Life history and morphological variation in intraspecific seeder and resprouter populations of two species from rock outcrop vegetation in north-east New South Wales
Andrew Benwell A C and Bruce McCorkell B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A PO Box 641, Mullumbimby, NSW 2482, Australia.
B Tamworth Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Industry and Investment, Tamworth, NSW 2340, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: ecos@nrg.com.au
Australian Journal of Botany 59(3) 197-206 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT07084
Submitted: 6 May 2007 Accepted: 25 February 2011 Published: 9 May 2011
Abstract
The processes underlying differentiation of seeder and resprouter life histories were explored by studying changes in life history and morphological traits in intraspecific seeder and resprouter populations of the grass Entolasia stricta and shrub Keraudrenia hillii var. hillii from adjoining rock pavement and fringing woodland habitats. Population traits were sampled in the field and studied under controlled conditions in a randomised experimental design with two levels of population/habitat (seeder/rock outcrop and resprouter/woodland) and two levels of fertiliser (low and high). Life history traits reflecting rate of growth, relative allocation of resources to reproductive and vegetative growth and timing of events, as well as a selection of simple morphological traits were recorded. Generalised linear model analysis showed that population had a strong, significant effect on the majority of traits examined, particularly those relating to reproductive output. Many traits were also significantly responsive to nutrient, or induced plasticity, and significant interaction terms were very few. The two species exhibited parallel intraspecific changes in life history between habitats and traits recorded under experimental conditions were similar to those observed in the field. The populations from pavement shrubland produced a more compact shoot system, faster early shoot growth (E. stricta), more numerous flowers and more numerous and lighter seeds. In fringing woodland, both species produced a larger shoot system, slower early shoot growth and fewer and larger seeds. Significant intraspecific differences in population traits and correlation of population with habitat type indicated that the intraspecific seeder-resprouter populations of both species were ecotypes selected by habitat factors, most likely associated with the edaphic environment rather than fire regime variables.
References
Antonovics J (2006) Evolution in closely adjacent plant populations X: long-term persistence of prereproductive isolation at a mine boundary. Heredity 97, 33–37.| Evolution in closely adjacent plant populations X: long-term persistence of prereproductive isolation at a mine boundary.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD28zosFSisw%3D%3D&md5=1ac7c9c85469a697f9ca1a437f382b7bCAS | 16639420PubMed |
Antonovics J, Bradshaw AD (1970) Evolution in closely adjacent plant populations. VIII. Clinal patterns at a mine boundary. Heredity 25, 349–362.
| Evolution in closely adjacent plant populations. VIII. Clinal patterns at a mine boundary.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Amzallag GN (2000) Maternal transmission of adaptive modifications in salt-treated Sorghum bicolor: a first stage in ecotypic differentiation? New Phytologist 146, 483–492.
| Maternal transmission of adaptive modifications in salt-treated Sorghum bicolor: a first stage in ecotypic differentiation?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Attiwill PM, Leeper GW (1987) ‘Forest soils and nutrient cycles.’ (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne)
Bell TL (2001) Ecological response syndromes in the flora of southwestern Western Australia: fire resprouters versus reseeders. Botanical Review 67, 417–440.
| Ecological response syndromes in the flora of southwestern Western Australia: fire resprouters versus reseeders.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bell TL, Pate JS (1993) Morphotypic differentiation in the south-western Australian restiad Lyginia barbata R. Br. (Restionaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 41, 91–104.
| Morphotypic differentiation in the south-western Australian restiad Lyginia barbata R. Br. (Restionaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bellingham PJ, Sparrow AD (2000) Resprouting as a life history strategy in woody plant communities. Oikos 89, 409–416.
| Resprouting as a life history strategy in woody plant communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bennington CC, McGraw JB (1995) Natural selection and ecotypic differentiation in Impatiens pallida. Ecological Monographs 65, 303–323.
| Natural selection and ecotypic differentiation in Impatiens pallida.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Benson DH (1985) Maturation periods for fire sensitive shrub species in Hawkesbury sandstone vegetation. Cunninghamia I, 339–349.
Benwell AS (1998) Post-fire seedling recruitment in coastal heathland in relation to regeneration strategy and habitat. Australian Journal of Botany 46, 75–101.
| Post-fire seedling recruitment in coastal heathland in relation to regeneration strategy and habitat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Benwell AS (2004) Maintenance of diversity in volcanic outcrop vegetation of the Morton Region, Central Eastern Australia. PhD Thesis, University of New England, Armidale.
Benwell AS (2007) Response of rock outcrop and fringing vegetation to disturbance by fire and drought. Australian Journal of Botany 55, 736–748.
| Response of rock outcrop and fringing vegetation to disturbance by fire and drought.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bond WJ, Midgley JJ (2003) The evolutionary ecology of sprouting in woody plants. International Journal of Plant Sciences 164, S103–S114.
| The evolutionary ecology of sprouting in woody plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bormann FH, Likens GE (1979) ‘Pattern and process in a forested ecosystem.’ (Springer: Berlin)
Bradstock RA, Williams JE, Gill M (2002) ‘Flammable Australia: the fire regime and biodiversity of a continent.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge)
Briggs D, Walters SM (1997) ‘Plant variation and evolution.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge)
Brown VK, Southwood TRE (1987) Secondary succession: patterns and strategies. In ‘Colonisation, succession and stability’. (Eds AJ Gray, MJ Crawley, PJ Edwards) pp. 315–337. (Blackwell Scientific Publications: Oxford)
Christensen PE, Kimber PC (1975) Effects of prescribed burning on the flora and fauna of south-west Australian forests. Proceedings Ecological Society of Australia 9, 85–106.
Clarke PJ, Knox KJE (2002) Post-fire response of shrubs in the tablelands of eastern Australia: do existing models explain habitat differences? Australian Journal of Botany 50, 53–62.
| Post-fire response of shrubs in the tablelands of eastern Australia: do existing models explain habitat differences? Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gill AM (1981) Coping with fire. In ‘The biology of Australian plants’. (Eds JS Pate, AJ McComb) pp. 65–87. (University of Western Australia Press: Nedlands)
Gill AM, Bradstock R (1992) A national register for the fire responses of plant species. Cunninghamia 2, 653–660.
Gilmour AR, Gogel BJ, Cullis BR, Thompson R (2006) ‘ASREML User Guide Release 2.0.’ (VSN International Ltd: Hemel Hempstead, UK)
Grime JP (1993) Stress, competition, resource dynamics and vegetation processes. In ‘Plant adaptations to environmental stress’. (Eds L Fowden, T Mansfield, J Stoddart) pp. 45–63. (Chapman and Hall: New York)
Harden GJ (Ed.) (1993) ‘Flora of New South Wales. Volume 4.’ (New South Wales University Press: Sydney)
Harden GJ (Ed.) (2000) ‘Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1.’ 2nd edn. (New South Wales University Press: Sydney)
Hopper SD (2000) Floristics of Australian granitoid inselberg vegetation. In ‘Inselbergs: biotic diversity of isolated rock outcrops in tropical and temperate regions’. (Eds S Porembski, W Barthlott) pp. 391–404. (Springer: Berlin)
Hunter JT (2003) Persistence on inselbergs: the role of obligate seeders and resprouters. Journal of Biogeography 30, 497–510.
| Persistence on inselbergs: the role of obligate seeders and resprouters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Huston MA (1994) ‘Biological diversity, the coexistence of species on changing landscapes.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge)
Keith D (1996) Fire-driven extinction of plant populations: a synthesis of theory and review of evidence from Australian vegetation. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 116, 37–76.
Linehart YB, Grant MC (1996) Evolutionary significance of local genetic differentiation in plants. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 27, 237–277.
McCullagh P, Nelder JA (1983) ‘Generalized linear models.’ (Chapman and Hall: London)
Mazer JS, LeBuhn G (1999) Genetic variation in life-history traits: heritability estimates within and genetic differentiation among populations. In ‘Life history evolution in plants’. (Eds TO Vuorisalo, PK Mutikainen) pp. 85–148. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: London)
Morrison DA, Cary GJ, Penjelly SM, Ross DG, Mullins BG, Thomas CR, Anderson TS (1995) Effects of fire frequency on plant species composition of sandstone communities in the Sydney region: interfire interval and time since fire. Australian Journal of Ecology 20, 239–247.
| Effects of fire frequency on plant species composition of sandstone communities in the Sydney region: interfire interval and time since fire.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Naveh Z (1975) The evolutionary significance of fire in the Mediterranean region. Vegetatio 29, 199–208.
| The evolutionary significance of fire in the Mediterranean region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pausas JG, Bradstock RA, Keith DA, Keeley JE (2004) Plant functional traits in relation to fire in crown-fire ecosystems. Ecology 85, 1085–1100.
Pate JS (1993) Structural and functional responses to fire and nutrient stress: case studies from the sandplains of South-West Australia. In ‘Plant adaptation to environmental stress’. (Eds L Fowden, T Mansfield, J Stoddart) (Chapman and Hall: London) pp 189-205
Pate JS, Meney KA, Dixon KW (1991) Contrasting growth and morphological characteristics of fire sensitive (obligate seeder) and fire resistant (resprouter) species Restionaceae (S. Hemisphere Restiads) from southwestern Western Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 39, 505–525.
| Contrasting growth and morphological characteristics of fire sensitive (obligate seeder) and fire resistant (resprouter) species Restionaceae (S. Hemisphere Restiads) from southwestern Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Purdie RW (1977a) Early stages of regeneration after burning in dry sclerophyll vegetation. I. Regeneration of the understorey by vegetative means. Australian Journal of Botany 25, 21–34.
| Early stages of regeneration after burning in dry sclerophyll vegetation. I. Regeneration of the understorey by vegetative means.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Purdie RW (1977b) Early stages of regeneration after burning in dry sclerophyll vegetation. II. Regeneration by seed germination. Australian Journal of Botany 25, 35–46.
| Early stages of regeneration after burning in dry sclerophyll vegetation. II. Regeneration by seed germination.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Saura-Mas S, Lloret F (2007) Leaf and shoot water content and leaf dry matter content of Mediterranean woody species with different post-fire regeneration strategies. Annals of Botany 99, 545–554.
| Leaf and shoot water content and leaf dry matter content of Mediterranean woody species with different post-fire regeneration strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2s7jtVymtg%3D%3D&md5=4b1f7259e2ba81318d99800a53223201CAS | 17237213PubMed |
Schwilk DH, Ackerly DD (2005) Is there a cost to resprouting? Seedling growth rate and drought tolerance in sprouting and nonsprouting Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae). American Journal of Botany 92, 404–410.
| Is there a cost to resprouting? Seedling growth rate and drought tolerance in sprouting and nonsprouting Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Siddiqui MY, Carolin RC, Myerscough PJ (1976) Studies in the ecology of coastal heath in New South Wales. III. Regrowth of vegetation after fire. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 101, 53–63.
Stearns S (1992) ‘The evolution of life histories.’ (Oxford University Press: Oxford)
Steel RGD, Torrie JH, Dickey DA (1997) ‘Principles and procedures of statistics: a biometrical approach.’ (The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.: Sydney)
Turesson G (1922) The genotypical response of the plant species to the habitat. Hereditas 3, 211–350.
| The genotypical response of the plant species to the habitat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Verdaguer D, Ojeda F (2002) Root starch storage and allocation patterns in seeder and resprouter seedlings of two Cape Erica (Ericacaeae) species. American Journal of Botany 89, 1189–1196.
| Root starch storage and allocation patterns in seeder and resprouter seedlings of two Cape Erica (Ericacaeae) species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Verdaguer D, Ojeda F (2005) Evolutionary transition from resprouter to seeder life history in two Erica (Ericaceae) species: insights from seedling axillary buds. Annals of Botany 95, 593–599.
Vilà-Cabrera A, Saura-Mas S, Lloret F (2008) Effects of fire frequency on species composition in a Mediterranean shrubland. Ecoscience 15, 519–528.
| Effects of fire frequency on species composition in a Mediterranean shrubland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
VSN International Ltd (2010) ‘The guide to Genstat: release 13.1.’ (VSN International Ltd: Hemel Hempstead, UK)
Wark MC, White MD, Robertson DJ, Marriott PF (1987) Regeneration of heath and heath woodland in the north-eastern Otway Ranges, following the wildfire of February 1983. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 99, 51–88.
Weiner J, Martinez S, Muller-Sharer H, Stoll P, Schmid B (1997) How important are environmental maternal effects in plants? A study of Centaurea maculea. Journal of Ecology 85, 133–142.
| How important are environmental maternal effects in plants? A study of Centaurea maculea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wells PV (1969) The relation between mode of regeneration and extent of speciation in woody genera of the California chaparral. Evolution 23, 264–267.
| The relation between mode of regeneration and extent of speciation in woody genera of the California chaparral.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yates CJ, Hopper SD, Brown A, van Leeuwen S (2003) Impact of two wildfires on endemic granite outcrop vegetation in Western Australia. Journal of Vegetation Science 14, 185–194.
| Impact of two wildfires on endemic granite outcrop vegetation in Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
