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The demography of the annual halophyte Spergularia marina on a baltic seashore meadow

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Abstract

The survivorship and reproduction of the annual halophyte Spergularia marina was studied during four years on three different sites on a Baltic seashore meadow. The survivorship showed variation both between years and between sites. The mortality rate was not density-dependent in spite of very high densities in some years. At two of the sites the seed output was related to density, but individuals differed in their reproductive capacity. Limitation of the flower production was the main reason for this difference. At the third site the length of the flowering season determined the reproductive output.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Section of Plant Ecology, University of Stockholm, S-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden

    Peter Torstensson

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  1. Peter Torstensson
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Additional information

Nomenclature follows Lid (1974), Norsk og Svensk flora, 2nd ed. Oslo.

I am very grateful to O. Eriksson, H. Rydin and A. Telenius for stimulating discussions and for critically reviewing this manuscript. I also thank O. Inghe, G. Jonsdottir and P.-G. Tapper for valuable comments.

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Torstensson, P. The demography of the annual halophyte Spergularia marina on a baltic seashore meadow. Vegetatio 68, 157–168 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00114716

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