Open AccessSeed dispersal and population structure in Vriesea gigantea , a bromeliad from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest
Author(s) -
PAGGI GECELE MATOS,
SAMPAIO JAMILLA ALVES TRINDADE,
BRUXEL MANUELA,
ZANELLA CAMILA MARTINI,
GÖETZE MÁRCIA,
BÜTTOW MIRIAM VALLI,
PALMASILVA CLARISSE,
BERED FERNANDA
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
botanical journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.872
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1095-8339
pISSN - 0024-4074
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2010.01088.x
Subject(s) - biology , outcrossing , biological dispersal , seed dispersal , population , diaspore (botany) , gene flow , ecology , gigantea , pollinator , genetic structure , botany , pollen , pollination , genetic variation , biochemistry , demography , sociology , gene
Seed dispersal, population structure and the mating system of plant species can have great consequences on the genetic structure of populations. Vriesea gigantea is a bromeliad from southeastern Brazil which is self‐compatible and pollinator dependent for fruit set. Its populations are fertile in terms of the production of flowers, pollen, fruits and seeds. To assess the importance of seed supply for gene flow, colonization and distribution of adult individuals, the seed dispersal and population structure of V. gigantea were studied. Seeds are dispersed over short distances; most seeds land close to the mother plant. This pattern coincides with the reported aggregate distribution of bromeliad seedlings. Population structure results showed high seedling recruitment, because 51.3% developed into adults, although few juveniles reached this stage. This result is different from that for other bromeliad species from different habitat conditions. Seed dispersal and population structural patterns are consistent with previous molecular studies, revealing that V. gigantea populations are genetically structured, with low gene flow and a moderate outcrossing rate. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2010, 164 , 317–325.