Effects of floral herbivory on maternal reproduction in Sanicula arctopoides (Apiaceae)
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Authors: G. J. Lowenberg
Date: 1994
Journal: Ecology
Volume: 75
Number: 2
Pages: 359-369
Summary of Methods: In Sanicula arctopoides, a perennial monocarp, removal of umbels, both naturally by deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and by artificial clipping early in the flowering season in California, led to no loss of maternal reproduction as measured by seed number and seed mass. Compared to controls, artificial removal of developing fruits 20 days later than the normal stage resulted in a 42% decrease in seed production. Successive clippings that removed about 55% of each plant's flowers resulted in a 52% decrease in seed production relative to controls; however, a single clipping of the same intensity resulted in full compensation. Differential reactions to clipping of different umbel ranks provided information about the mechanism of response. These responses indicated that delayed abortion of developing seeds may be common in secondary umbels, that removal of secondary umbels by herbivores may relieve plants of some costs of abortion, and that S. arctopoides uses flexible allocation to achieve full compensation at typical levels of floral herbivory.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: compensation, herbivory, black-tailed deer, odocoileus hemionus, plant-herbivore interactions, sanicula arctopoides, seed production, seed/fruit abortion, umbels
Annotation: Marked 53 plants which were divided into three groups: 1) 20 ungrazed plants 2) 12 lightly grazed plants with the primary and fewer than half of all secondary umbels missing (typically only one secondary grazed) 3) 20 moderately grazed plants with the primary and over half of all secondary umbels missing (typically the primary and all secondary umbels missing). Clipping was used to achieve moderate and severe removals.
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