Age distribution and fertility of populations of the arctic-alpine species Oxyria digyna

Age distributions and fruit production of populations of Oxyria digyna (L) Hill were studied in Norway and Greenland. The observed age distributions were described by the negative exponential function and by the power function. Three kinds of distributions were observed: steep, flat and bell-shaped with the corresponding hint production: 33–917, 8–108 and 76–303 fruits per individual. The population with the steep age distributions and high fruit productions were assumed to be increasing. They were found in sites with almost no vegetation (≤10% cover). The populations with the flat age distributions and the low fruit production were assumed to be stable. They were found in sites with a vegetational cover of 50–75%. The populations with the bell-shaped age distributions and the intermediate fruit productions were assumed to be decreasing. They were found in sites with a closed vegetation (cover ≥100%).