling growth due to low water availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y S Athugala
- Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - K M G Gehan Jayasuriya
- Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - A M T A Gunaratne
- Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - C C Baskin
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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Hopper SD, Lambers H, Silveira FAO, Fiedler PL. OCBIL theory examined: reassessing evolution, ecology and conservation in the world’s ancient, climatically buffered and infertile landscapes. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
OCBIL theory was introduced as a contribution towards understanding the evolution, ecology and conservation of the biological and cultural diversity of old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes (OCBILs), especially in the Southern Hemisphere. The theory addresses some of the most intransigent environmental and cultural trends of our time – the ongoing decline of biodiversity and cultural diversity of First Nations. Here we reflect on OCBILs, the origins of the theory, and its principal hypotheses in biological, anthropological and conservation applications. The discovery that threatened plant species are concentrated in the Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR) on infertile, phosphorous-impoverished uplands within 500 km of the coast formed the foundational framework for OCBIL theory and led to the development of testable hypotheses that a growing literature is addressing. Currently, OCBILs are recognized in 15 Global Biodiversity Hotspots and eight other regions. The SWAFR, Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa and South America’s campos rupestres (montane grasslands) are those regions that have most comprehensively been investigated in the context of OCBIL theory. We summarize 12 evolutionary, ecological and cultural hypotheses and ten conservation-management hypotheses being investigated as recent contributions to the OCBIL literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D Hopper
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture & Environment, The University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - Hans Lambers
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley (Perth), WA, Australia
| | - Fernando A O Silveira
- Departmento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Peggy L Fiedler
- Natural Reserve System, University of California, Office of the President, Oakland, CA, USA
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9
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Zanetti M, Dayrell RLC, Wardil MV, Damasceno A, Fernandes T, Castilho A, Santos FMG, Silveira FAO. Seed Functional Traits Provide Support for Ecological Restoration and ex situ Conservation in the Threatened Amazon Ironstone Outcrop Flora. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:599496. [PMID: 33424895 PMCID: PMC7793850 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.599496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Cangas (ironstone outcrops) host a specialized flora, characterized by high degree of edaphic endemism and an apparent lack of natural history knowledge of its flora. Due to intense pressure from iron ore mining this ecosystem is under threat and in need of restoration. We studied seed functional traits that are relevant for restoration, translocation and ex situ conservation in 48 species from cangas in eastern Amazon. Were determined the thermal niche breadth, classified seed dormancy and determined methods to overcome it, determined the effect of seed storage on germination, tested the association between germination traits and functional groups, and tested whether seed traits are phylogenetically conserved. We found a broad interspecific variation in most seed traits, except for seed water content. Large interspecific variation in the temperature niche breadth was found among the studied species, but only four species, showed optimum germination at high temperatures of 35-40°C, despite high temperatures under natural conditions. Only 35% of the studied species produced dormant seeds. Mechanical scarification was effective in overcoming physical dormancy and application of gibberellic acid was effective in overcoming physiological dormancy in five species. For the 29 species that seeds were stored for 24 months, 76% showed decreases in the germination percentage. The weak association between germination traits and life-history traits indicate that no particular plant functional type requires specific methods for seed-based translocations. Exceptions were the lianas which showed relatively larger seeds compared to the other growth-forms. Dormancy was the only trait strongly related to phylogeny, suggesting that phylogenetic relatedness may not be a good predictor of regeneration from seeds in cangas. Our study provides support to better manage seed sourcing, use, storage and enhancement techniques with expected reduced costs and increased seedling establishment success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcilio Zanetti
- Bioma meio Ambiente LTDA, Nova Lima, Brazil
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Roberta L. C. Dayrell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia (UWA), Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Mariana V. Wardil
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Amplo Engenharia e Gestão de Projetos LTDA, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Damasceno
- VALE S/A. Environmental Licensing Management, Mina de Águas Claras, Nova Lima, Brazil
| | - Tais Fernandes
- VALE S/A. Environmental Licensing Management, Mina de Águas Claras, Nova Lima, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Castilho
- VALE S/A. Environmental Licensing Management, Mina de Águas Claras, Nova Lima, Brazil
| | - Fernando M. G. Santos
- VALE S/A. Environmental Licensing Management, Mina de Águas Claras, Nova Lima, Brazil
| | - Fernando A. O. Silveira
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Buisson E, Fidelis A, Overbeck GE, Schmidt IB, Durigan G, Young TP, Alvarado ST, Arruda AJ, Boisson S, Bond W, Coutinho A, Kirkman K, Oliveira RS, Schmitt MH, Siebert F, Siebert SJ, Thompson DI, Silveira FAO. A research agenda for the restoration of tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elise Buisson
- Avignon Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie ‐ IMBE, CNRS, IRD Aix Marseille Université, IUT d'Avignon, AGROPARC BP61207 Avignon cedex 9 84911 France
- Department of Plant Sciences University of California Davis CA 95616 U.S.A
| | - Alessandra Fidelis
- Lab of Vegetation Ecology, Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Av. 24A, 1515 Rio Claro SP 13506‐900 Brazil
| | - Gerhard E. Overbeck
- Departamento de Botânica Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, CEP Porto Alegre RS 91501‐970 Brazil
| | - Isabel B. Schmidt
- Department of Ecology University of Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro Brasilia Brazil
| | - Giselda Durigan
- Floresta Estadual de Assis Instituto Florestal do Estado de São Paulo P.O. Box 104 Assis SP 19802‐970 Brazil
| | - Truman P. Young
- Department of Plant Sciences University of California Davis CA 95616 U.S.A
| | | | - André J. Arruda
- Avignon Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie ‐ IMBE, CNRS, IRD Aix Marseille Université, IUT d'Avignon, AGROPARC BP61207 Avignon cedex 9 84911 France
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP Belo Horizonte MG 31270‐901 Brazil
| | - Sylvain Boisson
- Université de Liège Gembloux Agro‐Bio Tech Biodiversity and Landscape, TERRA Gembloux Belgium
| | - William Bond
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town Rondebosch South Africa
| | - André Coutinho
- Ecology Graduate Program University of Brasília Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro Brasília DF 70.910‐900 Brazil
| | - Kevin Kirkman
- School of Life Science University of KwaZulu‐Natal Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu‐Natal South Africa
| | - Rafael S. Oliveira
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas – UNICAMP Campinas SP Brazil
| | - Melissa H. Schmitt
- South African Environmental Observation Network, Ndlovu Node, Scientific Services Kruger National Park Private Bag X1021 Phalaborwa 1390 South Africa
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA U.S.A
| | - Frances Siebert
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management North‐West University 11 Hoffman Street Potchefstroom North‐West 2531 South Africa
| | - Stefan J. Siebert
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management North‐West University 11 Hoffman Street Potchefstroom North‐West 2531 South Africa
| | - Dave I. Thompson
- South African Environmental Observation Network, Ndlovu Node, Scientific Services Kruger National Park Private Bag X1021 Phalaborwa 1390 South Africa
- School of Geography, Archaeology, and Environmental Studies University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3 WITS 2050 South Africa
| | - Fernando A. O. Silveira
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP Belo Horizonte MG 31270‐901 Brazil
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11
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Pillon Y, Jaffré T, Birnbaum P, Bruy D, Cluzel D, Ducousso M, Fogliani B, Ibanez T, Jourdan H, Lagarde L, Léopold A, Munzinger J, Pouteau R, Read J, Isnard S. Infertile landscapes on an old oceanic island: the biodiversity hotspot of New Caledonia. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The OCBIL theory comprises a set of hypotheses to comprehend the biota of old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes (OCBILs). Here, we review evidence from the literature to evaluate the extent to which this theory could apply to the biodiversity hotspot of New Caledonia. We present geological, pedological and climatic evidence suggesting how the island might qualify as an OCBIL. The predictions of OCBIL theory are then reviewed in the context of New Caledonia. There is evidence for a high rate of micro-endemism, accumulation of relict lineages, a high incidence of dioecy, myrmecochory and nutritional specializations in plants. New Caledonian vegetation also exhibits several types of monodominant formations that reveal the importance of disturbances on the island. Fires and tropical storms are likely to be important factors that contribute to the dynamic of New Caledonian ecosystems. Although naturally infertile, there is archaeological evidence that humans developed specific horticultural practices in the ultramafic landscapes of New Caledonia. Further comparisons between New Caledonia and other areas of the world, such as South Africa and Southwest Australia, are desirable, to develop the OCBIL theory into a more robust and generalized, testable framework and to determine the most efficient strategies to preserve their outstanding biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohan Pillon
- LSTM, IRD, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Tanguy Jaffré
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- AMAP, IRD, CIRAD, Herbier de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Philippe Birnbaum
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- AMAP, IRD, CIRAD, Herbier de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
- Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien (IAC), équipe SolVeg, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - David Bruy
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- AMAP, IRD, CIRAD, Herbier de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Dominique Cluzel
- ISEA, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Marc Ducousso
- LSTM, IRD, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Bruno Fogliani
- ISEA, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Thomas Ibanez
- Department of Biology, University of Hawai′i at Hilo, Hilo, HI, USA
| | - Hervé Jourdan
- IMBE, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Louis Lagarde
- TROCA, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Audrey Léopold
- Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien (IAC), équipe SolVeg, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Jérôme Munzinger
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Robin Pouteau
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Jennifer Read
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sandrine Isnard
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- AMAP, IRD, CIRAD, Herbier de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
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12
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Silveira FAO, Arruda AJ, Bond W, Durigan G, Fidelis A, Kirkman K, Oliveira RS, Overbeck GE, Sansevero JBB, Siebert F, Siebert SJ, Young TP, Buisson E. Myth‐busting tropical grassy biome restoration. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando A. O. Silveira
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270‐901 Belo Horizonte MG Brazil
| | - André J. Arruda
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270‐901 Belo Horizonte MG Brazil
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Perth Western Australia Australia
| | - William Bond
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town Rondebosch South Africa
| | - Giselda Durigan
- Floresta Estadual de Assis Instituto Florestal do Estado de São Paulo P.O. Box 104, 19802‐970 Assis SP Brazil
| | - Alessandra Fidelis
- Lab of Vegetation Ecology, Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Av. 24A, 1515, 13506‐900 Rio Claro SP Brazil
| | - Kevin Kirkman
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu‐Natal Durban South Africa
| | - Rafael S. Oliveira
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas—UNICAMP Campinas SP Brazil
| | - Gerhard E. Overbeck
- Departamento de Botânica Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, CEP 91501‐970 Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - Jerônimo B. B Sansevero
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais (DCA), Instituto de Florestas (IF) Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro—UFRRJ BR 465, Km 07, CEP 23890‐000 Seropédica RJ Brazil
| | - Frances Siebert
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management North‐West University Potchefstroom 2520 South Africa
| | - Stefan J. Siebert
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management North‐West University Potchefstroom 2520 South Africa
| | - Truman P. Young
- Department of Plant Sciences University of California Davis CA 95616 U.S.A
| | - Elise Buisson
- Department of Plant Sciences University of California Davis CA 95616 U.S.A
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE), Avignon Université, UMR CNRS IRD Aix Marseille Université, IUT Site Agroparc BP 61207, 84911 Avignon Cedex 09 France
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13
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Kildisheva OA, Dixon KW, Silveira FAO, Chapman T, Di Sacco A, Mondoni A, Turner SR, Cross AT. Dormancy and germination: making every seed count in restoration. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kingsley W. Dixon
- Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| | - Fernando A. O. Silveira
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and EvolutionFederal University of Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil
| | - Ted Chapman
- Conservation Science, Royal Botanic Gardens KewMillennium Seed Bank Wakehurst, Ardingly West Sussex RH17 6TN UK
| | - Alice Di Sacco
- Conservation Science, Royal Botanic Gardens KewMillennium Seed Bank Wakehurst, Ardingly West Sussex RH17 6TN UK
| | - Andrea Mondoni
- Department of Earth and Environmental ScienceUniversity of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Shane R. Turner
- Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
- Kings Park Science, Department of BiodiversityConservation and Attractions Kings Park WA 6005 Australia
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
| | - Adam T. Cross
- Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
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14
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Daibes LF, Pausas JG, Bonani N, Nunes J, Silveira FAO, Fidelis A. Fire and legume germination in a tropical savanna: ecological and historical factors. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2019; 123:1219-1229. [PMID: 30893418 PMCID: PMC6612942 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS In many flammable ecosystems, physically dormant seeds show dormancy-break patterns tied to fire, but the link between heat shock and germination in the tropical savannas of Africa and South America remains controversial. Seed heat tolerance is important, preventing seed mortality during fire passage, and is usually predicted by seed traits. This study investigated the role of fire frequency (ecological effects) and seed traits through phylogenetic comparison (historical effects), in determining post-fire germination and seed mortality in legume species of the Cerrado, a tropical savanna-forest mosaic. METHODS Seeds of 46 legume species were collected from three vegetation types (grassy savannas, woody savannas and forests) with different fire frequencies. Heat shock experiments (100 °C for 1 min; 100 °C for 3 min; 200 °C for 1 min) were then performed, followed by germination and seed viability tests. Principal component analysis, generalized linear mixed models and phylogenetic comparisons were used in data analyses. KEY RESULTS Heat shocks had little effect on germination, but seed mortality was variable across treatments and species. Seed mortality was lowest under the 100 °C 1 min treatment, and significantly higher under 100 °C 3 min and 200 °C 1 min; larger seed mass decreased seed mortality, especially at 200 °C. Tree species in Detarioideae had the largest seeds and were unaffected by heat. Small-seeded species (mostly shrubs from grassy savannas) were relatively sensitive to the hottest treatment. Nevertheless, the presence of physical dormancy helped to avoid seed mortality in small-seeded species under the hottest treatment. CONCLUSIONS Physical dormancy-break is not tied to fire in the Cerrado mosaic. Heat tolerance appears in both forest and savanna species and is predicted by seed traits (seed mass and physical dormancy), which might have helped forest lineages to colonize the savannas. The results show seed fire responses are better explained by historical than ecological factors in the Cerrado, contrasting with different fire-prone ecosystems throughout the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Felipe Daibes
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Lab of Vegetation Ecology, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Juli G Pausas
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE/CSIC), Montcada, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nathalia Bonani
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Lab of Vegetation Ecology, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Jessika Nunes
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Lab of Vegetation Ecology, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Fernando A O Silveira
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), CP, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Fidelis
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Lab of Vegetation Ecology, Rio Claro, Brazil
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15
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Jooste M, Midgley GF, Oberlander KC, Dreyer LL. Oxalis seeds from the Cape Flora have a spectrum of germination strategies. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2019; 106:879-893. [PMID: 31157415 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Seed germination strategy has profound ecological and evolutionary consequences, with transitions between germination strategies receiving renewed recent attention. Oxalis from the Cape Flora, South Africa, has seeds with two contrasting germination strategies: orthodox and recalcitrant. The morphological gulf between these strategies (and potential intermediate morphologies) has been poorly quantified, with questions regarding their ecological function and evolution. We reconsidered this binary classification, emphasizing potential intermediate states. METHODS Seed physiological traits were used to assign strategies to 64 Oxalis species. We tested for morphological/phenological signal corresponding to defined strategies with cluster, principal component, K-means clustering and discriminant analyses. RESULTS We showed that an intermediate germination strategy does exist among Cape Oxalis, with two possible morphological groups within each strategy. These could reflect a continuum of germination states, where an ancestral orthodox strategy evolved toward a maximally recalcitrant peak, with a mosaic of intermediate states reflected in extant taxa. CONCLUSIONS Environmental factors may affect germination strategy and distribution throughout the Cape because recalcitrant and intermediate species are confined to the winter rainfall region. They occupy specialized niches and may face adverse impacts under predicted climate change (hotter and drier winters), meriting focused future conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Jooste
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Guy F Midgley
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Kenneth C Oberlander
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Plant Sciences Complex, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Léanne L Dreyer
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
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16
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Saatkamp A, Cochrane A, Commander L, Guja LK, Jimenez-Alfaro B, Larson J, Nicotra A, Poschlod P, Silveira FAO, Cross AT, Dalziell EL, Dickie J, Erickson TE, Fidelis A, Fuchs A, Golos PJ, Hope M, Lewandrowski W, Merritt DJ, Miller BP, Miller RG, Offord CA, Ooi MKJ, Satyanti A, Sommerville KD, Tangney R, Tomlinson S, Turner S, Walck JL. A research agenda for seed-trait functional ecology. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 221:1764-1775. [PMID: 30269352 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Trait-based approaches have improved our understanding of plant evolution, community assembly and ecosystem functioning. A major challenge for the upcoming decades is to understand the functions and evolution of early life-history traits, across levels of organization and ecological strategies. Although a variety of seed traits are critical for dispersal, persistence, germination timing and seedling establishment, only seed mass has been considered systematically. Here we suggest broadening the range of morphological, physiological and biochemical seed traits to add new understanding on plant niches, population dynamics and community assembly. The diversity of seed traits and functions provides an important challenge that will require international collaboration in three areas of research. First, we present a conceptual framework for a seed ecological spectrum that builds upon current understanding of plant niches. We then lay the foundation for a seed-trait functional network, the establishment of which will underpin and facilitate trait-based inferences. Finally, we anticipate novel insights and challenges associated with incorporating diverse seed traits into predictive evolutionary ecology, community ecology and applied ecology. If the community invests in standardized seed-trait collection and the implementation of rigorous databases, major strides can be made at this exciting frontier of functional ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Saatkamp
- Aix Marseille Université, Université d'Avignon, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Facultés St Jérôme, case 421, 13397, Marseille, France
| | - Anne Cochrane
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Science and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Bentley, WA, 6983, Australia
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Lucy Commander
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Lydia K Guja
- Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, CSIRO National Research Collections Australia, Clunies Ross St, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Biodiversity Science Section, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross St, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Borja Jimenez-Alfaro
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (CSIC/UO/PA), Universidad de Oviedo, Edificio de Investigación, 33600, Mieres, Spain
| | - Julie Larson
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Adrienne Nicotra
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Peter Poschlod
- Ecology & Conservation Biology, Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Regensburg, D-93040, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Fernando A O Silveira
- Department of Botany, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Adam T Cross
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Emma L Dalziell
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - John Dickie
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, RH17 6TN, UK
| | - Todd E Erickson
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Alessandra Fidelis
- Lab of Vegetation Ecology, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Avenida 24-A 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Anne Fuchs
- Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, CSIRO National Research Collections Australia, Clunies Ross St, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Biodiversity Science Section, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross St, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Peter J Golos
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Michael Hope
- Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, CSIRO National Research Collections Australia, Clunies Ross St, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Atlas of Living Australia, CSIRO, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Wolfgang Lewandrowski
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - David J Merritt
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Ben P Miller
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Russell G Miller
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Catherine A Offord
- The Australian Plant Bank, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Mount Annan, NSW, 2567, Australia
| | - Mark K J Ooi
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Annisa Satyanti
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, The Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Biodiversity Science Section, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross St, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Center for Plant Conservation, Bogor Botanic Gardens, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Jalan Ir. H. Juanda, Bogor, West Java, 16001, Indonesia
| | - Karen D Sommerville
- The Australian Plant Bank, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Mount Annan, NSW, 2567, Australia
| | - Ryan Tangney
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Shane Turner
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jeffrey L Walck
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37130, USA
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17
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Keppel G, Ottaviani G, Harrison S, Wardell-Johnson GW, Marcantonio M, Mucina L. Towards an eco-evolutionary understanding of endemism hotspots and refugia. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2018; 122:927-934. [PMID: 30239590 PMCID: PMC6266134 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcy173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Refugia are island-like habitats that are linked to long-term environmental stability and, as a result, high endemism. Conservation of refugia and endemism hotspots should be based on a deep ecological and evolutionary understanding of their functioning, which remains limited. Although functional traits can provide such insights, a corresponding, coherent framework is lacking. PROPOSED FRAMEWORK Plant communities in refugia and endemism hotspots should, due to long-term environmental stability, display unique functional characteristics linked to distinct phylogenetic patterns. Therefore, such communities should be characterized by a functional signature that exhibits: (1) distinct values and combinations of traits, (2) higher functional diversity and (3) a prevalence of similar traits belonging to more distantly related lineages inside, compared to outside, of endemism hotspots and refugia. While the limited functional trait data available from refugia and endemism hotspots do not allow these predictions to be tested rigorously, three potential applications of the functional signature in biogeography and conservation planning are highlighted. Firstly, it allows the functional characteristics of endemism hotspots and refugia to be identified. Secondly, the strength of the functional signature can be compared among these entities, and with the surrounding landscape, to provide an estimate of the capacity of endemism hotspots and refugia to buffer environmental changes. Finally, the pattern of the functional signature can reveal ecological and evolutionary processes driving community assembly and functioning, which can assist in predicting the effect of environmental changes (e.g. climate, land-use) on communities in endemism hotspots and refugia. CONCLUSION The proposed functional signature concept allows the systematic integration of plant functional traits and phylogeny into the study of endemism hotspots and refugia, but more data on functional traits in these entities are urgently needed. Overcoming this limitation would facilitate rigorous testing of the proposed predictions for the functional signature, advancing the eco-evolutionary understanding of endemism hotspots and refugia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Keppel
- Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, GPO, SA, Adelaide, Australia
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, SA, Adelaide, Australia
- Biodiversity, Macroecology & Biogeography, Faculty of Forest Sciences, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gianluigi Ottaviani
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Perth, Australia
- Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Susan Harrison
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Grant W Wardell-Johnson
- Curtin Institute for Biodiversity and Climate, ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration and School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Australia
| | - Matteo Marcantonio
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ladislav Mucina
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Perth, Australia
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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18
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Buisson E, Le Stradic S, Silveira FAO, Durigan G, Overbeck GE, Fidelis A, Fernandes GW, Bond WJ, Hermann JM, Mahy G, Alvarado ST, Zaloumis NP, Veldman JW. Resilience and restoration of tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and grassy woodlands. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 94:590-609. [PMID: 30251329 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Despite growing recognition of the conservation values of grassy biomes, our understanding of how to maintain and restore biodiverse tropical grasslands (including savannas and open-canopy grassy woodlands) remains limited. To incorporate grasslands into large-scale restoration efforts, we synthesised existing ecological knowledge of tropical grassland resilience and approaches to plant community restoration. Tropical grassland plant communities are resilient to, and often dependent on, the endogenous disturbances with which they evolved - frequent fires and native megafaunal herbivory. In stark contrast, tropical grasslands are extremely vulnerable to human-caused exogenous disturbances, particularly those that alter soils and destroy belowground biomass (e.g. tillage agriculture, surface mining); tropical grassland restoration after severe soil disturbances is expensive and rarely achieves management targets. Where grasslands have been degraded by altered disturbance regimes (e.g. fire exclusion), exotic plant invasions, or afforestation, restoration efforts can recreate vegetation structure (i.e. historical tree density and herbaceous ground cover), but species-diverse plant communities, including endemic species, are slow to recover. Complicating plant-community restoration efforts, many tropical grassland species, particularly those that invest in underground storage organs, are difficult to propagate and re-establish. To guide restoration decisions, we draw on the old-growth grassland concept, the novel ecosystem concept, and theory regarding tree cover along resource gradients in savannas to propose a conceptual framework that classifies tropical grasslands into three broad ecosystem states. These states are: (1) old-growth grasslands (i.e. ancient, biodiverse grassy ecosystems), where management should focus on the maintenance of disturbance regimes; (2) hybrid grasslands, where restoration should emphasise a return towards the old-growth state; and (3) novel ecosystems, where the magnitude of environmental change (i.e. a shift to an alternative ecosystem state) or the socioecological context preclude a return to historical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Buisson
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE), Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, CNRS, IRD, Aix Marseille Université, Agroparc BP61207, Avignon 84911 cedex 9, France
| | - Soizig Le Stradic
- Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Biodiversity and Landscape unit, University of Liege, Gembloux 5030, Belgium.,Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, Lab of Vegetation Ecology, Av. 24A, 1515, Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Fernando A O Silveira
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-901, Brazil
| | - Giselda Durigan
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Hidrologia Florestal, Floresta Estadual de Assis, Instituto Florestal, PO box 104, Assis, SP 19802-970, Brazil
| | - Gerhard E Overbeck
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Fidelis
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, Lab of Vegetation Ecology, Av. 24A, 1515, Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil
| | - G Wilson Fernandes
- Ecologia Evolutiva e Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-901, Brazil
| | - William J Bond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town and South African Environmental Observation Network, NRF, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Julia-Maria Hermann
- Restoration Ecology, Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München - TUM, Freising, Germany
| | - Gregory Mahy
- Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Biodiversity and Landscape unit, University of Liege, Gembloux 5030, Belgium
| | - Swanni T Alvarado
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Geografia, Ecosystem Dynamics Observatory, Av. 24A, 1515, Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Nicholas P Zaloumis
- Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, P/Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joseph W Veldman
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2138, U.S.A
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19
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Barak RS, Lichtenberger TM, Wellman‐Houde A, Kramer AT, Larkin DJ. Cracking the case: Seed traits and phylogeny predict time to germination in prairie restoration species. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:5551-5562. [PMID: 29938073 PMCID: PMC6010845 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Traits are important for understanding how plant communities assemble and function, providing a common currency for studying ecological processes across species, locations, and habitat types. However, the majority of studies relating species traits to community assembly rely upon vegetative traits of mature plants. Seed traits, which are understudied relative to whole-plant traits, are key to understanding assembly of plant communities. This is particularly true for restored communities, which are typically started de novo from seed, making seed germination a critical first step in community assembly and an early filter for plant establishment. We experimentally tested the effects of seed traits (mass, shape, and embryo to seed size ratio) and phylogeny on germination response in 32 species commonly used in prairie grassland restoration in the Midwestern USA, analyzing data using time-to-event (survival) analysis. As germination is also influenced by seed dormancy, and dormancy break treatments are commonly employed in restoration, we also tested the effects of two pretreatments (cold stratification and gibberellic acid application) on time to germination. Seed traits, phylogeny, and seed pretreatments all affected time to germination. Of all traits tested, variables related to seed shape (height and shape variance) best predicted germination response, with high-variance (i.e., pointier and narrower) seeds germinating faster. Phylogenetic position (the location of species on the phylogenetic tree relative to other tested species) was also an important predictor of germination response, that is, closely related species showed similar patterns in time to germination. This was true despite the fact that all measured seed traits showed phylogenetic signal, therefore phylogeny provided residual information that was not already captured by measured seed traits. Seed traits, phylogenetic position, and germination pretreatments were important predictors of germination response for a suite of species commonly used in grassland restoration. Shape traits were especially important, while mass, often the only seed trait used in studies of community assembly, was not a strong predictor of germination timing. These findings illustrate the ecological importance of seed traits that are rarely incorporated into functional studies of plant communities. This information can also be used to advance restoration practice by guiding restoration planning and seed mix design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S. Barak
- Plant Science and ConservationChicago Botanic GardenGlencoeIllinois
- Program in Plant Biology and ConservationNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinois
| | - Taran M. Lichtenberger
- Plant Science and ConservationChicago Botanic GardenGlencoeIllinois
- Program in Plant Biology and ConservationNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinois
| | - Alyssa Wellman‐Houde
- Program in Environmental ScienceUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
- Department of Environmental Science and TechnologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMaryland
| | - Andrea T. Kramer
- Plant Science and ConservationChicago Botanic GardenGlencoeIllinois
| | - Daniel J. Larkin
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesota
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Le Stradic S, Fernandes GW, Buisson E. No recovery of campo rupestre
grasslands after gravel extraction: implications for conservation and restoration. Restor Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Soizig Le Stradic
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE); Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, UMR CNRS IRD Aix Marseille Université; IUT site Agroparc, BP 61207, 84911 Avignon Cedex 09 France
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); Rio Claro São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Geraldo W. Fernandes
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elise Buisson
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE); Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, UMR CNRS IRD Aix Marseille Université; IUT site Agroparc, BP 61207, 84911 Avignon Cedex 09 France
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21
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Escobar DFE, Silveira FAO, Morellato LPC. Timing of seed dispersal and seed dormancy in Brazilian savanna: two solutions to face seasonality. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2018; 121:1197-1209. [PMID: 29425261 PMCID: PMC5946880 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcy006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The relationship between fruiting phenology and seed dispersal syndrome is widely recognized; however, the interaction of dormancy classes and plant life-history traits in relation to fruiting phenology and seed dispersal is understudied. Here we examined the relationship between fruiting season and seed dormancy and how this relationship is modulated by dormancy classes, dispersal syndromes, seed mass and seed moisture content in a Brazilian savanna (cerrado). METHODS Dormancy classes (non-dormancy and physical, morphological, morphophysiological, physiological and physiophysical dormancy) of 34 cerrado species were experimentally determined. Their seed dispersal syndrome (autochory, anemochory, zoochory), dispersal season (rainy, dry, rainy-to-dry and dry-to-rainy transitions), seed mass and moisture contents, and the estimated germination date were also determined. Log-linear models were used to evaluate how dormancy and dormancy classes are related to dispersal season and syndrome. KEY RESULTS The proportions of dormant and non-dormant species were similar in cerrado. The community-estimated germination date was seasonal, occurring at the onset of rainy season. Overall, anemochorous non-dormant species released seeds during the dry-to-rainy transition; autochorous physically dormant species dispersed seeds during the dry season and rainy-to-dry transition; zoochorous species dispersed non-dormant seeds during the dry and rainy seasons, while species with morphological, morphophysiological or physiological dormancy dispersed seeds in the transitional seasons. Seed mass differed among dispersal seasons and dormancy classes, but seed moisture content did not vary with dispersal syndrome, season or dormancy class. CONCLUSIONS The beginning of the rainy season was the most favourable period for seed germination in cerrado, and the germination phenology was controlled by both the timing of seed dispersal and seed dormancy. Dormancy class was influenced by dispersal syndrome and season. Moreover, dormancy avoided seed germination during the rainy-to-dry transition, independently of dispersal syndrome. The variability of dormancy classes with dispersal syndrome allowed animal-dispersed species to fruit all year round, but seeds germinated only during the rainy season. Conversely, seasonally restricted wind-dispersal species dispersed and germinated their non-dormant seeds only in the rainy season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego F E Escobar
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Department of Botany, Phenology Lab, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
- For correspondence. E-mail
| | - Fernando A O Silveira
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Leonor Patricia C Morellato
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Department of Botany, Phenology Lab, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
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22
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Lewandrowski W, Erickson TE, Dalziell EL, Stevens JC. Ecological niche and bet-hedging strategies for Triodia (R.Br.) seed germination. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2018; 121:367-375. [PMID: 29293867 PMCID: PMC5808810 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcx158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Regeneration dynamics in many arid zone grass species are regulated by innate seed dormancy mechanisms and environmental cues (temperature, moisture and fire) that result in infrequent germination following rainfall. This study investigated bet-hedging strategies associated with dormancy and germination in arid zone Triodia species from north-west Australia, by assessing (1) the effects of the mechanical restriction imposed by the indehiscent floral bracts (i.e. floret) covering the seed and (2) the impact of dormancy alleviation on florets and cleaned seeds (i.e. florets removed) when germinated under water stress. METHODS The initial dormancy status and germination for six species were tested on intact florets and cleaned seeds, across temperatures (10-40 °C) with and without the fire-related stimulant karrikinolide (KAR1), and under alternating light or constant dark conditions. Physiological dormancy alleviation was assessed by wet/dry cycling florets over a period of 10 weeks, and germination was compared against untreated florets, and cleaned seeds across a water potential gradient between 0 and -1.5 MPa. KEY RESULTS Florets restricted germination (<45 %) at all temperatures and, despite partial alleviation of physiological dormancy (wet/dry cycling for 8 weeks), intact florets germinated only at high water potentials. Cleaned seeds showed the highest germination (40-90 %) across temperatures when treated with KAR1, and germinated at much lower water potentials (-0.4 and -0.9 MPa). Triodia pungens was the most responsive to KAR1, with both seeds and florets responding, while for the remaining five species, KAR1 had a positive effect for seeds only. CONCLUSIONS Only after seed dormancy was alleviated by removing florets and when KAR1 was applied did germination under water stress increase. This suggests that seeds of these Triodia species are cued to recruit following fire and during periods of high precipitation. Climate change, driven by large shifts in rainfall patterns, is likely to impact Triodia recruitment further in arid zone grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Lewandrowski
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Kings Park, Western Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia
| | - Todd E Erickson
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Kings Park, Western Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia
| | - Emma L Dalziell
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Kings Park, Western Australia
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia
| | - Jason C Stevens
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Kings Park, Western Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia
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Zappi DC, Moro MF, Meagher TR, Nic Lughadha E. Plant Biodiversity Drivers in Brazilian Campos Rupestres: Insights from Phylogenetic Structure. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:2141. [PMID: 29312396 PMCID: PMC5742226 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Old, climate-buffered infertile landscapes (Ocbils) have attracted increasing levels of interest in recent years because of their exceptionally diverse plant communities. Brazil's campos rupestres (rupestrian grasslands) are home to almost 15% of Brazil's native flora in less than 0.8% of Brazil's territory: an ideal study system for exploring variation in floristic diversity and phylogenetic structure in sites differing in geology and phytophysiognomy. We found significant differences in floristic diversity and phylogenetic structure across a range of study sites encompassing open vegetation and forest on quartzite (FQ) and on ironstone substrates, commonly termed canga. Substrate and physiognomy were key in structuring floristic diversity in the Espinhaço and physiognomy was more important than substrate in structuring phylogenetic diversity, with neither substrate nor its interaction with physiognomy accounting for significant variation in phylogenetic structure. Phylogenetic clustering was significant in open vegetation on both canga and quartzite, reflecting the potential role of environmental filtering in these exposed montane communities adapted to multiple environmental stressors. In forest communities, phylogenetic clustering was significant only at relatively deep nodes of the phylogeny in FQ while no significant phylogenetic clustering was detected across forest on canga (FC), which may be attributable to proximity to the megadiverse Atlantic forest biome and/or comparatively benign environmental conditions in FC with relatively deep, nutrient-rich soils and access to edaphic water reliable in comparison to those for open vegetation on canga and open or forest communities on quartzite. Clades representing relatively old lineages are significantly over-represented in campos rupestres on quartzite, consistent with the Gondwanan Heritage Hypothesis of Ocbil theory. In contrast, forested sites on canga are recognized as Yodfels. To be effective, conservation measures must take account of the distinct communities which are encompassed within the broad term campos rupestres, and the differing vulnerabilities of Ocbils and Yodfels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela C. Zappi
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Team, Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Brazil
- Coordenação de Botânica, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Brazil
| | - Marcelo F. Moro
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (Labomar), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Thomas R. Meagher
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Eimear Nic Lughadha
- Conservation Science Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom
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24
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Intraspecific variation in fruit-frugivore interactions: effects of fruiting neighborhood and consequences for seed dispersal. Oecologia 2017; 185:233-243. [PMID: 28875387 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3943-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The extent of specialization/generalization continuum in fruit-frugivore interactions at the individual level remains poorly explored. Here, we investigated the interactions between the Neotropical treelet Miconia irwinii (Melastomataceae) and its avian seed dispersers in Brazilian campo rupestre. We built an individual-based network to derive plant degree of interaction specialization regarding disperser species. Then, we explored how intraspecific variation in interaction niche breadth relates to fruit availability on individual plants in varying densities of fruiting conspecific neighbors, and how these factors affect the quantity of viable seeds dispersed. We predicted broader interaction niche breadths for individuals with larger fruit crops in denser fruiting neighborhoods. The downscaled network included nine bird species and 15 plants, which varied nearly five-fold in their degree of interaction specialization. We found positive effects of crop size on visitation and fruit removal rates, but not on degree of interaction specialization. Conversely, we found that an increase in the density of conspecific fruiting neighbors both increased visitation rate and reduced plant degree of interaction specialization. We suggest that tracking fruit-rich patches by avian frugivore species is the main driver of density-dependent intraspecific variation in plants' interaction niche breadth. Our study shed some light on the overlooked fitness consequences of intraspecific variation in interaction niches by showing that individuals along the specialization/generalization continuum may have their seed dispersed with similar effectiveness. Our study exemplifies how individual-based networks linking plants to frugivore species that differ in their seed dispersal effectiveness can advance our understanding of intraspecific variation in the outcomes of fruit-frugivore interactions.
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25
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26
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Fernández-Pascual E, Pérez-Arcoiza A, Prieto JA, Díaz TE. Environmental filtering drives the shape and breadth of the seed germination niche in coastal plant communities. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2017; 119:1169-1177. [PMID: 28334139 PMCID: PMC5604583 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcx005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS A phylogenetic comparative analysis of the seed germination niche was conducted in coastal plant communities of western Europe. Two hypotheses were tested, that (1) the germination niche shape (i.e. the preference for a set of germination cues as opposed to another) would differ between beaches and cliffs to prevent seedling emergence in the less favourable season (winter and summer, respectively); and (2) the germination niche breadth (i.e. the amplitude of germination cues) would be narrower in the seawards communities, where environmental filtering is stronger. METHODS Seeds of 30 specialist species of coastal plant communities were collected in natural populations of northern Spain. Their germination was measured in six laboratory treatments based on field temperatures. Germination niche shape was estimated as the best germination temperature. Germination niche breadth was calculated using Pielou's evenness index. Differences between plant communities in their germination niche shape and breadth were tested using phylogenetic generalized least squares regression (PGLS). KEY RESULTS Germination niche shape differed between communities, being warm-cued in beaches (best germination temperature = 20 °C) and cold-cued in cliffs (14 °C). Germination niche was narrowest in seawards beaches (Pielou's index = 0·89) and broadest in landwards beaches (0·99). Cliffs had an intermediate germination niche breadth (0·95). The relationship between niche and plant community had a positive phylogenetic signal for shape (Pagel's λ = 0·64) and a negative one for breadth (Pagel's λ = -1·71). CONCLUSION Environmental filters shape the germination niche to prevent emergence in the season of highest threat for seedling establishment. The germination niche breadth is narrower in the communities with stronger environmental filters, but only in beaches. This study provides empirical support to a community-level generalization of the hypotheses about the environmental drivers of the germination niche. It highlights the role of germination traits in community assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Fernández-Pascual
- Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Wellcome Trust Millennium Building, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TN, UK
- Jardín Botánico Atlántico, Universidad de Oviedo; Avda. del Jardín Botánico 2230, 33203 Gijón/Xixón, Spain
| | - Adrián Pérez-Arcoiza
- Jardín Botánico Atlántico, Universidad de Oviedo; Avda. del Jardín Botánico 2230, 33203 Gijón/Xixón, Spain
| | - José Alberto Prieto
- Jardín Botánico Atlántico, Universidad de Oviedo; Avda. del Jardín Botánico 2230, 33203 Gijón/Xixón, Spain
| | - Tomás E. Díaz
- Jardín Botánico Atlántico, Universidad de Oviedo; Avda. del Jardín Botánico 2230, 33203 Gijón/Xixón, Spain
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He T, Lamont BB. Baptism by fire: the pivotal role of ancient conflagrations in evolution of the Earth's flora. Natl Sci Rev 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwx041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Fire became a defining feature of the Earth's processes as soon as land plants evolved 420 million years ago and has played a major role in shaping the composition and physiognomy of many ecosystems ever since. However, there remains a general lack of appreciation of the place of fire in the origin, evolution, ecology and conservation of the Earth's biodiversity. We review the literature on the presence of fire throughout the Earth's history following the evolution of land plants and examine the evidence for the origin and evolution of adaptive functional traits, biomes and major plant groups in relation to fire. We show that: (1) fire activities have fluctuated throughout geological time due to variations in climate, and more importantly in atmospheric oxygen, as these affected fuel levels and flammability; (2) fire promoted the early evolution and spread of major terrestrial plant groups; (3) fire has shaped the floristics, structure and function of major global biomes; and (4) fire has initiated and maintained the evolution of a wide array of fire-adapted functional traits since the evolution of land plants. We conclude that fire has been a fundamental agent of natural selection on terrestrial plants throughout the history of life on the Earth's land surface. We suggest that a paradigm shift is required to reassess ecological and evolutionary theories that exclude a role for fire, and also there is a need to review fire-suppression policies on ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation in global fire-prone regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhua He
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
| | - Byron B Lamont
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
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Harrison S, Noss R. Endemism hotspots are linked to stable climatic refugia. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2017; 119:207-214. [PMID: 28064195 PMCID: PMC5321063 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcw248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Centres of endemism have received much attention from evolutionists, biogeographers, ecologists and conservationists. Climatic stability is often cited as a major reason for the occurrences of these geographic concentrations of species which are not found anywhere else. The proposed linkage between endemism and climatic stability raises unanswered questions about the persistence of biodiversity during the present era of rapidly changing climate. KEY QUESTIONS The current status of evidence linking geographic centres of endemism to climatic stability over evolutionary time was examined. The following questions were asked. Do macroecological analyses support such an endemism-stability linkage? Do comparative studies find that endemic species display traits reflecting evolution in stable climates? Will centres of endemism in microrefugia or macrorefugia remain relatively stable and capable of supporting high biological diversity into the future? What are the implications of the endemism-stability linkage for conservation? CONCLUSIONS Recent work using the concept of climate change velocity supports the classic idea that centres of endemism occur where past climatic fluctuations have been mild and where mountainous topography or favourable ocean currents contribute to creating refugia. Our knowledge of trait differences between narrow endemics and more widely distributed species remains highly incomplete. Current knowledge suggests that centres of endemism will remain relatively climatically buffered in the future, with the important caveat that absolute levels of climatic change and species losses in these regions may still be large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Harrison
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Reed Noss
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
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Dayrell RLC, Arruda AJ, Buisson E, Silveira FAO. Overcoming challenges on using native seeds for restoration of megadiverse resource-poor environments: a reply to Madsen et al. Restor Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta L. C. Dayrell
- Departamento de Botânica, ICB; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais 31270-110 Brazil
| | - André J. Arruda
- Departamento de Botânica, ICB; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais 31270-110 Brazil
| | - Elise Buisson
- Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse; IMBE - Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie, UMR CNRS/IRD 7263/237 Aix Marseille Université, IUT; Agroparc, BP 61207, 84 911 Avignon cedex 9 France
| | - Fernando A. O. Silveira
- Departamento de Botânica, ICB; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais 31270-110 Brazil
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Determination of Germination Response to Temperature and Water Potential for a Wide Range of Cover Crop Species and Related Functional Groups. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161185. [PMID: 27532825 PMCID: PMC4993190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A wide range of species can be sown as cover crops during fallow periods to provide various ecosystem services. Plant establishment is a key stage, especially when sowing occurs in summer with high soil temperatures and low water availability. The aim of this study was to determine the response of germination to temperature and water potential for diverse cover crop species. Based on these characteristics, we developed contrasting functional groups that group species with the same germination ability, which may be useful to adapt species choice to climatic sowing conditions. Germination of 36 different species from six botanical families was measured in the laboratory at eight temperatures ranging from 4.5-43°C and at four water potentials. Final germination percentages, germination rate, cardinal temperatures, base temperature and base water potential were calculated for each species. Optimal temperatures varied from 21.3-37.2°C, maximum temperatures at which the species could germinate varied from 27.7-43.0°C and base water potentials varied from -0.1 to -2.6 MPa. Most cover crops were adapted to summer sowing with a relatively high mean optimal temperature for germination, but some Fabaceae species were more sensitive to high temperatures. Species mainly from Poaceae and Brassicaceae were the most resistant to water deficit and germinated under a low base water potential. Species were classified, independent of family, according to their ability to germinate under a range of temperatures and according to their base water potential in order to group species by functional germination groups. These groups may help in choosing the most adapted cover crop species to sow based on climatic conditions in order to favor plant establishment and the services provided by cover crops during fallow periods. Our data can also be useful as germination parameters in crop models to simulate the emergence of cover crops under different pedoclimatic conditions and crop management practices.
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