Article
Plant Sciences
E. Zaveska, O. Sida, J. Leong-Skornickova, Z. Chumova, P. Travnicek, M. F. Newman, A. D. Poulsen, A. Bohmova, H. Chudackova, T. Fer
Summary: Species with large genomes tend to be excluded from environments with shorter growing seasons, and the size of the genome is closely related to shoot seasonality in ginger plants. In the Zingiberoidae subfamily, species with larger genomes are excluded from areas with a shorter growing season, while in the Alpinioideae subfamily, genome size is correlated with stem type and light requirements.
Article
Biology
Samsad Razzaque, Robert W. Heckman, Thomas E. Juenger
Summary: Seed mass is an important ecological trait that varies among different ecotypes. However, the role of seed mass in local adaptation is not clear due to limited studies on its impacts on adult life-history traits. This study examined the relationship between seed mass, seedling and reproductive traits in Panicum hallii, which has two distinct ecotypes adapted to different habitats. The results showed that seed mass differed significantly among P. hallii genotypes and was correlated with various seedling and reproductive traits. Field experiments demonstrated that selection favored large seeds in upland habitat and small seeds in lowland habitat, supporting the concept of local adaptation. These findings highlight the central role of seed mass in ecotypic differences and its importance in seedling and adult recruitment, providing insights into ecotype formation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kyle Christie, Natalie R. Pierson, David B. Lowry, Liza M. Holeski
Summary: In this study, we examined the variation in seed and seedling traits of Plantago patagonica along a natural aridity gradient. We found that seed size decreased, germination timing accelerated, and specific leaf area increased with increasing aridity. We also discovered that seedling height, achieved through larger seeds or earlier germination, was a significant predictor of survival under drought conditions.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gracie Liu, Jodi J. L. Rowley, Richard T. Kingsford, Corey T. Callaghan
Summary: Anthropogenic habitat modification is accelerating, posing a threat to global biodiversity. Research on Australian frogs revealed that most species are negatively affected by habitat modification, especially specialists and those with larger geographic ranges. Traits such as call dominant frequency, body size, clutch type, and calling position are related to tolerance levels towards habitat modification. A urgent need for improved anthropogenic impact consideration and conservation measures for long-term frog population persistence is highlighted, particularly focusing on intolerant species and specialists.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Juliano A. Bogoni, Katia M. P. M. B. Ferraz, Carlos A. Peres
Summary: Understanding local-scale patterns of species persistence or extirpation in the Anthropocene is a challenge in conservation ecology. This study examined mammal species in the Neotropical realm and found that habitat loss was the main driver of local extinctions, while hunting also had a significant impact on many species. Additionally, body size played an important role in local extinctions.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Natalie L. R. Love, Susan J. Mazer
Summary: This study investigates the geographic variation in seed mass among populations of 6 species of Streptanthus in California. The results show that both long-term mean climate and climate anomalies in the year of collection are associated with population mean seed mass, but their effects differ in direction and magnitude. The study suggests that seed mass may be influenced by different mechanisms such as adaptive evolution and phenotypic plasticity, and the climate conditions of the populations also play a role in seed mass.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhaoren Wang, Jerry M. Baskin, Carol C. Baskin, Xuejun Yang, Guofang Liu, Xuehua Ye, Zhenying Huang, Johannes H. C. Cornelissen
Summary: Plants adapt to environmental changes through TGP, with plasticity decreasing with generations. Under stressful conditions, plants grown in favorable salinity have lower biomass but larger seeds. In stress conditions, the proportion of C seeds increases while A seeds decrease.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nicholas M. A. Crouch, Joseph A. Tobias
Summary: Episodic pulses of morphological diversification are a prominent feature of evolutionary history. By analyzing global phylogenetic and morphological data for birds, we found that these pulses tend to occur independently and are associated with habitat niche stability. Our results highlight the potential of functional trait data sets in refining macroevolutionary models.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kai Feng, Wenbo Deng, Yinzhe Zhang, Kun Tao, Jing Yuan, Jiashou Liu, Zhongjie Li, Sovan Lek, Qidong Wang, Bernard Hugueny
Summary: Rapid anthropogenic nutrient enrichment has caused widespread ecological problems in aquatic ecosystems and has dramatically changed fish communities worldwide. However, little research has investigated how these communities respond to eutrophication in terms of functional and taxonomic structure. This study examined the effects of eutrophication on fish species composition, community metrics, and functional traits in 26 shallow lakes in the Yangtze River basin. The results showed that eutrophication plays a significant role in shaping fish community structure, favoring higher biomass and lower functional diversity, while having little impact on species richness. The study highlights the importance of considering specific evolutionary histories when studying the relationships between functional traits and eutrophication.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jason C. S. Chan, Mark K. J. Ooi, Lydia K. Guja
Summary: Ploidy and species range size or threat status are associated with variation in seed and seedling traits, but their ecological outcomes are not well understood. The study found that polyploids have larger seeds, faster germination rates, and larger and taller seedlings compared to diploids. However, there is no clear relationship between range size and seed or seedling traits. These findings suggest that polyploids have a competitive advantage during the regeneration phase in fire-prone environments.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alexander P. Sukhorukov, Maya V. Nilova, Maria Kushunina, Yuri Mazei, Cornelia Klak
Summary: The family Aizoaceae is a diverse group of plants, with around 1880 species, particularly in arid areas of southern Africa. These plants have evolved special reproductive adaptations to survive in harsh climatic conditions. The study focused on the anatomical features, evolutionary trends, and ecological significance of the seeds of 132 species from 61 genera. Several diagnostic characters were identified and added to the list of characteristics distinguishing major clades within the family.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Isma Benmazouz, Jukka Jokimaki, Szabolcs Lengyel, Lajos Juhasz, Marja-Liisa Kaisanlahti-Jokimaki, Gabor Kardos, Petra Paladi, Laszlo Kover
Summary: Corvid birds, such as crows, ravens, and jays, are highly adaptable to urban environments, benefiting from easily accessible food and artificial nesting sites. They exhibit high breeding success rates in cities and show flexibility in resource use, making them successful urban exploiters.
Article
Ecology
Jessica Cote, Lucie Kuczynski, Gael Grenouillet
Summary: This study found a strong association between morphological and ecological traits, as well as significant relationships between diversity indices computed on morphological and ecological traits, with the strongest relationship observed with traits related to habitat use. Therefore, the use of morphological data is promising for understanding ecological diversity, but the choice of diversity index and targeted ecological traits are crucial considerations.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Byungwook Choi, Tae-Min Kim, Seorin Jeong, Yousuk Kim, Eunsuk Kim
Summary: The research suggests that seed endophytic bacteria influence post-germination traits by delaying germination season, leading to altered expression of reproductive traits and relative fitness in plants.
Review
Plant Sciences
Eleinis Avila-Lovera, Klaus Winter, Gregory R. Goldsmith
Summary: Evolutionary relationships play a significant role in shaping plant physiological and structural traits. The study reviews research on phylogenetic signal and correlated evolution in plant-water relation traits. It found stronger phylogenetic signal in structural traits and correlated evolution among traits related to water movement efficiency and hydraulic safety. Considering evolutionary relationships could enhance our understanding of traits comparison, coordination, and variation with the environment.
Article
Plant Sciences
Silvia Del Vecchio, Efisio Mattana, Tiziana Ulian, Gabriella Buffa
Summary: This study explored the link between seed germination niche and plant community ecology in the foredune community of the Veneto coast, Italy. Different seed germination strategies were identified, with implications for species coexistence and potential impacts of climate events on community structure.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oswaldo Tellez, Efisio Mattana, Mauricio Diazgranados, Nicola Kuhn, Elena Castillo-Lorenzo, Rafael Lira, Leobardo Montes-Leyva, Isela Rodriguez, Cesar Mateo Flores Ortiz, Michael Way, Patricia Davila, Tiziana Ulian
Review
Plant Sciences
Teresa Borelli, Danny Hunter, Bronwen Powell, Tiziana Ulian, Efisio Mattana, Celine Termote, Lukas Pawera, Daniela Beltrame, Daniela Penafiel, Ayfer Tan, Mary Taylor, Johannes Engels
Article
Plant Sciences
Marco Porceddu, Hugh W. Pritchard, Efisio Mattana, Gianluigi Bacchetta
Article
Plant Sciences
Cesar A. Ordonez-Salanueva, Alma Orozco-Segovia, Efisio Mattana, Elena Castillo-Lorenzo, Patricia Davila-Aranda, Hugh W. Pritchard, Tiziana Ulian, Cesar M. Flores-Ortiz
Summary: The study investigated the thermal requirements and sensitivities of two pine tree species, predicting their germination and early establishment behaviors under future climate change scenarios. The thermal requirements were found to be similar between the two species at different developmental stages, but seedling survival varied at different temperatures.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Eduardo Fernandez-Pascual, Angelino Carta, Andrea Mondoni, Lohengrin A. Cavieres, Sergey Rosbakh, Susanna Venn, Annisa Satyanti, Lydia Guja, Veronica F. Briceno, Filip Vandelook, Efisio Mattana, Arne Saatkamp, Haiyan Bu, Karen Sommerville, Peter Poschlod, Kun Liu, Adrienne Nicotra, Borja Jimenez-Alfaro
Summary: Assumptions about the germination ecology of alpine plants are currently based on individual species and local studies, but a meta-analysis of primary data across four continents suggests that most alpine plants have similar seed germination patterns, with strong requirements for cold stratification and positive responses to temperature and light cues.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicolas-George Homer Eliades, Marios Andreou, Emilio Laguna, Constantinos Kounnamas, Kyriacos Georghiou, Constantinos Costantinou, Iro Kouzali, Costas A. Thanos, Costas Kadis
Summary: Developing a monitoring system and conservation strategy to combat the negative impact of global change on threatened plant species is a current challenge for conservation experts. The Plant Micro-Reserve (PMR) approach, with mild active management of vegetation plots and protection of plant populations, has evolved into a highly effective method in protecting plant species.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Laurence Fazan, Dany Ghosn, Ilektra Remoundou, Panagiota Gotsiou, Costas Thanos, Salvatore Pasta, Giuseppe Garfi, Gregor Kozlowski
Summary: The study revealed that excluding browsing can significantly promote the growth and regeneration of Zelkova abelicea, and climatic factors may have a significant impact on seed formation and seedling growth and survival.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Efisio Mattana, Pablo Gomez-Barreiro, Nizar Youssef Hani, Khaled Abulaila, Tiziana Ulian
Summary: The study investigated the germination responses of the secondary capitula of Gundelia tournefortii from East Mediterranean mountain populations. Results showed that temperature and plant morphology play a crucial role in controlling seed germination timing, with cold stratification enhancing germination rates. The findings highlight the presence of mechanical and hormonal components of physiological seed dormancy, which can be valuable for plant propagation programs and food security in the East Mediterranean region.
PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Efisio Mattana, Tiziana Ulian, Hugh W. Pritchard
Summary: A comprehensive valuation of seeds' natural capital value is crucial for halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity and habitats. Seeds play a vital role not only in terms of economic value but also at the species and ecosystem level. Challenges still remain in utilizing seeds for nature conservation and sustainable development.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Melih Boydak, Tugba Teker, Aylin Gazdagli, Costas A. Thanos, Servet Caliskan, Apostolis Kaltsis, Emine Calikoglu Tozlu, Christini Fournaraki, Gulruh Albayrak
Summary: The study explored intraspecific and interspecific diversity between Phoenix theophrasti individuals from Turkey, Crete, Greece, and P. dactylifera specimens from Turkey using ISSR analysis. Results showed that intraspecific diversity ranged from 13.45% to 26.63% for P. theophrasti and geographic and genetic distances were positively correlated. STRUCTURE analysis classified populations into four clusters, supporting the differentiation between P. theophrasti and P. dactylifera as different species.
NORDIC JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Salvador Sampayo-Maldonado, Cesar A. Ordonez-Salanueva, Efisio Mattana, Michael Way, Elena Castillo-Lorenzo, Patricia D. Davila-Aranda, Rafael Lira-Saade, Oswaldo Tellez-Valdes, Norma Rodriguez-Arevalo, Tiziana Ulian, Cesar M. Flores-Ortiz
Summary: The study determined the optimal temperatures for seed germination of Swietenia macrophylla, with germination rate peaking at 37.3°C and decreasing at ceiling temperature (52.7°C) and base temperature (12.8°C). The thermal time needed for 50% germination was approximately 190°Cd, which could be accumulated in 20 days in the current scenario. The CCSM4 model projected an increase in potential species distribution by 12.3% to 18.3% compared to the current scenario. Temperature plays a crucial role in the seeds' physiological processes and affects their distribution.
Article
Horticulture
Pablo Gomez Barreiro, Efisio Mattana, David Coleshill, Elena Castillo-Lorenzo, Sidi Sanogo, Paul Wilkin, Tiziana Ulian
Summary: This study investigated the nutlet dormancy and thermal requirements for germination of Mesosphaerum suaveolens and Cantinoa americana, two pesticidal plants used by farmers in West Africa. The results showed that both species have non-deep physiological dormancy, and further studies are needed to clarify the water imbibition uptake for C. americana. Both species showed a positive photoblastic response, with optimal seed germination temperatures well suited to tropical climates. However, differences in nutlet morphology between the two species resulted in distinct patterns of water imbibition.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Angelino Carta, Efisio Mattana, John Dickie, Filip Vandelook
Summary: Seeds and genome sizes show evolutionary correlation influenced by life forms in angiosperms. Different life forms have different optimal values and covariance relationships for seed mass and genome size evolution. The strongest evolutionary correlation between seed mass and genome size is found in annuals, serving as an adaptation to complete their life cycle quickly under favorable environmental conditions.
SEED SCIENCE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Evangelia N. Daskalakou, Katerina Koutsovoulou, Spyridon Oikonomidis, Costas A. Thanos
Summary: Seed germination traits of Pinus heldreichii H. Christ were assessed, and it was found that both cold stratification and white light promote seed germination rate and final percentage. The predicted climate change, including prolonged drought and temperature increase, may have negative effects on seed germination and seedling growth of this species, highlighting the need for conservation measures.
IFOREST-BIOGEOSCIENCES AND FORESTRY
(2022)