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Growing faster and colonizing first: Evolutionary and ecological advantages of the tallest individuals within a cohort
Author(s) -
Pilon Natashi A. L.,
Durigan Giselda
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
austral ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.688
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 1442-9985
DOI - 10.1111/aec.12479
Subject(s) - biology , juvenile , ecology , population , reproductive success , longevity , demography , genetics , sociology
The transition between ontogenetic stages, from juvenile to reproductive adult, is an important moment in the life history of individuals in a plant population, since the persistence of their genes depends on it. The size of an individual is recognized as a predictor for this transition, but little is known about what determines the minimum size to become a reproductive adult, or if a higher growth rate can anticipate or not that transition. In addition, the relationship between size and ontogeny have not yet been studied for woody species. To verify whether the change in ontogenetic stage in woody plants is dependent on plant size, we followed the development of even‐aged cultivated seedlings of 53 native species of the Brazilian savanna, Assis State Forest, State of São Paulo, up to their first reproductive event. In 83% of the species the tallest individual – the fastest growing in height – was the first to bloom. Our results support previous studies that consider plant size as one of the most important factors driving certain demographic processes, and allow inferences about the importance of size and growth rate on plant fitness and community assembly. Individuals with higher growth rates during the juvenile stage are the first to reach maturity. Consequently, among individuals of the same cohort, those growing faster will take ecological and evolutionary advantage since they can reproduce precociously and leave descendants prior to their smaller conspecifics, increasing the expression of their genes in the community. It is therefore expected that, along the evolutionary scale, growth rate of Brazilian savanna woody species should continuously increase.