Abstract
We summarize some of the population-dynamic consequences of the mosaic structure of plant populations for the evolution of seed dispersal. A fairly elaborated set of theoretical ideas exist regarding the evolution of dispersal and we have synthesized some of them in an attempt to make them more accessible to field ecologists. We consider the relationship of these general theoretical ideas to our understanding of fruit and seed dispersal.
We develop three related models to describe the similarities and differences in how dispersal functions for risk reduction(bet hedging), escaping the negative consequences of crowding, and escaping high concentrations of relatives. We also briefly discuss directed dispersal as a fourth population-dynamic aspect of dispersal. Dispersal can have a risk-reducing function only when there is global (metapopulation) temporal variance. Dispersal to escape the negative consequences of crowding requires only spatial and local temporal environmental variation. Dispersal for escaping high concentrations of relatives requires no environmental variation, but does require genetic population structure. Directed dispersal, defined as non-random into particular patch types contingent in the expectation of local success, is always valuable when possible and represents and advantage independent the others which can occur with random dispersal.
In an effort to accomodate for the differences between simple mathematical models and the behavior of complex natural fruit and seed dispersal systems we have discussed the following issues: actual patterns of patch structure and dispersal structures; and the impact of the detailed nature of density dependence, breeding systems, and genetic structure. We briefly compare the population-dynamic functions of dispersal presented here with the widely cited functions of colonization, escape and directed dispersal. Finally, we suggest how the theoretical models can be used with field data to estimate the fitness consequences of dispersal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alvarez-Buylla, E. R. & García-Barrios, R. 1991. Seed and forest dynamics: a theoretical framework and an example from the Neotropics. Am. Nat. 137: 133–154.
Antonovic, J. & Primack, R. 1982. Experimental ecological genetics in Plantago: VI. The demography of seedling transplants of P. lanceolata. J. Ecol; 70: 55–75.
Baker, H. G. & Stebbins, G. L. 1965. Genetics of colonizing species. Academic Press, New York.
Bertin, R. I. 1988. Paternity in plants. In: J. Lovett Doust & L. Lovett Doust, (eds.) Plant reproductive ecology: patterns and strategies, pp. 30–59. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Bergelson, J. 1990. Life after death: site pre-emption by the remains of Poa annua. Ecology 71: 2157–2165.
Charnov, E. L. 1982. The theory of sex allocation. Monographs in population biology 18, Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Chesson, P. L. & Huntly, N. 1988. Community consequences of life-history traits in a variable environment. Ann. Zool. Fennici 25: 5–16.
Clements, F. E. & Goldsmith, G. W. 1924. The phytometer method in Ecology. Carnegie Institute of Washington Publication No. 356.
Cohen, D. & Levin, S. A. 1985. The interaction between dispersal and dormancy strategies in varying and heterogeneous environments. In: E. Teromato & M. Yomaguti,(eds.) Mathematical topics in population biology, morphogenesis,and neuroscience. pp. 110–122. Proceed. Internat. Symp. Kyoto, 1985.
Cohen, D. & Levin, S. A. 1991. Dispersal in patchy environments:the effects of temporal and spatial structure. Theor. Pop. Biol. 39: 63–99.
Cohen, D. & Motro, U. 1989. More on optimal rates of dispersal: taking into account the cost of the dispersal mechanism. Am. Nat. 134: 659–663.
Comins, H. N. 1982. Evolutionarily stable strategies for localized dispersal in two dimensions. J. Theor. Biol. 94: 579–606.
Connell, J. H. 1971. On the role of natural enemies in preventing competitive exclusion in some marine animals and in rain forest trees. In: P. J. Den Boer, G. Gradwell, (eds.) Dynamics of Populations. pp. 298–312. PUDOC, Wageningen.
Docters van Leeuwen, W. M. 1954. On the biology of some Loranthaceae and the role birds play in their life-history. Beaufortia 4: 105–208.
Elmer, S. & Shmida, A. 1981. Why are adaptations for longrange seed dispersal rare in desert plants? Oecologia (Berl.) 51: 133–144.
Estrada, A. & Fleming, T. H. 1986. Frugivores and seed dispersal.Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht.
Frank, S. A. 1986. Dispersal polymorphisms in subdivided populations. J. Theor. Biol. 122: 303–309.
Hamilton, W. D. 1972. Altruism and related phenomena, mainly in social insects. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 3: 193–232.
Hamilton, W. D. & May, R. M. 1977. Dispersal in stable habitats. Nature 269: 578–581.
Handel, S. N. 1978. The competitive relationship of three woodland sedges and its bearing on the evolution of antdispersal of Carex pedunculata. Evolution 32: 151–163.
Hanzawa, F. M., Beattie, A. J. & Culver, D. C. 1988. Directed dispersal: demographic analysis of an ant-seed mutualism.Am. Nat. 131: 1–13.
Harper, J. L. 1961. Approaches to the study of plant competition.In: F. L. Milthorpe, (ed.), Mechanisms in biological competition. Symp. Soc. exp. Biol. 15: 1–39.
Harper, J. L. 1972. The population biology of plants. Academic Press, London.
Howe, H. F. & Smallwood, J. 1982. Ecology of seed dispersal.Ann. Rev. Ecol. Sys. 13: 201–228.
Horvitz, C. C. & Schemske, D. W. 1986. Seed dispersal and environmental heterogeneity in a neotropical herb: a model of population and patch dynamics. In: A. Estrada & T. H. Fleming, (eds.) Frugivores and seed dispersal. Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht.
Janzen, D. H. 1970. Herbivores and the number of tree species in tropical forests. Am. Nat. 104: 501–528.
Johnson, M. & Gaines, M. S. 1990. Evolution of dispersal: theoretical models and empirical tests using birds and mammals. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 21: 449–480.
Kira, T., Ogawa, H. & Shinozaki, K. 1953. Intraspecific competition among higher plants. 1. Competition-density-yield inter-relationships in regularly dispersed populations. J. Inst. Polytech. Osaka Cy. Univ. D. 4: 1–16.
Krummel, J. R, Gardner, R. H, Sugihara, G. & O’Neill, R. V. 1987. Landscape patterns, in a disturbed environment. Oikos 48: 321–324.
Levin, D. A. & Kerster, H. W. 1974. Gene flow in seed plants. Evol. Biol. 7: 139–220.
Levin, S. A., Cohen, D. & Hastings, A. 1984. Dispersal strategies in patchy environments. Theor. Popul. Biol. 26: 165– 191.
Levins, R. 1970. Extinction. Some mathematical questions in biology. In: M. Gerstenhaber, (ed.) Lectures on mathematics in the life sciences, pp. 77–107. American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI.
Lloyd, D. G. 1983. Evolutionarily stable sex ratios and sex allocations. J. Theor. Biol. 105: 525–539.
Lloyd, D. G. 1984. Gender allocations in outcrossing cosexual plants. In: R. Dirzo & J. Sarukhan, (eds.), Perspectives on plants population ecology, pp. 166–187. Sinauer, Sunderland,MS.
Lovett-Doust, J. & Lovett-Doust, L. 1988. Plant reproductive ecology: patterns and strategies. Oxford U. Press, New York.
Maynard-Smith, J. & Price, G. R. 1973. The logic of animal conflict. Nature, Lond. 246: 15–18.
Moermond, T. C. & Denslow, J. S. 1985. Neotropical avian frugivores: patterns of behavior, morphology, and nutrition, with consequences for fruit selection. In: P. A. Buckley, M. S. Foster, E. S. Morton, R. S. Ridgely & N. G. Buckley (eds.) Neotropical Ornithology. Onthological Monographs 36: 865–807.
Murray, D. R. 1986. Seed dispersal. Academic Press, Sydney.
Murray, K. G. 1988. Avian seed dispersal of three neotropical gap-dependent plants. Ecol. Monogr. 58: 271–298.
Olivieri, I. & Gouyon, P. H. 1985. Seed dimorphism for dispersal: theory and implications. In: J. Haeck & J. W. Woldendorp,(eds.) Structure and functioning of plant populations/2. Phenotypic and genotypic variation in plant populations. North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam.
Ostle, B. & Mensing, R. W. 1975. Statistics in research. (3rd ed.) Iowa State University Press, Ames.
Pickett, S. T. A. & White, P. S. 1985. The ecology of natural disturbance and patch dynamics. Academic Press, Orlando FL.
Price, G. R. 1972. Extension of covariance selection mathematics.Ann. hum. Genet. 35: 485–490.
Queller, D. 1983. Kin selection and conflict in seed maturation.J. Theor. Biol. 100: 153–172.
Real, L. A. 1980. Fitness, uncertainty, and the role diversification in evolution and behavior. Am. Nat. 115: 623–635.
Salisbury, E. J. 1942. The reproductive capacity of plants. Bell, London.
Schoen, D. J. & Lloyd, D. G. 1983. The selection of cleistogamy and heteromorphic diaspores. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 23: 303–323.
Seger, J. & Brockmann, H. J. 1987. What is bet-hedging? Oxford Surveys in Evol. Biol. 4: 183–211.
Silander, J. A. & Pacala, S. W. 1990. The application of plant population dynamic models to understanding plant competition.In: J. B. Grace & D. Tilman, (eds.), Perspectives on plant competition, pp. 67–92. Academic Press, San Diego.
Simberloff, D. 1989. The contribution of population and community biology to conservation science. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 19: 473–512.
Stanton, M. & Galloway, L. F. 1991. Natural selection and allocation to reproduction in flowering plants. In: M. Mangel (ed.) Sex Allocation and sex change: experiments and models. Providence: American Math. Soc., pp. 1–50.
Sugihara, G. & May, R. M. 1990. Applications of fractals in ecology. Tree 5: 79–86.
Swingland, I. R. & Greenwood, P. J. (eds.) 1983. The ecology of animal movement. Clarendon, Oxford.
Taper, M. L. & Case, T. J. 1992. Models of character displacement and the theoretical robustness of taxon cycles. Evolution 46: 317–333.
Taylor, P. D. 1988. An inclusive fitness model for dispersal of offspring. J. Theor. Biol. 130: 363–378.
Vander Wall, S. B. & Balda, R. P. 1977. Coadaptations of the Clark’s Nutcracker and the pifion pine for efficient seed harvest and dispersal. Ecol. Monogr. 47: 89–111.
Venable, D. L. 1989. Modelling the evolutionary ecology of seed banks. In: M. A. Leck, V. T. Parker & R. L. Simpson (eds.). The ecology of soil seed banks, pp. 67–87. Academic Press, San Diego.
Venable, D. L. & Brown, J. S. 1988. The selective interactions of dispersal, dormancy, and seed size as adaptations for reducing risk in variable environments. Am. Nat. 131: 360–384.
Venable, D. L., Búrquez, A., Corral, G., Morales, E. & Espinoza, F. 1987. Ecology of seed heteromophism in Heterosperma pinnatum in Central Mexico. Ecology 68: 65–76.
Venable, D. L. & Lawlor, L. R. 1980. Delayed germination in desert annuals: escape in space and time. Oecologia (Berl.) 46: 272–282.
Venable, D. L. & Levin, D. A. 1985. Ecology of seed polymorphism in Heterotheca latifolia: Achene structure, germination,dispersal. J. Ecol. 73: 133–145.
Vincent, T. L. & Brown, J. S. 1988. The evolution of ESS theory. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 19: 423–444.
Watkinson, A. R. 1980. Density-dependence in single-species populations of plants. J. Theor. Biol. 83: 345–357.
Wheelwright, N. T. & Orians, G. H. 1982. Seed dispersal by animals: contrasts with pollen dispersal, problems of terminology,and constraints on coevolution. Am. Nat. 119: 402–413.
White, P. S. 1979. Pattern, process, and natural disturbance in vegetation. Bot. Rev. 45: 229–299.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Venable, D.L., Brown, J.S. (1993). The population-dynamic functions of seed dispersal. In: Fleming, T.H., Estrada, A. (eds) Frugivory and seed dispersal: ecological and evolutionary aspects. Advances in vegetation science, vol 15. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1749-4_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1749-4_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4767-8
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1749-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive