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Explore the concept of seed dormancy and its importance in population dynamics in plants. Learn about different dormancy mechanisms and population models used to study plant populations.
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Plants “Special” • High phenotypic plasticity (Done) • Indeterminant growth (Done) • Clonal growth (Done) • Seed dormancy Dana Carvey as the Church Lady
Plant Features • 4) Seed dormancy • Dormancy: arrested growth embryo • Lupinus arcticus (10,000 yr) • (arctic lupine) • Lotus (400 yr)
Seed dormancy • Seed bank: pop’n dormant seeds • In soil
Seed dormancy • Seed bank (/m2): • Ag fields: 20,000-40,000 • Tropical forest: <1,000 • Subarctic forest: 10-100
Seed dormancy • Seed bank: population dormant seeds • On plant • closed cone pines (ex, knobcone pine) • Serotinous cones (open postfire) • Banksia (Australia)
Dormancy mechanisms • 1) incomplete embryo development
Dormancy mechanisms • 2) biochemical trigger • environment cue starts germ. • stratification: cold) • sumorization: heat. Some desert annuals. Max. germ.: 50 C, 4 wk
Dormancy mechanisms • 3) impermeable seed coat/fruit wall • scarification: breaks Sand paper!
Dormancy mechanisms • Scarification: Fire • Ex: chaparral (shrub vegetation: Mediterranean climate) • Pine Hill flannel bush (Fremontodendron decumbens) • Best germ.: 5 min @ 100 C! Another study by Tony Danza!
Dormancy mechanisms • Scarification: Mechanical abrasion • Ex, smoke tree in arroyo (
Dormancy mechanisms • 4) germination inhibitors (seed coat/fruit wall)
Importance of seed banks • 1) May differ from vegetation • Ex, African rain forest • 147 tree spp. • 22 in seed bank (none same as growing)
Importance of seed banks • 2) Most pop’n: seed bank • Ex, CA annual grassland. • 100 grasses/m2, 30,000 seeds/m2
Importance of seed banks • 3) Seed bank genetic reservoir • Differ from
Population Models • 1) Simple discrete-time model • N(t) = number now • Future time (t+1): • N(t+1)=N(t) + B + I - D – E
Population Models • 1) Simple discrete-time model • Usu. ignore I & E
Population Models • 1) Simple discrete-time model • Usu. ignore I & E • Important metapopulations ( • Ex, Cakile (sea rocket)
Population Models • Ex, Cakile (sea rocket) summer winter Tony D!
Population Models • Ex, Cakile (sea rocket) • Beach pop’n “source”, dune “sink” pop’n winter summer
Population Models • 1) Simple discrete-time model • Nt = number now • At time (t+1): • N(t+1)=Nt + B + I - D – E
Population Models • 2) Continuous time models • b=birth rate • d=death rate • rmax=b-d; intrinsic rate of natural increase • Rate pop’n change=dN/dt • dN/dt=Nrmax Curve?
Population Models • 2) Continuous time models • dN/dt=Nrmax • Exponential growth. Ideal conditions…
Population Models • 2) Continuous time models • Limiting • Logistic growth. Pop. max. @ K (carrying capacity):
Population Models • 2) Continuous time models • Eqn.? Start dN/dt=Nrmax • Add “scaling factor” (K-N)/K • dN/dt=Nrmax (K-N)/K • N small, (K-N)/K almost 1 • N near K, (K-N)/K very small
Population Models • Plant Point 1: K based on density • Animals: most inds. • Plants: hi modular • Crowding capacity: combine density