36891
2011
2011
eng
493
501
9
3
13
article
Wiley-Blackwell
Malden
1
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--
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A latitudinal gradient in seed nutrients of the forest herb Anemone nemorosa
The nutrient concentration in seeds determines many aspects of potential success of the sexual reproductive phase of plants, including the seed predation probability, efficiency of seed dispersal and seedling performance. Despite considerable research interest in latitudinal gradients of foliar nutrients, a similar gradient for seeds remains unexplored. We investigated a potential latitudinal gradient in seed nutrient concentrations within the widespread European understorey forest herb Anemone nemorosa L. We sampled seeds of A. nemorosa in 15 populations along a 1900-km long latitudinal gradient at three to seven seed collection dates post-anthesis and investigated the relative effects of growing degree-hours > 5 degrees C, soil characteristics and latitude on seed nutrient concentrations. Seed nitrogen, nitrogen:phosphorus ratio and calcium concentration decreased towards northern latitudes, while carbon:nitrogen ratios increased. When taking differences in growing degree-hours and measured soil characteristics into account and only considering the most mature seeds, the latitudinal decline remained particularly significant for seed nitrogen concentration. We argue that the decline in seed nitrogen concentration can be attributed to northward decreasing seed provisioning due to lower soil nitrogen availability or greater investment in clonal reproduction. This pattern may have large implications for the reproductive performance of this forest herb as the degree of seed provisioning ultimately co-determines seedling survival and reproductive success.
Plant biology
10.1111/j.1438-8677.2010.00404.x
1435-8603
wos:2011-2013
WOS:000289479400009
De Frenne, P (reprint author), Univ Ghent, Lab Forestry, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090 Melle Gontrode, Belgium., Pieter.DeFrenne@UGent.be
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
P. De Frenne
Annette Kolb
Benete Jessen Graae
Guillaume Decocq
S. Baltora
A. De Schrijver
J. Brunet
Olivier Chabrerie
Sara A. O. Cousins
Rob Dhondt
Martin Diekmann
R. Gruwez
Thilo Heinken
Martin Hermy
J. Liira
R. Saguez
Anna Shevtsova
Carol C. Baskin
Kris Verheyen
eng
uncontrolled
Collection date
eng
uncontrolled
latitude
eng
uncontrolled
nutrient stoichiometry
eng
uncontrolled
seed nitrogen
eng
uncontrolled
seed predation
eng
uncontrolled
seed provisioning
eng
uncontrolled
sexual reproduction
eng
uncontrolled
wood anemone
Institut für Biochemie und Biologie
Referiert
37050
2011
2011
eng
132
140
9
1
34
article
Wiley-Blackwell
Malden
1
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An intraspecific application of the leaf-height-seed ecology strategy scheme to forest herbs along a latitudinal gradient
We measured LHS traits in 41 Anemone nemorosa and 44 Milium effusum populations along a 1900-2300 km latitudinal gradient from N France to N Sweden. We then applied multilevel models to identify the effects of regional (temperature, latitude) and local (soil fertility and acidity, overstorey canopy cover) environmental factors on LHS traits.
Both species displayed a significant 4% increase in plant height with every degree northward shift (almost a two-fold plant height difference between the southernmost and northernmost populations). Neither seed mass nor SLA showed a significant latitudinal cline. Temperature had a large effect on the three LHS traits of Anemone. Latitude, canopy cover and soil nutrients were related to the SLA and plant height of Milium. None of the investigated variables appeared to be related to the seed mass of Milium.
The variation in LHS traits indicates that the ecological strategy determined by the position of each population in this three-factor triangle is not constant along the latitudinal gradient. The significant increase in plant height suggests greater competitive abilities for both species in the northernmost populations. We also found that the studied environmental factors affected the LHS traits of the two species on various scales: spring-flowering Anemone was affected more by temperature, whereas early-summer flowering Milium was affected more by local and other latitude-related factors. Finally, previously reported cross-species correlations between LHS traits and latitude were generally unsupported by our within-species approach.
Ecography : pattern and diversity in ecology ; research papers forum
10.1111/j.1600-0587.2010.06399.x
0906-7590
wos:2011-2013
WOS:000287741300014
De Frenne, P (reprint author), Univ Ghent, Lab Forestry, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090 Melle Gontrode, Belgium., Pieter.DeFrenne@UGent.be
Petra and Karl Erik Hedborg Foundation; EU [506004]; FWO; Inst. for the
Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders
(IWT-Vlaanderen); Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Pieter De Frenne
Bente J. Graae
Annette Kolb
Anna Shevtsova
Lander Baeten
Jörg Brunet
Olivier Chabrerie
Sara A. O. Cousins
Guillaume Decocq
Rob Dhondt
Martin Diekmann
Robert Gruwez
Thilo Heinken
Martin Hermy
Mathias Oster
Robert Saguez
Sharon Stanton
Wesley Tack
Margot Vanhellemont
Kris Verheyen
Institut für Biochemie und Biologie
Referiert
36595
2011
2011
eng
3240
3253
14
10
17
article
Wiley-Blackwell
Hoboken
1
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Temperature effects on forest herbs assessed by warming and transplant experiments along a latitudinal gradient
Slow-colonizing forest understorey plants are probably not able to rapidly adjust their distribution range following large-scale climate change. Therefore, the acclimation potential to climate change within their actual occupied habitats will likely be key for their short-and long-term persistence. We combined transplant experiments along a latitudinal gradient with open-top chambers to assess the effects of temperature on phenology, growth and reproductive performance of multiple populations of slow-colonizing understorey plants, using the spring flowering geophytic forb Anemone nemorosa and the early summer flowering grass Milium effusum as study species. In both species, emergence time and start of flowering clearly advanced with increasing temperatures. Vegetative growth (plant height, aboveground biomass) and reproductive success (seed mass, seed germination and germinable seed output) of A. nemorosa benefited from higher temperatures. Climate warming may thus increase future competitive ability and colonization rates of this species. Apart from the effects on phenology, growth and reproductive performance of M. effusum generally decreased when transplanted southwards (e. g., plant size and number of individuals decreased towards the south) and was probably more limited by light availability in the south. Specific leaf area of both species increased when transplanted southwards, but decreased with open-top chamber installation in A. nemorosa. In general, individuals of both species transplanted at the home site performed best, suggesting local adaptation. We conclude that contrasting understorey plants may display divergent plasticity in response to changing temperatures which may alter future understorey community dynamics.
Global change biology
10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02449.x
1354-1013
wos:2011-2013
WOS:000294571700019
De Frenne, P (reprint author), Univ Ghent, Lab Forestry, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090 Melle Gontrode, Belgium., Pieter.DeFrenne@UGent.be
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO); Kempe Foundation; Petra and Karl
Erik Hedborg Foundation; EU [Fp6 506004]; Ghent University; Institute
for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders
(IWT-Vlaanderen)
Pieter De Frenne
Jorg Brunet
Anna Shevtsova
Annette Kolb
Bente J. Graae
Olivier Chabrerie
Sara Ao Cousins
Guillaume Decocq
An De Schrijver
Martin Diekmann
Robert Gruwez
Thilo Heinken
Martin Hermy
Christer Nilsson
Sharon Stanton
Wesley Tack
Justin Willaert
Kris Verheyen
eng
uncontrolled
climate change
eng
uncontrolled
common garden experiment
eng
uncontrolled
forest understorey
eng
uncontrolled
latitude
eng
uncontrolled
local adaptation
eng
uncontrolled
open-top chambers
eng
uncontrolled
phenotypic plasticity
eng
uncontrolled
pot experiment
Institut für Biochemie und Biologie
Referiert
37113
2011
2011
eng
327
341
15
3-4
92
article
Cramer
Stuttgart
1
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Bryophyte dispersal by sheep on dry grassland
Many bryophytes may depend on epizoochorous dispersal by large mammals for maintaining their populations and colonizing new habitats. On dry grassland we investigated the transport of bryophyte diaspores by sheep, which are known to be effective epizoochorous dispersal vectors of seed plants. Twelve sheep of two breeds were examined by collecting gametophyte fragments from their fleece and hooves. Furthermore, microscopic diaspores from the soil adhering to the hooves were grown in a greenhouse. Species frequency and composition were compared to bryophyte vegetation on the pasture. Considerable amounts of unspecialized gametophyte fragments from 16 moss species, 40% of the species growing on the pasture, were transported by sheep, especially on the belly and the tail. Additionally, we provide first evidence of epizoochorous dispersal of thallus fragments from fruticose lichens. Sheep breeds differed in species spectrum and frequency, i.e. sheep with dense, curly fleece carried more fragments and larger species than those with smooth and fine hair. Among the dispersed bryophytes pleurocarps, certain taxa, sizes (small species) and life forms (mats) were overrepresented compared to the vegetation of the pasture, while large species, acrocarps, wefts and turfs were underrepresented, reflecting fragmentation and adhesion features of the species. In the hooves mostly acrocarpous colonist species were transported. We conclude that sheep are important dispersal vectors with the potential of long-range dispersal for bryophytes, especially for species without sexual reproduction, and that epizoochorous dispersal of microscopic diaspores might be underestimated in its importance so far.
Nova Hedwigia : Zeitschrift für Kryptogamenkunde
10.1127/0029-5035/2011/0092-0327
0029-5035
wos:2011-2013
WOS:000290600400004
Heinken, T (reprint author), Univ Potsdam, Inst Biochem & Biol, Maulbeerallee 1, D-14469 Potsdam, Germany., heinken@uni-potsdam.de
Franziska Pauliuk
Jörg Müller
Thilo Heinken
eng
uncontrolled
Calcareous grassland
eng
uncontrolled
dispersal of cryptogams
eng
uncontrolled
epizoochory
eng
uncontrolled
shoot fragments
eng
uncontrolled
life history attributes
eng
uncontrolled
vegetative reproduction
Institut für Biochemie und Biologie
Referiert