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Fine-scale spatial heterogeneity and seed size determine early seedling survival in a desert perennial shrub (Ericameria nauseosa: Asteraceae)

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Abstract

In heterogenous landscapes, seeds settle in some microsites more readily than others, independently of whether those microsites are suitable for germination and subsequent growth, and survival of seedlings. Wild seeds and seedlings of Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila in the sand-dune ecosystem near Mono Lake, California show both concordance and conflict in where seeds are retained and where seedlings flourish. Using a field experiment, we followed performance of seeds and seedlings (i.e., the rate of germination and successful emergence, initial seedling size, seedling growth and survival over first growing season), by planting seeds of known sizes in pre-identified microsites (windward and lee aspects of interspaces between shrubs, under shrub canopies, and under snag canopies, respectively). Heavier seeds were more likely to germinate and emerge successfully and resulted in initially larger seedlings than lighter seeds. These initially larger seedlings subsequently remained larger over the growing season and lived longer than initially smaller seedlings. Independent of seed and initial seedling size, seedlings that germinated under the canopy of adult shrubs grew larger and survived longer than seedlings that germinated in interspaces (open space with little or no vegetation) or under snags (dead adult shrubs). Seedlings grown under the canopy of adult shrubs experienced significantly less solar radiation and wind-deposited sand than seedlings grown in interspace or snag microsites. Sand burial more than 1 cm was lethal for seedlings. The two variables of seed size and microsite type had by far greater impact on eventual growth and survival of seedlings than did aspect, and the effects of the former two variables were independent of each other. This study amplifies the body of work on E. nauseosa at this site demonstrating that the earliest events in the life history of this long-lived perennial shrub appear to persist through time despite the harsh and variable environment.

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Acknowledgments

We thank M.G. Balogh, M.F. Benard, D.A. Balogh, D.P. Balogh, D. L. Elliott-Fisk, J.J. Carangelo, J.H Richards and the Sergey Nuzhdin lab for their essential contributions to field and lab data collection. J.H. Richards, L.A. Donovan, K.J. Rice, P.L. Chesson, R.W. Pearcy provided conceptual motivation and provided critical input for various aspects of this study; we thank them and two anonymous referees for comments that greatly improved the quality of the manuscript. We are grateful to the U.S. Forest Service and L. Ford for permission to work in the U.S. Forest Mono Basin Scenic Area and to D. Dawson and the University of California Natural Reserve system. This study was supported by Jastro Shields research grants from the University of California, Davis. All regulations required by University of California, Davis, the U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. law were followed in conducting the experiments in this study.

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  1. Section of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, 95616, USA

    Rebecca Balogh Benard & Catherine A. Toft

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  1. Rebecca Balogh Benard
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  2. Catherine A. Toft
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Correspondence to Catherine A. Toft.

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Benard, R.B., Toft, C.A. Fine-scale spatial heterogeneity and seed size determine early seedling survival in a desert perennial shrub (Ericameria nauseosa: Asteraceae). Plant Ecol 194, 195–205 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-007-9284-y

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