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Large generative and vegetative reproduction independently increases global success of perennial plants from Central Europe
Author(s) -
Klinerová Tereza,
Tasevová Karolina,
Dostál Petr
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of biogeography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1365-2699
pISSN - 0305-0270
DOI - 10.1111/jbi.13236
Subject(s) - biology , propagule , perennial plant , reproduction , seedling , reproductive success , vegetative reproduction , ecology , germination , botany , demography , sociology , population
Aim Invasion success of non‐native plants is known to be enhanced by high values in several performance‐related traits. As most studies have explored the traits in isolation, we do not know whether improved performance of invaders in some traits is negatively related to performance in other traits. Here, we examine associations between the alien success of Central European grassland species and several traits of generative and vegetative reproduction. We asked which reproductive characteristics are most important for alien success. We also investigated whether the most widespread non‐native species succeeded due to a weakened trade‐off between the traits. Location Global with respect to alien success, and Central European with respect to origin of study species. Methods In greenhouse and garden conditions we measured traits of generative (seed mass, reproductive output, germination delay, germination rate, seedling weight) and vegetative reproduction (number and size of modules) of 85 perennial species native to Europe. We also compiled information on the ‘success’ of these species in exotic ranges from the Global Compendium of Weeds. Results After accounting for the effect of propagule pressure (which explained 30% of variance in the data), alien success was significantly and positively associated with germination rate, reproductive output and seedling weight, and with the product of these traits (termed generative reproduction), which explained 5%–13% of variance in the data. The best predictor of success was vegetative reproduction (product of module number and weight), which explained 19% of variance. However, more successful species resembled the less successful ones in following similar associations between the traits, such as the negative relationship between number and weight of modules or a non‐significant relationship between generative and vegetative reproduction. Main conclusions High values of generative and vegetative reproduction pre‐adapt grassland perennial plants from Central Europe for global success. The success is, however, driven by an independent effect of the two reproductive modes and not by a weakened trade‐off between them.