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Kin recognition and competition in plants
Author(s) -
Dudley Susan A.,
Murphy Guillermo P.,
File Amanda L.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1111/1365-2435.12121
Subject(s) - biology , competition (biology) , parallels , kin selection , kin recognition , inclusive fitness , ecology , evolutionary biology , economics , operations management
Summary Plants recognize their kin and respond to growing with relatives with changes in functional traits. Here, we integrate competition and evolutionary theory to evaluate these changes. We draw parallels between the definitions and empirical measurement of competitive effect and competitive response from competition theory, and the costs and benefits of altruistic and selfish behaviours from kin selection theory. Do plants compete less with relatives, as these parallels suggest? While functional traits respond to the presence of relatives or strangers, no study has directly demonstrated that plants are less competitive with siblings. However, there are empirical challenges in identifying the competitive value of traits that are measured destructively, such as root allocation. If these challenges can be addressed, kin recognition responses can offer new insights into plant competition.