The evolution of growth rate, resource allocation and competitive ability in seeder and resprouter tree seedlings |
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Authors: | Stephanie J Chew Stephen P Bonser |
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Institution: | (1) Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia; |
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Abstract: | Many woody plant species in fire disturbed communities survive disturbance events by resprouting. The resprouting life history
is predicted to be costly to plants as resources are diverted into storage for post-fire regrowth rather than allocated to
current growth, and resprouting species typically grow more slowly than seeder species (species that do not resprout after
disturbance events). Differences in allocation to current growth are also predicted to make resprouter species poorer competitors
compared to seeder species. We tested the predictions that the evolution of a resprouter life history is associated with slow
growth, increased allocation to storage, and low competitive ability in woody plant seedlings. We grew eight phylogenetically
independent pairs of seeder and resprouter species in competition and no competition treatments in a field experiment near
Sydney, Australia. The presence of competitors reduced plant growth rates across taxa and fire response life histories. However,
relative to seeder species, resprouter species were not slower growing, they did not allocate more resources to storage, and
they did not have lower competitive abilities. We propose that differences in resource allocation to storage are not responsible
for differences in growth rate and competitive ability. Rather, growth rate and competitive ability in seedlings are associated
with key aspects of plant life history such as life-span and body size at maturity. These traits that are sometimes, but not
always, related to fire response life histories. |
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