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5,828 results for “Traits”
Data from: Selection for life-history traits to maximize population growth in an invasive marine species
Species establishing outside their natural range, negatively impacting local ecosystems, are of increasing global concern. They often display life-history features characteristic for r-selected populations with fast growth and high reproduction rates to achieve positive population growth rates (r) in invaded habitats. Here, we demonstrate substantially earlier maturation at a 2 orders of magnitude lower body mass at first reproduction in invasive compared to native populations of the comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi. Empirical results are corroborated by a theoretical model for competing life-history traits that predicts maturation at the smallest possible size to optimize r, while individual lifetime reproductive success (R0), optimized in native populations, is near constant over a large range of intermediate maturation sizes. We suggest that high variability in reproductive tactics in native populations is an underappreciated determinant of invasiveness, acting as substrate upon which selection can act during the invasion process.
Potential growth more than functional traits explain successional habitat filtering of rainforest trees
<ol> <li>Species along successional gradients differ in functional traits, which may function as environmental filters and also explain differences in growth rates. Alternatively, species might be filtered by growth rates and these are explained by differences in other traits. We explored the relationships between leaf and wood traits, growth and successional habitat, and asked if growth is related to habitat because both are driven by a similar set of traits or if growth is the main trait explaining habitat and relationships with other traits are indirect.</li> <li>Tropical trees are often classified as second-growth (SG) or old-growth (OG) specialists, and generalists. Since succession is a continuous process and lumping species into three groups may not do justice to gradual differences, we tested if a continuous variable based on relative tree abundance in OG and SG forests might be a better predictor than classifying trees' habitat preferences into categories.</li> <li>We measured height growth of 47 trees species planted in a reforestation trial in Costa Rica and evaluated size-standardized potential growth during the first years when there was little shading among trees. Growth and habitat were related to wood density (WD), theoretical hydraulic conductivity (Kh), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and leaf nitrogen content (N).</li> <li>Potential growth rates and Kh were significantly correlated with habitat measured on a continuous scale, while growth and LDMC differed among the three groups of habitat specialization. Growth was also correlated with WD and Kh.</li> <li>Habitat specialization was correlated with the first principal component of the functional traits space. However, structural equation models suggest that the relationship with leaf and wood traits is mostly indirect and potential growth is the most important trait directly related to environmental filtering along a successional gradient. In our dataset, classifiying the successional status of species using the proportion of records from OG forests explains traits about as well as a classification into three groups, but provides more information about the species' position along the successional gradient.</li> </ol>
Data from: A phylogeny of the treehopper subfamily Heteronotinae reveals convergent pronotal traits (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Membracidae)
Even within an insect family famous for its morphological diversity, the treehopper subfamily Heteronotinae is a microcosm of pronotal variation, displaying remarkably dissimilar thoracic ornamentations among its ten included genera. Presented here is a reconstruction of heteronotine relationships based on DNA nucleotide sequence data from five nuclear and two mitochondrial genes from a comprehensive sample of ingroup taxa (including exemplars of all genera except for the monotypic Dysyncritus Fowler, 1895). Concordant phylogenetic estimates support the monophyly of Heteronotinae sensu stricto (i.e. excluding Darnoides Fairmaire, 1846), as well as the monophyly of the included genera Heteronotus Laporte, 1832, Nassunia Stål, 1862, Omolon Walker, 1862, Rhexia Stål, 1867, and Smiliorachis Fairmaire, 1846. Conversely, Anchistrotus Buckton, 1902, Allodrilus Evangelista, 2014 and Iria Stål, 1867 were not recovered as monophyletic, although topology comparison tests failed to reject the nonmonophyly of the latter two genera, nor Heteronotinae, as currently circumscribed. These results are interpreted in the context of available morphological evidence, which generally supports these findings. Also addressed here is the evolution of selected pronotal features representing major aspects of heteronotine morphology. Bayesian stochastic mapping of pronotal traits estimated multiple character state transitions, suggesting repeated acquisition of pronotal features, most of which have evolved independently within the diverse genus Heteronotus. These convergences may provide insight into the role of the pronotum in heteronotine groups that appear to serve different adaptive strategies, such as mimicry, crypsis and defence against predators. Furthermore, our results show a substantial diversity in need of formal description, including possible new genera, and several unique sexually dimorphic syndromes that may constitute a species complex within Heteronotus delineatus Walker, 1858. Nomenclatural changes are proposed for Nassunia nigromacula (Funkhouser, 1940) new combination and Smiliorachis inornata Stål, 1862 combination reinstated, which were found to be misplaced at the generic and subfamily levels according to our analyses.
Experimental manipulation of perceived predation risk and cortisol generates contrasting trait trajectories in plastic crucian carp
<p>Most animals constitute potential prey and must respond appropriately to predator-mediated stress in order to survive. Numerous prey also adaptively tailor their response to the prevailing level of risk and stress imposed by their natural enemies, i.e. they adopt an inducible defence strategy. Predator exposure may activate the stress axis, and drive the expression of anti-predator traits that facilitate survival in a high-risk environment (the predation–stress hypothesis). Here, we quantified two key morphological anti-predator traits, body morphology and coloration in crucian carp following exposure (or not) to a predator (pike) as well as to experimental manipulation of physiological stress via implants containing either cortisol or a cortisol inhibitor. We found that predator-exposed fish expressed a deeper-bodied phenotype and darker body coloration as compared with non-exposed individuals. Skin analyses revealed that an increase in the amount of melanophores caused the dramatic colour change in predatorexposed fish. Increased melanization is costly, and the darker body coloration may act as an inducible defence against predation, via a conspicuous signal of the morphological defence or by crypsis towards dark environments and a nocturnal lifestyle. By contrast, the phenotype of individuals carrying cortisol implants did not mirror the phenotype of predator-exposed fish but instead exhibited opposite trajectories of trait change: a shallow-bodied morphology with a lighter body coloration as compared with sham-treated fish. The cortisol inhibitor did not influence the phenotype of fish i.e. neither body depth nor body coloration differed between this group and predator-exposed fish having a sham implant. However, our results illuminate a potential link between stress physiology and morphological defence expression.</p>
Data from: Integrating Bayesian genomic cline analyses and association mapping of morphological and ecological traits to dissect reproductive isolation and introgression in a Louisiana Iris hybrid zone
Hybrid zones provide unique opportunities to examine reproductive isolation and introgression in nature. We utilized 45,384 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) loci to perform association mapping of 14 floral, vegetative, and ecological traits that differ between Iris hexagona and Iris fulva, and to investigate, using a Bayesian Genomic Cline (BGC) framework, patterns of genomic introgression in a large and phenotypically diverse hybrid zone in southern Louisiana. Many loci of small effect-size were consistently found to be associated with phenotypic variation across all traits, and several individual loci were revealed to influence phenotypic variation across multiple traits. Patterns of genomic introgression were quite heterogeneous throughout the Louisiana Iris genome, with I. hexagona alleles tending to be favored over those of I. fulva. Loci that were found to have exceptional patterns of introgression were also found to be significantly associated with phenotypic variation in a small number of morphological traits. However, this was the exception rather than the rule, as most loci that were associated with morphological trait variation were not significantly associated with excess ancestry. These findings provide insights into the complexity of the genomic architecture of phenotypic differences and are a first step towards identifying loci that are associated with both trait variation and reproductive isolation in nature.
Phylogenetic patterns of trait and trait plasticity evolution: Insights from tadpoles
<p>Environmental heterogeneity has led to widespread evolution of phenotypic plasticity in all taxonomic groups. Although phenotypic plasticity has been examined from multiple perspectives, few studies have examined evolutionary patterns of plasticity within a phylogeny. We conducted common-garden experiments on 20 species of tadpoles, spanning three families, exposed for 4 weeks to a control, predator cues, or reduced food (i.e., increased intraspecific competition). We quantified tadpole activity, growth, and relative morphology and found widespread differences in species responses to predator cues and reduced food. We detected pervasive phylogenetic signals in traits within each environment, but phylogenetic signal was much less common in the trait plasticities. Among different models of continuous character evolution, Brownian Motion and Ornstein Uhlenbeck models provided better fits to the data than the Early Burst model. Tadpole activity level in predator environments had much higher evolutionary rates than in the control and reduced-food environments; we did not see this pattern in the other traits. In comparing traits versus trait plasticities, activity evolved much faster than the plasticity of activity whereas morphological traits evolved much slower than morphological plasticities . Collectively, these results suggest that traits and trait plasticities can exhibit dramatically different evolutionary patterns.</p>
Plant traits of grass and legume species for flood resilience and N2O mitigation
<p>Flooding threatens the functioning of managed grasslands by decreasing primary productivity and increasing nitrogen losses, notably as the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). Sowing species with traits that promote flood resilience and mitigate flood-induced N2O emissions within these grasslands could safeguard their productivity while mitigating nitrogen losses.</p> <p>We tested how plant traits and resource acquisition strategies could predict flood resilience and N2O emissions of 12 common grassland species (eight grasses and four legumes) grown in field soil in monocultures in a 14-week greenhouse experiment.</p> <p>We found that grasses were more resistant to flooding, while legumes recovered better. Resource-conservative grass species had higher resistance, while resource-acquisitive grasses species recovered better. Resilient grass and legume species lowered cumulative N2O emissions. Grasses with lower inherent leaf and root δ13C (and legumes with lower root δ13C) lowered cumulative N2O emissions during and after the flood.</p> <p>Our results highlight the differing responses of grasses with contrasting resource acquisition strategies, and of legumes to flooding. Combining grasses and legumes based on their traits and resource acquisition strategies could increase the flood-resilience of managed grasslands, and their capability to mitigate flood-induced N2O emissions.</p>
Data from: Trait‐based signatures of cloud base height in a tropical cloud forest
<p>Clouds have profound consequences for ecosystem structure and function. Yet, the direct monitoring of clouds and their effects on biota is challenging especially in remote and topographically complex tropical cloud forests. We argue that known relationships between climate and the taxonomic and functional composition of plant communities may provide a fingerprint of cloud base height, thus providing a rapid and cost-effective assessment in remote tropical cloud forests. To detect cloud base height, we compared species turnover and functional trait values among herbaceous and woody plant communities in an ecosystem dominated by cloud formation. We measured soil and air temperature, soil nutrient concentrations, and extracellular enzyme activity. We hypothesized that woody and herbaceous plants would provide signatures of cloud base height, as evidenced by abrupt shifts in both taxonomic composition and plant function. We demonstrated abrupt changes in taxonomic composition and the community-weighted mean of a key functional trait, specific leaf area, across elevation for both woody and herbaceous species, consistent with our predictions. However, abrupt taxonomic and functional changes occurred 100 m higher in elevation for herbaceous plants compared to woody ones. Soil temperature abruptly decreased where herbaceous taxonomic and functional turnover was high. Other environmental variables including soil biogeochemistry did not explain the abrupt change observed for woody plant communities. We provide evidence that a trait-based approach can be used to estimate cloud base height. We outline how rises in cloud base height and differential environmental requirements between growth forms can be distinguished using this approach.</p>
Large seeds provide an intrinsic growth advantage that depends on leaf traits and root allocation
<p>Seed mass and growth rate are important dimensions of plant ecological diversity, but their relationship remains unresolved. Negative relationships between relative growth rate (RGR) and seed mass are well established. However, RGR is size-dependent, so small-seeded species might achieve fast growth simply because they are initially small.</p> <p>Using a dataset of unprecedented size, sampling 382 grass species, we investigated seed mass and growth rate using both RGR and SGR (RGR at a specific size), accounting for diversity in phylogeny, ecology (e.g. life history, photosynthetic pathway) and environment (mean annual temperature and precipitation).</p> <p>RGR and SGR showed contrasting relationships with seed mass, such that large-seeded species had lower RGR but higher SGR than small-seeded species. However, the relationship between SGR and seed mass depended on leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and was only positive in high-LDMC species. When compared at a common size, the fast growth of large-seeded and low-LDMC species was associated with greater biomass allocation to roots in the hot, high-light environment used for our experiment. Photosynthetic pathway and life history contributed to variation in SGR, with C4 annuals having higher SGRs than C3 perennials regardless of seed size.</p> <p>Large seeds therefore afford an intrinsic growth advantage in species with resource-conserving leaf traits, and may provide a competitive edge in resource-poor environments. This work advances understanding of how seed mass and growth rate coevolve with other ecological factors.</p>
Spatial and local environmental factors outperform geo-climatic gradients in structuring taxonomically- and traits-based β‐diversity of benthic algae
<p><b>Aim</b>: Understanding the variation in biodiversity and its underlying drivers and mechanisms is a core task in biogeography and ecology. In this study, we examined: i) the relative contributions of species replacement (i.e. turnover) and richness difference (i.e. nestedness) to taxonomically- and traits-based β-diversity of stream benthic algae; ii) whether these two facets of β-diversity are correlated with each other; and iii) the relative contributions of local environmental (e.g. water chemistry, flow velocity, habitat quality), geo-climatic (e.g. land use types, elevation, precipitation), and spatial factors (e.g. using principal coordinates of neighborhood matrices) to the two facets of β-diversity and their components (i.e. total β-diversity, turnover, and nestedness).</p> <p><b>Location</b>: Hun-Tai River Basin, northeastern China</p> <p><b>Taxon</b>: Stream benthic algae</p> <p><b>Methods</b>: A total of 157 sites were sampled. Mantel tests were used to examine the complementarities between the two facets of β-diversity and their components. Distance-based redundancy analysis and variation partitioning were utilized to investigate the relative contributions of local environmental, geo-climatic, and spatial factors to each facet of β-diversity and their components.</p> <p><b>Results</b>: Weak correlations between taxonomically- and traits-based β‐diversity and their components were detected, which indicated complementarity of ecological information. Taxonomically-based total β‐diversity was largely driven by turnover, whereas traits-based total β-diversity was more driven by nestedness. Variation partitioning results indicated that local environmental and spatial factors contributed more than geo-climatic variables to the total explained variation in taxonomically- and traits-based β‐diversity.</p> <p><b>Main conclusions</b>: Our findings highlighted the importance of the different facets of β‐diversity and their decomposition for understanding diversity patterns of benthic algae relative to abiotic factors. A high level of traits-based convergence among benthic algae communities, despite high taxonomic divergence, demonstrated turnover of species with similar biological traits across our study region. Our study provides a traits-based insight into stream benthic algae communities, which was less documented by previous freshwater studies that focused on regions undergoing recovery following human disturbances.</p>
Quantitative trait locus mapping reveals an independent genetic basis for joint divergence in leaf function, life-history, and floral traits between scarlet monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis) populations
<p><b>PREMISE </b></p> <p>Across taxa, vegetative and floral traits that vary along a fast-slow life-history axis are often correlated with leaf functional traits arrayed along the leaf economics spectrum, suggesting a constrained set of adaptive trait combinations. Such broad-scale convergence may arise from genetic constraints imposed by pleiotropy (or tight linkage) within species, or from natural selection alone. Understanding the genetic basis of trait syndromes and their components is key to distinguishing these alternatives and predicting evolution in novel environments.</p> <p><b>METHODS </b></p> <p>We used a line-cross approach and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping to characterize the genetic basis of twenty leaf functional/physiological, life history, and floral traits in hybrids between annualized and perennial populations of scarlet monkeyflower (<i>Mimulus cardinalis</i>).</p> <p><b>RESULTS </b></p> <p>We mapped both single and multi-trait QTLs for life history, leaf function and reproductive traits, but found no evidence of genetic co-ordination across categories. A major QTL for three leaf functional traits (thickness, photosynthetic rate, and stomatal resistance) suggests that a simple shift in leaf anatomy may be key to adaptation to seasonally dry habitats.</p> <p><b>CONCLUSIONS </b></p> <p>Our results suggest that the co-ordination of resource-acquisitive leaf physiological traits with a fast life history and more selfing mating system results from environmental selection rather than functional or genetic constraint. Independent assortment of distinct trait modules, as well as a simple genetic basis to leaf physiological traits associated with drought escape, may facilitate adaptation to changing climates. </p>
Exploring phenotypic diversity of pigmented traits and iris features in Pakistani population
<p><span>Phenotypic variations of eye color, skin color, and iris surface features have been well-explored in certain populations. However, there has been comparatively little research on variations in these features in Pakistani population. The aim of this study is to</span> discover phenotypic diversity and correlations of pigmented traits and iris surface features in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)<b> </b>province of Pakistan<b>.</b> Digital images of eyes and skin were examined by investigators to determine color using Fitzpatrick Phototype Scale. Similarly, iris patterns were characterized by Edward iris feature software and association studies were conducted through SPSS program. Intermediate eye color was frequent in KPK (44%) while brown was higher in Punjab (47%). <span>Contrarily</span>, light to medium brown skin color was recurring (55%) in Punjab whereas lighter skin color prevailed in KPK (69%). Furthermore, Fuchs' crypts were significantly correlated with contraction furrows in both populations. Likewise, crypts were significantly associated with Wolfflin nodules and furrows were significantly related to conjunctival melanosis and pigment spots in KPK sample set. Based on unique iris patterns, these phenotypic traits would be helpful for individuals' discrimination in the population<b>. </b>In future, there is need to explore genetic associations and functional differences of these traits.</p>
Data for Publication "Comparing individuals buried in flexed and extended positions at the Greek colony of Chersonesos (Crimea) using cranial metric, dental metric, and dental nonmetric traits"
<p>Data for Publication: H. Rathmann, R. Stoyanov, and R. Posamentir, Comparing individuals buried in flexed and extended positions at the Greek colony of Chersonesos (Crimea) using cranial metric, dental metric, and dental nonmetric traits.</p>
Dataset for: Using plant traits to understand the contribution of biodiversity effects to annual crop community productivity
<p>Dataset for: Using plant traits to understand the contribution of biodiversity effects to annual crop community productivity</p>
Interindividual plasticity in metabolic and thermal tolerance traits from populations subjected to recent anthropogenic heating
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>To better understand temperature's role in the interaction between local evolutionary adaptation and physiological plasticity, we investigated acclimation effects on metabolic performance and thermal tolerance among natural <i>Fundulus heteroclitus</i> populations from different thermal environments. <i>F. heteroclitus </i>populations<i> </i>experience large daily and seasonal temperature variations, as well as local mean temperature differences across their large geographic cline. In this study, we focus on three populations: one locally heated (32°C) by thermal effluence (TE) from the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, NJ and two nearby reference populations that do not experience local heating (28°C). After acclimation to 12°C or 28°C, we quantified whole animal metabolic rate (WAM), critical thermal maximum (CTMax) and substrate specific cardiac metabolic rate (CaM, substrates: glucose, fatty acids, lactate plus ketones plus ethanol, and endogenous [i.e., no added substrates]) in ~160 individuals from these three populations. Populations showed few significant differences due to large interindividual variation within each population and variation in acclimation response within any single trait. In general, for WAM and CTMax the interindividual variation in acclimation response (log<sub>2</sub> ratio 28°C/12°C) was a function of performance at 12°C with greater acclimation response for individuals that had lower 12°C performance. In contrast, for CaM the rates when acclimated and assayed at 12°C or 28°C were nearly identical. The small differences in CaM between 12°C and 28°C temperature were partially explained by cardiac remodeling where individuals acclimated to 12°C had larger hearts than individuals acclimated to 28°C, resulting in a higher CaM rate per unit heart mass at 28°C than 12°C. Correlation among physiological traits were dependent on acclimation temperature. For example, WAM was negatively correlated with CTMax at 12°C but positively correlated at 28°C. Additionally, glucose substrate supported higher cardiac metabolism than fatty acid, and fatty acid supported higher cardiac metabolism than LKA or endogenous. However, these responses were highly variable with some individuals using much more FA than glucose. These data suggest a complex relationship between specific, temperature-dependent physiological traits. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Pollinator community predicts trait-matching between oil-producing flowers and a guild of oil-collecting bees
<p>The impact of pollinator community diversity on trait-matching in plant-pollinator interactions is poorly studied, even though many mutualisms involve multiple interaction partners. We studied ten communities in which one to three species of oil-collecting <i>Rediviva</i> bee pollinate the<i> </i>long-spurred, oil-producing flowers of <i>Diascia 'floribunda'</i> to examine how pollinator diversity affects covariation of functional traits across sites and trait-matching within sites. Floral spur-length was significantly correlated with weighted grand mean foreleg length of the local bee community but not with foreleg length of individual bee species. The closeness of trait-matching varied among populations and was inversely related to pollinator community diversity. For all bee species, trait-matching was closest at sites characterized by exclusive, pairwise interactions. Reduced trait-matching associated with increased community diversity for individual pollinator species, but close matching at the community level support the importance of community context for shaping interacting traits of flowers and pollinators.</p>
Data from: Genotypic traits and tradeoffs of fast growth in silver birch, a pioneer tree
<p>Fast-growing and slow-growing plant species are suggested to show integrated economics spectrums and the tradeoffs of fast growth are predicted to emerge as susceptibility to herbivory and resource competition. We tested if these predictions also hold for fast-growing and slow-growing genotypes within a silver birch, <i>Betula pendula</i> population. We exposed cloned saplings of 17 genotypes with slow, medium or fast height growth to reduced insect herbivory, using an insecticide, and to increasing resource competition, using naturally varying field plot grass cover. We measured shoot and root growth, ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal production using ergosterol analysis and soil N transfer to leaves using <sup>15</sup>N-labelled pulse of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>. We found that fast-growing genotypes grew on average 78% faster, produced 56% and 16% more leaf mass and ergosterol, and showed 78% higher leaf N uptake than slow-growing genotypes. The insecticide decreased leaf damage by 83% and increased shoot growth, leaf growth and leaf N uptake by 38%, 52% and 76%, without differences between the responses of fast-growing and slow-growing genotypes, whereas root mass decreased with increasing grass cover. Shoot and leaf growth of fast-growing genotypes decreased and EM fungal production of slow-growing genotypes increased with increasing grass cover. Our results suggest that fast growth is genotypically associated with higher allocation to EM fungi, better soil N capture and greater leaf production, and that the tradeoff of fast growth is sensitivity to competition, but not to insect herbivory. EM fungi may have a dual role: to support growth of fast-growing genotypes under low grass competition and to maintain growth of slow-growing genotypes under intensifying competition.</p>
Complex trait‒environment relationships underlie the structure of forest plant communities
<p>Traits differentially adapt plant species to particular conditions generating compositional shifts along environmental gradients. As a result, community-scale trait values show concomitant shifts, termed trait‒environment relationships. Trait‒environment relationships are often assessed by evaluating community-weighted mean (CWM) traits observed along environmental gradients. Regression-based approaches (CWMr) assume that local communities exhibit traits centered at a single optimum value and that traits do not covary meaningfully. Evidence suggests that the shape of trait‒abundance relationships can vary widely along environmental gradients—reflecting complex interactions—and traits are usually interrelated. We used a model that accounts for these factors to explore trait‒environment relationships in herbaceous forest plant communities in Wisconsin (USA). We built a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to analyze how abundances of 185 species distributed among 189 forested sites vary in response to four functional traits (vegetative height-VH, leaf size-LS, leaf mass per area-LMA, and leaf carbon content), six environmental variables describing overstory, soil, and climate conditions, and their interactions. The GLMM allowed us to assess the nature and relative strength of the resulting 24 trait‒environment relationships. We also compared results between GLMM and CWMr to explore how conclusions differ between approaches. The GLMM identified five significant trait‒environment relationships that together explain ~40% of variation in species abundances across sites. Temperature appeared as a key environmental driver, with warmer and more seasonal sites favoring taller plants. Soil texture and temperature seasonality affected LS and LMA; seasonality effects on LS and LMA were nonlinear, declining at more seasonal sites. Though often assumed for CWMr, only some traits under certain conditions had centered optimum trait‒abundance relationships. CWMr more liberally identified (13) trait‒environment relationships as significant but failed to detect the temperature-seasonality‒LMA relationship identified by the GLMM. Synthesis. Although GLMM represents a more methodologically complex approach than CWMr, it identified a reduced set of trait‒environment relationships still capable of accounting for the responses of forest understory herbs to environmental gradients. It also identified separate effects of mean and seasonal temperature on LMA that appear important in these forests, generating useful insights and supporting broader application of GLMM approach to understand trait‒environment relationships.</p>
Many roads to success: Different combinations of life-history traits provide accurate germination timing in seasonally dry environments
Germination timing is determined by several plant life-history traits. Seed dormancy regulates the time and place of early plant development and spreads recruitment risks over time. Dispersal phenology and syndrome can influence germination timing and buffer spatial heterogeneity. The ecological requirements for germination (the germination niche) can also influence when and where germination takes place. To date, the relative importance of each of these four traits to ensure the phenological adaptation of individual species in diverse communities remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the functional interactions among them and their relevance in heterogenous, seasonally dry environments. We collected seed dispersal phenology and syndrome for 82 species of the Brazilian savanna (cerrado) and evaluated the dormancy and germination behavior of the seeds of every taxon. Based on these data, we developed two new ecological indexes to estimate the likelihood of a non-dormant seed to germinate upon dispersal (∆G) and the overall variability of germination through time (σT). We then evaluated the influence of each trait on germination timing within a phylogenetically controlled framework. Our results show that even though germination is concentrated at the beginning of the rainy season, seed dispersal takes place year-round. Non-dormant seeds released during the dry season were characterized by high ∆G values that delayed their germination until the onset of the favorable season. Simultaneously, seed dormancy and spatial dispersal (i.e., the two risk-reduction mechanisms) were negatively correlated as dormancy and high σT values were only prevalent in seeds with reduced spatial dispersal ability. We conclude that the timing of seed germination is ultimately the net outcome of adaptive interactions among life-history traits, which can result in multiple functionally equivalent phenotypes. It is possible that this might contribute to community diversity by providing opportunities for the coexistence of different species.
Data from: Within-species trait variation can lead to size limitations in seed dispersal of small-fruited plants
<p>The inability of small-gaped animals to consume very large fruits may limit seed dispersal of the respective plants. This has often been shown for large-fruited plant species that remain poorly dispersed when large-gaped animal species are lost due to anthropogenic pressure. Little is known about whether gape-size limitations similarly influence seed dispersal of small-fruited plant species that can show a large variation in fruit size within species.</p> <p>In this study, fruit sizes of 15 plant species were compared with the gape sizes of their 41 animal dispersers in the temperate, old-growth Białowieża Forest, Poland. The effect of gape-size limitations on fruit consumption was assessed at the plant species level, and for a subset of nine plant species, also at the individual level, and subindividual level (i.e., fruits of the same plant individual). In addition, for the species subset, fruit-seed trait relationships were investigated to determine whether a restricted access of small-gaped animals to large fruits results in the dispersal of fewer or smaller seeds per fruit.</p> <p>Fruit sizes widely varied among plant species (74.2%), considerably at the subindividual level (17.1%), and to the smallest extent among plant individuals (8.7%). Key disperser species should be able to consume fruits of all plant species and all individuals (except those of the largest-fruited plant species), even if they are able to consume only 28-55% of available fruits. Fruit and seed traits were positively correlated in eight out of nine plant species, indicating that gape size limitations will result in 49% fewer (in one plant species) or 16-21% smaller seeds (in three plant species) dispersed per fruit by small-gaped than by large-gaped main dispersers, respectively.</p> <p>Our results show that a large subindividual variation in fruit size is characteristic for small-fruited plant species, and increases their connectedness with frugivores at the level of plants species and individuals. Simultaneously, however, the large variation in fruit size leads to gape-size limitations that may induce selective pressures on fruit size if large-gaped dispersers become extinct. This study emphasizes the mechanisms by which gape-size limitation at the species, individual and subindividual level shape plant-frugivore interactions and the co-evolution of small-fruited plants.</p>
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Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.