scholarly journals Disentangling the effects of jasmonate and tissue loss on the sex allocation of an annual plant

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Villamil ◽  
Benoit Sommervogel ◽  
John R Pannell
Keyword(s):  
Sex Allocation ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Resource Limitation ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Sex Expression ◽  
Tissue Loss ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Annual Plant ◽  
Sexual Systems ◽  
Male Reproductive Effort

Selection through pollinators plays a major role in the evolution of reproductive traits. However, herbivory can also induce changes in plant sexual expression and sexual systems, potentially influencing conditions governing transitions between sexual systems. Previous work has shown that herbivory has a strong effect on sex allocation in the wind-pollinated annual plant Mercurialis annua, likely mediated by resource loss. It is also known that many plants respond to herbivory by inducing signalling, and endogenous responses to it, via the plant hormone jasmonate. Here, we attempt to uncouple the effects of herbivory on sex allocation in M. annua through resource limitation (tissue loss) versus plant responses to jasmonate hormone signalling. We used a two-factorial experiment with four treatment combinations: control, herbivory (25% chronic tissue loss), jasmonate, and combined herbivory and jasmonate. We estimated the effects of tissue loss and defence-inducing hormones on reproductive allocation, male reproductive effort, and sex allocation. Tissue loss caused plants to reduce their male reproductive effort, resulting in changes in combined sex allocation. However, application of jasmonate after herbivory reversed its effect on male investment. Our results show that herbivory has consequences on plant sex expression and sex allocation, and that defence-related hormones such as jasmonate can buffer the impacts. We discuss the physiological mechanisms that might underpin the effects of herbivory on sex allocation, and their potential implications for the evolution of plant sexual systems.

scholarly journals When to be a male? Role of resource-limitation and pollinators in determining floral sex in an andromonoecious spiderwort

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asawari Albal ◽  
G Azad ◽  
Saket Shrotri ◽  
Vinita Gowda
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Resource Limitation ◽  
Sex Expression ◽  
Sexual Systems ◽  
Pollinator Preference ◽  
Optimal Resource ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Nutrient Resources

AbstractThe evolution and maintenance of sexual systems in plants is often driven by resource allocation and pollinator preferences, and very little is known about their role in determining floral sex expression in plants. In annual, entomophilous plants three major constraints can be identified towards optimal reproduction: 1) nutrient resources available from the environment, 2) nutrient resources allocated towards reproduction, i.e., fruits vs. flowers, and 3) pollinator visitations.Andromonoecy is a sexual system where plants bear both staminate and hermaphrodite flowers on the same inflorescence. The optimal resource allocation hypothesis suggests that under nutrient constraints, plants will produce more male flowers since they are energetically cheaper to produce over the more expensive hermaphrodite flowers. We test this hypothesis in the andromonoecious Murdannia simplex (Commelinaceae) by quantifying male and hermaphrodite flowers in a natural population and contrasting the distribution of the two sexes in plants from two resource conditions (stream population vs. plateau population). We next carried out choice experiments to test pollinator preference towards a specific sex.We found that in M. simplex, production of hermaphrodite flowers is resource-dependent and under resource constraints fewer numbers of flowers were produced and most of them were males. We failed to observe pollinator preference towards either sex but Amegilla spp. and Apis cerana showed higher visitation towards the most abundant sex within a trial, suggesting frequency-dependent visitation. Thus, we conclude that environmentally driven resource constraints play a bigger role in driving floral sex expression in Murdannia over direct pollinator-driven constraints.

scholarly journals Give ‘til it hurts: trade-offs between immunity and male reproductive effort in the decorated cricket,Gryllodes sigillatus

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 829-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. GERSHMAN ◽  
C. A. BARNETT ◽  
A. M. PETTINGER ◽  
C. B. WEDDLE ◽  
J. HUNT ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Gryllodes Sigillatus ◽  
Male Reproductive Effort ◽  
Decorated Cricket

scholarly journals Small-scale and regional spatial dynamics of an annual plant with contrasting sexual systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 1044-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel E. Dorken ◽  
Robert P. Freckleton ◽  
John R. Pannell
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Annual Plant ◽  
Sexual Systems

scholarly journals Outbreeding and inbreeding strategies in herbaceous-shrubby communities in the Venezuelan Gran Sabana Plateau

AoB Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson Ramírez ◽  
Omaira Hokche
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Carbon Metabolism ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Sex Expression ◽  
Perennial Herb ◽  
Sexual System ◽  
Dioecious Species ◽  
Successional Stage ◽  
Sexual Systems ◽  
Perennial Herbs

Abstract Breeding system, sexual system, temporal variation in sex expression and herkogamy were evaluated in seven herbaceous-shrubby communities from the Gran Sabana Plateau, Venezuela. This analysis was conducted considering the life form, substrate type, succulence, carbon metabolism, nutritional relation, successional stage, pollination system specificity and endemism of plant species. Of the 348 plant species studied, 73.8 % were hermaphrodite, 16.9 % were monoecious and 9.2 % were dioecious. Plant sexual systems such as dichogamy and herkogamy were associated with life form, nutritional relations, carbon metabolism and pollination systems. Most species were adichogamous, followed by protandrous and protogynous. Protandry was high for perennial herbs, annual herbs and trees, and protogyny was most frequent in perennial herbs. Protandrous and protogynous species were frequently anemophilous. Herkogamy was higher than non-herkogamy. Herkogamy was higher for trees, shrubs and liana; higher in monophilous and lower in anemophilous species. Most of the hermaphrodites were herkogamous and adichogamous species. In contrast, monoecy were commonly perennial herb and dichogamous species and frequently associated with anemophily. Dioecious species were trees and shrubs and with polyphilous pollination. Dioecy was the most frequent sexual system for endemic species. Hermaphrodite species were similarly distributed across plant communities. Monoecy was slightly higher for savanna and fallow than the other communities, and dioecy was higher for shrublands and secondary bushland. Most plant species were non-agamospermous, non-spontaneous self-pollinated and xenogamous. Partially self-incompatible dominated, followed by self-incompatible, partially cross-incompatible and the lowest frequency corresponded to cross-incompatible species. All these results are discussed in the context of evolutionary and ecological trends.

Altitudinal variation in reproductive strategy of the toad-headed lizard, Phrynocephalus vlangalii in North Tibet Plateau (Qinghai)

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan-Ting Jin ◽  
Nai-Fa Liu
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Sand Lizard ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
The Common ◽  
Anatomical Constraints

Abstract Phrynocephalus vlangalii, a toad-headed viviparous sand lizard, is endemic in the Northern Tibet (Qinghai) Plateau in China. Lizards were collected from 14 localities along the large altitudinal gradient (2289-4565 m a.s.l) to analyze the variation of reproductive traits among localities. Both litter size and mean offspring (scaled embryo) mass were positively correlated with female snout-vent length (SVL). Females produced fewer and larger offspring with increasing elevation when the effect of body size (SVL) was removed. This strategy may possibly be correlated with early survival and growth of offspring. The decreased litter size cline along altitudinal gradient might be correlated with more anatomical constraints at higher altitudes. The lizard has lower coefficient of variation (CV) of litter size at higher environments. Moreover, females from higher elevations had less reproductive investment (relative litter mass, RLM). Study concluded that P. vlangalii fit into the common pattern of higher elevation animals that have smaller clutches of larger offspring and lower reproductive effort.

Clutch size influences embryonic stages at oviposition in a lizard with prolonged egg retention

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Foucart ◽  
Benoit Heulin ◽  
Olivier Lourdais
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Resource Limitation ◽  
Egg Retention ◽  
Zootoca Vivipara ◽  
Female Relative ◽  
Clutch Mass

We examined the possible interaction between reproductive effort and embryonic stages at oviposition in oviparous form of the lizard Zootoca vivipara. Our results reveal that the percentage of total embryonic development time (%TEDT) reached at oviposition is negatively correlated to clutch size (adjusted to maternal body size). We found no influence of reproductive burden of female (relative clutch mass, RCM) on %TEDT. The significant effect of fecundity supports the hypothesis that a resource limitation such as oxygen may exist for developing embryos in oviducts. The absence of RCM effect suggests that the available space (abdominal burdening of the mother) does not limit the embryonic stages at oviposition.

Sex-allocation plasticity in hermaphrodites of sexually dimorphic Fragaria virginiana (Rosaceae)

Botany ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J. Bishop ◽  
Rachel B. Spigler ◽  
Tia-Lynn Ashman
Keyword(s):  
Sex Allocation ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Flower Number ◽  
Fragaria Virginiana ◽  
Ovule Number ◽  
Indirect Consequence ◽  
Resource Gradient

Sex-allocation plasticity is thought to play an important role in the evolution of separate sexes in plants. Accordingly, much attention has been paid to environmentally induced variation in fruit and seed production in sexually dimorphic species, but we know little about whether this variation arises as a direct response to environmental variation or is instead an indirect consequence of changes in plant size. In this study, we characterize sex-allocation plasticity across a resource gradient for several reproductive traits in hermaphrodites of gyno(sub)dioecious Fragaria virginiana Duch. We find significant plasticity, on average, for flower number, proportion fruit set, ovule number, proportion seed set, and runner number in response to resource variation. Plasticity of most traits examined tended to be at least partially independent of variation in plant size, suggesting that it is not simply an indirect consequence of plant allometry. Moreover, we find genetic variation for plasticity of key reproductive traits. Comparisons of relative plasticities among traits reveal that F. virginiana hermaphrodites are more likely to adjust female investment via changes in fruit and seed set than ovule number, and most likely to adjust male investment via flower number rather than anther number or pollen per anther, although there is genotypic variation for plasticity in pollen per anther. Evidence of within-population variation can logically be extended to suggest that variation in hermaphrodite sex-expression seen among natural populations of F. virginiana may be due, at least in part, to sex-allocation plasticity.

scholarly journals The dual C and O isotope – gas exchange model: A concept review for understanding plant responses to the environment and its application in tree rings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf Siegwolf ◽  
Marco Lehmann ◽  
Gregory Goldsmith ◽  
Olga Churakova (Sidorova) ◽  
Cathleen Mirande-Ney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Leaf Gas Exchange ◽  
Isotopic Fractionation ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Resource Limitation ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Dual Isotope ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Mechanistic Basis ◽  
Concept Review

The combined study of C and O isotopes in plant organic matter has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding plant functional response to environmental change. The approach relies on established relationships between leaf gas exchange and isotopic fractionation to derive a series of model scenarios that can be used to draw inferences about changes in photosynthetic assimi-lation and stomatal conductance driven by changes in environmental parameters (CO2, water availability, air humidity, temperature, nutrients). We review the mechanistic basis for model and research to date, and discuss where isotopic observations don’t match our current under-standing of plant physiological response to environment. We demonstrate that 1) the model has been applied successfully in many, but not all studies, and 2), while originally conceived for leaf isotopes, the model has been applied extensively to tree ring isotopes in the context of tree phys-iology and dendrochronology. Where isotopic observations deviate from physiologically plau-sible conclusions, this mismatch between gas-exchange and isotope response provides valuable insights on underlying physiological processes. Overall, we found that isotope responses can be grouped into situations of increasing resource limitation versus higher resource availability. Thus, the dual isotope model helps to interpret plant responses to a multitude of environmental factors.

scholarly journals Long-term effects of snowmelt timing and climate warming on phenology, growth and reproductive effort of arctic tundra plant species

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther R. Frei ◽  
Greg H.R. Henry
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Passive Warming ◽  
Species Specific

Arctic regions are particularly affected by rapidly rising temperatures and altered snow regimes. Snowmelt timing depends on spring temperatures and winter snow accumulation. Scenarios for the Arctic include both decreases and increases in snow accumulation. Predictions of future snowmelt timing are thus difficult and experimental evidence for ecological consequences is scarce. In 1995, a long-term factorial experiment was set up in a High Arctic evergreen shrub heath community on Ellesmere Island, Canada. We investigated how snow removal, snow addition and passive warming affected phenology, growth and reproductive effort of the four common tundra plant species <i>Cassiope tetragona</i>, <i>Dryas integrifolia</i>, <i>Luzula arctica</i> and <i>Papaver radicatum</i>. Timing of flowering and seed maturation as well as flower production were more strongly influenced by the combined effects of snowmelt timing and warming in the two shrub species than in the two herbaceous species. Warming effects persisted over the course of the growing season and resulted in increased shrub growth. Moreover, the long-term trend of increasing growth in two species suggests that ambient warming promotes tundra plant growth. Our results confirm the importance of complex interactions between temperature and snowmelt timing in driving species-specific plant responses to climate change in the Arctic.

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