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Seed production and population density decline approaching the range‐edge of Cirsium species
Author(s) -
Jump Alistair S.,
Woodward F. Ian
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00873.x
Subject(s) - biology , range (aeronautics) , cirsium arvense , population , abundance (ecology) , thistle , transect , ecology , botany , demography , materials science , sociology , composite material
Summary• Patterns in population density and abundance, community composition, seed production and morphological traits were assessed across the UK geographical range of Cirsium acaule , Cirsium heterophyllum and Cirsium arvense based on the expectation that environmental favourability declines from core to periphery of a species range. • These traits were measured in natural populations along a latitudinal transect in the UK and using botanical survey data. • A significant decline in population density and seed production occurs approaching the range edges of C. acaule and C. heterophyllum . There is no latitudinal trend in these traits in the widespread C. arvense and no latitudinal pattern to variation in morphological traits or community composition in any of these species. • Although seed production is reduced at the range edge of C. acaule and C. heterophyllum, peripheral populations of these species may persist through clonal reproduction. Low seed production may interact with reduced availability of favourable habitat to limit range expansion in these species.