Seed size,pollination costs and angiosperm success

Summary Seed plants capture pollen before seeds are dispersed and abort unpollinated ovules. As a result, each seed is associated with an accessory cost that represents the costs of pollen capture and the costs of aborted ovules. Accessory costs may explain the minimum seed size among species, because these costs are likely to comprise a greater proportion of total reproductive allocation in species with smaller seeds. For very small propagules, the costs of pollination may not be worth the benefits, perhaps explaining the persistence of pteridophytic reproduction at small propagule sizes. The smallest angiosperm seeds are much smaller than the smallest gymnosperm seeds, both in the fossil record and in the modern flora. This suggests that angiosperms can produce pollinated ovules more cheaply than gymnosperms. Pollination becomes less efficient as a species decreases in abundance, and this loss of efficiency is greater for species with a higher accessory cost per seed. We propose that the greater reproductive efficiency of angiosperms when rare can explain why angiosperm-dominated floras were more speciose than the gymnosperm-dominated floras they replaced.     

Accessory costs of seed production and the evolution of angiosperms

Accessory costs of reproduction frequently equal or exceed direct investment in offspring, and can limit the evolution of small offspring sizes. Early angiosperms had minimum seed sizes, an order of magnitude smaller than their contemporaries. It has been proposed that changes to reproductive features at the base of the angiosperm clade reduced accessory costs thus removing the fitness disadvantage of small seeds. We measured accessory costs of reproduction in 25 extant gymnosperms and angiosperms, to test whether angiosperms can produce small seeds more economically than gymnosperms. Total accessory costs scaled isometrically to seed mass for angiosperms but less than isometrically for gymnosperms, so that smaller seeds were proportionally more expensive for gymnosperms to produce. In particular, costs of abortions and packaging structures were significantly higher in gymnosperms. Also, the relationship between seed:ovule ratio and seed size was negative in angiosperms but positive in gymnosperms. We argue that the carpel was a key evolutionary innovation reducing accessory costs in angiosperms by allowing sporophytic control of pre- and postzygotic mate selection and timing of resource allocation. The resulting reduction in costs of aborting unfertilized ovules or genetically inferior embryos would have lowered total reproductive costs enabling early angiosperms to evolve small seed sizes and short generation times.     

Pollination limitation to reproductive success in the Missouri evening primrose, Oenothera macrocarpa (Onagraceae)

Habitat fragmentation may result in plant populations that are less attractive to pollinators and thus susceptible to reduced reproductive output due to pollination limitation. Pollination limitation was investigated in three Missouri populations of Oenothera macrocarpa, a hawk-moth-pollinated, perennial herb. The populations represented extremes in size and habitat quality. Following supplemental pollination, mean fertilization success (proportion of ovules fertilized) across populations increased from 24.3 to 44.8% and mean seed set (proportion of ovules that matured into seed) increased from 14.7 to 27.9%. These increases were statistically significant in two of the three populations. Failure to achieve 100% fertilization and seed set following supplementation indicates that other factors, in addition to pollination, were limiting to female reproductive success. Fruit set was pollination limited in only one population. Fruits matured with as few as one seed, suggesting that fruit set was not resource limited. The degree of pollination limitation was greatest in the most disturbed population. The population located in the highest-quality habitat was not significantly pollination limited. This suggests that pollination limitation is occurring, at least in part, because of reduced pollinator activity in degraded habitats.     

两种互逆资源梯度影响下刺叶锦鸡儿的种子选择性败育格局

种子的选择性败育在被子植物中普遍存在,开展结籽格局及其影响因素的研究有助于深入了解种子的形成机制及多样化的生殖对策。以刺叶锦鸡儿Caragana acanthophylla为材料,通过传粉过程、胚珠发育动态和资源分配状况的研究,以探讨种子的选择性败育格局及相关影响因素。结果显示：(1)刺叶锦鸡儿具高度自交不亲和性,为泛化的传粉系统,蜂类是主要的传粉者。自然状态的结实率为(86.00±4.96)%,不存在传粉限制,但受精具明显的时间效应。(2)刺叶锦鸡儿单花期4—5d,每朵花有(14.00±0.14)粒胚珠。胚珠的发育从荚果顶部开始,其中,开花后第3天荚果顶部胚珠开始膨大;第11天绝大多数胚珠出现了膨大,此时,在荚果基部的胚珠开始败育,随后荚果顶端受精后的胚珠也出现败育,最终仅荚果中部形成2—3粒种子。其结籽格局为成熟荚果中部胚珠,而败育荚果顶部和基部胚珠的选择性败育类型。(3)受微地形影响,居群内开花植株具斑块分布,对较少开花植株通过添加水肥进行资源调控后,结籽率显著提高,说明在种子形成过程中存在资源限制。综上所述,受精顺序和资源限制两个互逆的资源梯度决定了刺叶锦鸡儿的结籽格局。其中,...     

The Reproductive Biology and Reproductive Success of Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kurz1

The reproductive biology of Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kurz (pradu) was studied in 37‐year‐old plantation trees in Thailand to determine the causes of seed and fruit loss. Trees flowered at the end of March or early in April at the end of the hot dry season and start of the rainy season. Flowering occurred over about a one‐month period. Fruits developed over the next six months during the rainy season and matured at the start of the cool dry season in October and November. Phenology was similar in the four trees that were studied in detail. Racemes averaged 30 flowers each and each raceme was receptive for several days, although each flower was only receptive for one day. After pollination, floral parts were shed over several days and fruits began to develop. Pradu is entomopholous but its insect pollinators were not identified. The stigma is covered by hairs and a secretion is produced. A high proportion of flowers were pollinated. Then, there was a rapid loss of flowers and young fruits. These observations and earlier genetic studies indicate the probability of a high level of self‐incompatibility in this predominantly outbreeding species. Pradu may have a very late‐acting self‐incompatibility mechanism found in many other hardwoods. The zygote remains quiescent for six weeks as the endosperm develops. During this time most of the ovules and fruits abort, suggesting resource allocation preferentially to cross‐pollinated ovules. Pradu has a high reproductive potential but a low preemergence reproductive success (0.8), which is common for many hardwood species. The major cause of the low reproductive success was fruit loss during early development. Fruit production may be enhanced by increased cross‐pollination among unrelated parent trees. This may be accomplished in seed orchards and seed production areas by the introduction of additional insect pollinators that travel greater distances between trees and by the relatively close spacing of unrelated parent trees.     

BREEDING SYSTEM EVOLUTION IN LEAVENWORTHIA: BREEDING SYSTEM VARIATION AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF LEAVENWORTHIA CRASSA (CRUCIFERAE)

Populations of Leavenworthia crassa (Cruciferae) studied for 3 years exhibited among- and within-population genetic variation for a suite of floral and reproductive traits (flower width, petal length, anther position, ability to set seeds in the absence of pollinators, time to first flowering) associated with breeding system. We used electrophoretic markers to show that a population with small, monomorphically colored flowers with introrse anthers had a significantly lower outcrossing rate (t = 0.03) than did a population with larger, polymorphically colored flowers with extrorse anthers (t = 0.33). In the more-outcrossing population the correlation between higher maternal plant outcrossing rate and the suite of six traits approached significance (P < 0.067), with greater petal size, greater flower width, and reduced ability to set seeds in the absence of pollinators contributing significantly. Plants in selfing populations had a generally higher reproductive success, with a higher number of flowers per plant, a smaller proportion of unfertilized ovules, a smaller proportion of fertilized ovules aborted, a higher rate of fruit set, and overall a larger number of seeds matured than did plants from the more outcrossing populations. Pollen limitation did not appear to account for lower reproductive success in outcrossing populations. Resource limitation did not differ substantially between populations. However, within-ovary patterns of fertilization, abortion, and seed weight were significantly less random in outcrossing populations than in selfing populations, suggesting that differential gamete and embryo success may be responsible for lower reproductive success in outcrossing populations.     

The evolutionary ecology of mast seeding

The past seven years have seen a revolution in understanding the causes of mast seeding In perennial plants. Before 1987, the two main theories were resource matching (i.e. plants vary their reproductive output to match variable resources) and predator satiation (i.e. losses to predators are reduced by varying the seed crop). Today, resource matching is restricted to a proximate role, and predator satiation is only one of many theories for the ultimate advantage of masting. Wind pollination, prediction of favourable years for seedling establishment, animal pollination, animal dispersal of fruits, high accessory costs of reproduction and large seed size have all been advanced as possible causes of masting. Of these, wind pollination, predator satiation and environmental prediction are important in a number of species, but the other theories have less support. In future, Important advances seem likely from quantifying synchrony within a population, and examining species with very constant reproduction between years.     

Does successful ovule development depend on its position within the pod? Examples from Neotropical Fabaceae

Previous studies have shown a nonrandom pattern of ovule fate probabilities according to ovule position in legume pods. Here, we tested how ovule position within the pods of two Fabaceae affects its fate. We expected higher proportion of well‐formed seeds near the fruit tips and of unfertilized and aborted ovules near fruit bases. We collected pods of Poincianella pyramidalis and Anandenanthera colubrina in a seasonal dry forest in northeastern Brazil and recorded total pod length and ovule number, position, and fate (unfertilized, well formed, aborted, and predated). The proportion of well‐formed ovules at fruit tips was significantly higher than at fruit bases in P. pyramidalis. The opposite pattern was found for unfertilized and aborted ovules, thus corroborating our hypothesis. However, the probability of seed predation in A. colubrina was significantly higher in pod tips, thus providing moderate support for our hypotheses. Interspecific differences in the patterns of ovule fate are likely to be driven by species pollination systems.     

Aspects of sexual failure in the reproductive processes of a rare bulbiliferous plant,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Titanotrichum oldhamii</Emphasis> (Gesneriaceae), in subtropical Asia

Titanotrichum oldhamii produces both flowers and asexual bulbils on its inflorescences. However, field observations and herbarium collections indicate that seed set is infrequent and that most reproduction is from vegetative bulbils. We have investigated the failure of sexual reproduction and identified four major causes: (1) in the wild, the seed:ovule ratio for open pollination was only 1.9%, in contrast to 10.1% for artificial cross-pollination, implying poor pollinator services. (2) The overall reproductive success was 5–10 times greater in glasshouse pollination treatments compared to field treatments. This suggests suboptimal environmental conditions for seed set in natural habitats, which may eliminate natural seed set completely. (3) Pollination experiments showed that outcrossed populations set significantly more seed and had higher germination rates than intra-populational and self crosses, in both field and glasshouse experiments. T. oldhamii thus appears to benefit from wide outcrossing. Pollen transfer between populations, however, seems to be infrequent because of the rarity and scattered distribution of Titanotrichum populations. (4) Flowers near the apex of the inflorescence are less likely to set seed, especially late in the season when inflorescences convert to bulbil production. In these late flowers, pollen tubes showed poor guidance as they approach the micropyle of the ovules. Even under optimal glasshouse conditions, the average outcrossing success was only 0.229. Almost one-half of the ovules remained undeveloped and 13.5% of ovules aborted after pollination, indicating a strong shift of resource allocation toward vegetative bulbils and rhizome development. Efficient reproduction from asexual bulbils may thus have released Titanotrichum from strong selection for efficient sexual reproduction. However, occasional seed set observed in the wild may be very important for maintaining some genetic diversity in populations, and promoting overall fitness.     

Allometric allocation in fruit and seed packaging conditions the conflict among selective pressures on seed size

Selective pressures on seed size could vary among the different stages of plant life cycles, so no simple relation could explain a priori its evolution. Here, we determined the relationships between seed size and two fitness components—seed dispersal and survival from predation—in a bird-dispersed tree, Crataegus monogyna. We interpret these relationships in relation to the patterns of mass allocation to fruit and seed components. Selection patterns were assessed at two levels (1) selection pressures on the parent tree; comparing seed dispersal efficiency among individual plants and (2) selection pressures at the individual seed level; comparing seed size variation (i) before and after dispersal, and (ii) before and after postdispersal seed predation. Dispersal efficiency (percentage of seed crop dispersed) was positively correlated with fruit mass and fruit width. Differences in crop size did not offset this effect, and larger seeds were overrepresented in the seed rain relative to the seed pool before dispersal. However, the advantage of larger seeds during the dispersal stage was cancelled later by an opposite selection pressure exerted by seed predators. As a result, smaller seeds had a higher probability of surviving postdispersal seed predation, establishing an evolutionary conflict imposed by the need for dispersal and the danger of being predated. Birds and rodents preferentially selected highly profitable fruits and seeds in terms of the relative proportion of their components. Larger fruits had a higher pulp to seed proportion than smaller ones, and all seeds had the same proportion of coat relative to the embryo-plus-endosperm fraction. Hence, although predator pressures were stronger than disperser ones, larger seeds invested proportionally less in structural defense than in dispersal.     

Structural aspects of ovule and seed development and nonrandom abortion inMelilotus officinalis (Fabaceae)

Summary Only one ovule matures into a seed inMelilotus officinalis. Although eight ovules form within an ovary, only the basal ovule develops into a mature seed, whereas the other ovules degenerate. The investigation of ovule and seed structure at different developmental stages and a comparison of quantitative characters of differently fated ovules within an ovary were undertaken by light, phase contrast, and fluorescence microscopy. In this species, campylotropous ovules develop simultaneously on marginal placentae in an apocarpous unilocular gynoecium. Megasporo- and megagametogenesis proceed normally and are completed in bud. The maturation of the Polygonum type embryo sac takes place after the flower opens. Shortly before fertilization, synergids show signs of degeneration in all ovules. At this stage, neither the structure nor the sizes of ovules within one ovary differ significantly. In spite of this, only the basal ovule develops into a seed. Rarely, one of the upper-situated ovules or the basal and another ovule mature into seeds. Seed enlargement is insignificant until the stage when globular embryo and nuclear endosperm are formed. At the seed-filling stage, other ovules have collapsed and the seed gradually comes to occupy the total volume of the pod. The fruit-to-seed length ratio decreases considerably during seed ripening. At fertilization, ovary length is four times greater than ovule length. In the mature state, the fruit and seed lengths are approximately equal. Seed size and weight diminish with an increase in seed number within a pod, although pod size remains constant. It is assumed that nonrandom abortion of young seeds inM. officinalis is under maternal control and is not related to structural abnormalities in ovule development or with limitation in pollen. We suppose that evolution of this species may have proceeded in the direction of a decrease in seed number and an increase in its sizes, which may play an important role in seed dispersal and seedling establishment.     

A comparison of ovule abortion in self-incompatible and self-fertile lines of white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Plants of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cv. Olwen and three genotypes of each of three self-fertile inbred lines of white clover were grown from seed in a bee-proof glasshouse. When in flower, a series of crosses within and between the self-incompatible (SI) and self-fertile (SF) lines was made and ovule growth and seed production measured 7 and 28 days after pollination (DAP) respectively. At harvest, the SF plants had a lower proportion of ovules aborting and more seeds per floret than the SI plants, though the mean seed weight of the SI plants was greater. Ovule abortion was observed in both the SF and SI plants though the number of aborted ovules was greater in the SI plants. The stage when abortion occurred also differed. All of the ovule abortion in the SI plants occurred within a 7-day period after pollination. In the SF plants, some abortion was observed in this period but also between 7 and 28 DAP, when the seed was harvested. This suggested that abortion, up to 7 DAP, is due primarily to genetic factors whilst subsequent abortion, between 7 and 28 DAP, is due to non-genetic factors.     

The presence of heterospecific pollen on stigmas of nectariferous and nectarless orchids and its consequences for their reproductive success

Summary The widespread occurrence of nonorchid, heterospecific pollen grains on the stigmatic surfaces of a range of nectariferous and nectarless European orchids (Dactylorhiza. Orchis, Goodyera, andGymnadenia species) is reported for the first time, and the impact of heterospecific pollination on orchid reproductive success is experimentally investigated. There are three main components of stigmatic contamination by heterospecific pollen: the frequency of contamination, the diversity of foreign species present on the stigma, and the amount of pollen deposited. Six out of seven of the species examined have greater than 85% of stigmas contaminated with wind and insect-dispersed pollen. From one to nine insect-dispersed foreign pollen species are present per stigma, including pollen of members of the families Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Caryohpyllaceae, Ericaceae, and Primulaceae. Average loads per stigma vary from 13 to 176 grains, with individual stigma loads ranging from one to 909. Whether or not the orchid provides nectar has a major impact on these three components. Nectarless orchids have the greatest frequencies of contamination, diversity of species, and average load per stigma. Insect-dispersed pollen is deposited both by pollinators and visitors but, in spite of low levels of pollination, nectarless orchids still exhibit higher frequencies of heterospecific pollen contamination. The effect of the presence of heterospecific pollen on the reproductive success of orchids is tested in this study for the first time. Average-to-high, naturally occurring loads of heterospecific pollen derived from a mixture ofArmeria maritima,Caltha palustris,Cochlearia officinalis,Cytisus scoparius, andPrimula vulgaris and consisting of 50–250 grains per load are placed onto stigmas ofDactylorhiza purpurella which are subsequently self-pollinated with half of a pollinium. All pollinations produce capsules indicating that heterospecific pollen does not affect fruit set. Although experimental and control fruits are similar in size, they differ in total seed weight and composition. Total seed weight is reduced and the proportion of seeds with normal embryos decreased while the proportion of unfertilised ovules increased following pollination with heterospecific pollen, indicating a detrimental effect on fertilisation. Lower reproductive success caused by fertilisation failure is likely to be most severe in nectarless species because of their generally higher levels of contaminated stigmas. As nectarless orchids are known to have lower fruit set compared with nectariferous ones, this finding suggests that the reproductive success of nectarless orchids may be even lower than previously realised.Abbreviations RS reproductive success     

甘南红景天濒危的生殖生态学因素分析

为了寻找保护和恢复甘南红景天种群的有效途径,本文分析了甘南红景天的繁育系统、生殖过程、开花物候特征及影响生殖成功的主要因子.结果表明:甘南红景天为雌雄异株,雄花在花芽分化初期为两性植株,但随着花的不断发育,雌蕊的胚囊发育到一定阶段时败育,两性植株基本仅执行雄性功能,种群繁殖为异交,以风媒传粉方式为主,种群花期出现在全年降雨和气温较高的季节.6月初现蕾,6月中旬开花,7月上旬进入盛花期,花期在36 d左右,8月下旬果实成熟.两性植株略早于雌花开放,花期(10.2 d)大于雌性植株(8.4 d).由于部分雌花不易授粉,部分花蕾、胚珠损失,1~3年的幼龄植株几乎不开花结实,群落中只有11%的植株开花结实,种子自然繁殖率极低,约为2%.从花蕾到开花,雌性单株有20.0%～25.1%的花蕾损失; 从开花到结实,单株51.1%～65.0%的花败育;至种子成熟,仅10.1%～21.0%的胚珠发育成种子.雌性单株平均种子产量为158.1粒,人工条件下种子发芽率为81.5%,幼苗第一年的成活率为36.0%.表明种子质量不是导致甘南红景天濒危的原因,而花粉限制、种子产量和幼苗的成活率是真正影响其生殖成功和导致濒危的主要生殖生态学因素.     

FACTORS LIMITING FRUIT AND SEED PRODUCTION OF A TEMPERATE SHRUB,STAPHYLEA TRIFOLIA L. (STAPHYLEACEAE)

Staphylea trifolia L., the bladdernut, is a self-incompatible temperate woodland shrub that flowers in May in Illinois. Factors limiting reproduction were studied at four levels: 1) Seeds/fruit. Seed production in open-pollinated fruit was frequently limited by too few fertilized ovules. Seed production in hand-cross-pollinated fruit was limited by resources or dispersal constraints: seed abortion rates were higher in hand-cross-pollinated fruits than in open-pollinated fruits. 2) Fruits/flower and 3) fruits/inflorescence. The number of fruits set and matured per flower and per infloresence in the open-pollinated treatment was limited by the number of flowers naturally cross-pollinated. In hand-cross-pollinated inflorescences, fruit set was not limited by resources even though fruit set was ten times greater than in the open-pollinated treatment. Evidence that resources limited fruit maturation in the hand-cross-pollinated inflorescences was equivocal. In hand-cross-pollinated flowers, fruit set was lowest when cold nights followed pollination, suggesting that cool temperatures limited postpollination physiological processes. 4) Fruits/individual. Early-flowering individuals matured fewer fruits than later-flowering individuals. Within the latter group, fruit production increased with plant size, although a relatively small individual matured the maximum number of fruits. Flowering phenologies and size of individuals varied among patches, resulting in differential reproductive success of patches.     

Temporal patterns of seed set and decelerating fitness returns on female allocation in Zigadenus paniculatus (Liliaceae), an andromonoecious lily

I describe temporal patterns of seed production in the andromonoecious lily Zigadenus particulatus. Fruit set per flower and seed set per fruit declined through time within plants. Hand pollination experiments showed that this was not due to increasing pollen limitation. Nutrient supplementation had little effect on seed output, but leaf clipping reduced seed production, especially in late-blooming flowers, and removal of early-blooming flowers increased seed set by later flowers. Thus, the temporal pattern of seed output was due to declining availability of photosynthates. Plants with larger bulbs produced larger inflorescences, a greater proportion of hermaphrodite flowers, more fruits per hermaphrodite flower, and more seeds per fruit, but lost a greater fraction of their initial bulb mass as a consequence of fruiting. After controlling for the effects of bulb mass, plants with larger inflorescences produced a greater proportion of male flowers, and plants with more hermaphrodite flowers produced fewer fruits per hermaphrodite flower and fewer seeds per fruit. Thus, the female fitness gain curve was decelerating. The temporal decline in seed output provides a partial explanation for the parallel decline in allocation to pistils. However, a complete explanation for the pattern of gamete packaging requires an understanding of factors controlling male, as well as female, fitness.     

Pollination and seed dispersal modes of woody species of 12-year-old secondary forest in the Atlantic Forest region of Pernambuco,NE Brazil

The ability of degraded areas to recover secondary vegetation and the degree of integrity of plant–animal interactions of the resulting vegetation is getting increasingly important for biodiversity and landscape conservation. We studied the seed dispersal and pollination modes of woody species of two 12-year-old secondary forest patches, beforehand used for sugarcane cultivation. Sixty plots were installed with a total area of 0.6 ha. A total of 61 woody species were encountered. Although the study sites were isolated from old-growth forests by the matrix of sugarcane, the array of dispersal modes was the same as in old-growth forest fragments and the percentage of animal-dispersed species was similar (89.8%). The percentage of large-seeded species was even larger than expected (18%), despite the local extinction of large-bodied mammals and birds. Besides the dispersal of large seeds mainly by rodents and bats, more than half of the large-seeded species are consumed by humans and may have reached the study areas this way. Most pollination modes found in forest fragments in the region were also present in the secondary forests; however, no pollination mediated by vertebrates was found among the studied species, neither by birds nor by bats, and a high percentage of species showed an unspecialized pollination mode (55.7%). Due to the high abundance of a few species pollination by hawkmoths was very common among canopy individuals (42.7%), and many sub-canopy individuals were pollinated by large bees (39.8%). The study exemplifies the resilience of sites degraded by intense agriculture, which may still lead to a forest, simplified in plant–animal interactions. Such secondary forest is likely to serve for protection against erosion, and increasing connectivity between forest fragments.     

Pollen tube growth and early ovule development following self- and cross-pollination in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Eucalyptus nitens</Emphasis>

Controlled self- and cross-pollinations were conducted on flowers of five mature Eucalyptus nitens trees. Levels of self-sterility of the trees ranged from 25.8 to 93.6%. Pollen tube numbers in styles and ovule penetration by pollen tubes was investigated 2 weeks after pollination by fluorescence microscopy. There were no significant differences between treatments in the number of pollen tubes present in styles or in the percentage of ovules penetrated by pollen tubes. Embryology of material harvested 2 and 4 weeks after pollination was investigated by bright-field microscopy. Fertilisation had taken place by 2 weeks after pollination with nearly every ovule showing evidence of fertilisation. Cross-pollination resulted in a greater proportion of healthy, developing ovules, at both 2 and 4 weeks after pollination, compared with self-pollination. The proportion of degenerating ovules increased from 2 to 4 weeks after pollination. The reduced ability of E. nitens to set self-pollinated seed compared with cross-pollinated seed appears to be controlled by a post-zygotic mechanism. Differences in ovule size may potentially assist in the identification of trees incapable of setting self-pollinated seed.     

海拔对青藏高原东部毛茛科植物繁殖特征和资源分配的影响

通过野外采样对青藏高原东部高寒草甸上两个海拔间3种常见毛茛科植物条裂银莲花(Anemone trullifo-liavar.linearis)、粗距翠雀花(Delphinium pachycentrumHemsl.)和钝裂银莲花(Anemone obtusiloba)的繁殖性状和资源分配进行了研究,并对植物在极端环境下采取的繁殖策略及繁殖模式进行了探讨.结果显示:(1)3个物种的株高都随着海拔的升高而降低;同一物种的花大小在不同海拔间均无显著差异;条裂银莲花单个种子重随海拔的升高而增加,但虫食数/株、结籽率和种子数/株均随着海拔的升高而减少;钝裂银莲花的繁殖分配、虫食数/株、种子数/株和单个种子重均随着海拔的升高而减小.(2)不同海拔条裂银莲花的个体大小与单花重、雄蕊重、虫食数/株均呈显著正相关,且回归斜率在海拔间有显著差异.粗距翠雀花花期的雄蕊重与个体大小呈显著正相关,但这种异速关系不受海拔和个体大小的影响;钝裂银莲花的个体大小与花期的所有繁殖特征以及果期的种子重/果实均呈显著正相关,不同海拔间个体大小与种子重/果实的斜率差异显著,且与花期各繁殖性状异速关系的截距差异显著.研究表明海拔对植物的个体大小以及种群间的繁殖对策和繁殖成功率有着重要的影响.