The term phenology is derived from the Greek word phaino meaning to show or appear. Hence, defined as study of seasonal timing life cycle events. For plants such events can be critical survival and reproduction. In agriculture most common failure introduced crops inability adjust seasons imposed by new, environment (68). past few years, interest in ecology evolution has grown. Here we review literature on phenological patterns germination, flowering, fruiting (including dispersal).

A reciprocal transplant experiment was conducted to examine several aspects of life—history variation in Daucus carota along its latitudinal range eastern North America. Seeds collected from natural populations at 36°, 42°, and 45° N were sown onto plots each the three latitudes. Marked seedlings followed for 3 yr (1) genetic environmental components growth, survival, year reproduction; (2) size age time (3) roles that density— age—dependent selection may play producing reproduction. Mean...

We propose a general model that estimates fitness from the joint effects of mean and variance. In this hierarchical contribution each individual trait makes to net proceeds in stepwise fashion level component cohort levels and, finally, fitness. describe useful mathematical functions incorporate both variance values at level. Empirical examples (1) demonstrate variance, addition mean, can be an important determinant (2) show how used estimate fitness, particular research addressing evolution...

In spite of the potential evolutionary importance parental effects, many aspects these effects remain inadequately explained. This paper explores both their causes and consequences for evolution life-history traits in plants. a growth chamber experiment, I manipulated pre- postzygotic temperatures parents controlled crosses Plantago lanceolata. All offspring were affected by temperature. On average, low temperature increased seed weight, reduced germination rate, accelerated onset...

1)Offspring of annual, biennial and triennial Daucus carota were grown under three nutrient regimes in a growth chamber to measure the effects supply maternal age flowering on offspring size rate all four variables year flowering.(2)Offspring rosette recent both good predictors flowering.An increase but decrease relative at end summer associated with an increased probability next season.The results are consistent Wilbur-Collins model, which suggests that influence reproductive timing...

Many biologists studying environmentally induced parental effects have indirectly suggested that the environment alters seed mass by altering amount of endosperm or embryo tissue in seed. We tested this hypothesis measuring temperature on total mass, coat and embryo/endosperm offspring Plantago lanceolata. Parental significantly affected but not endosperm/embryo mass. Thus, larger seeds do contain more resources than small seeds. Rather they which probably strongly influences germination....

Phenological patterns of flowering and fruiting can be influenced by the effects reproductive time on seed production. We propose here that these are also phenological offspring quality. Furthermore, we hypothesize there cross-generational trade-offs between parental components fitness influencing evolution phenology. To test our hypothesis, examined multigenerational phenology in Plantago lanceolata. Offspring 30 families were transplanted into field plots to measure onsets fruiting,...

Flower color in the weedy perennial Plantago lanceolata is phenotypically plastic. Darker flowers are produced at cooler ambient temperatures, and circumstantial evidence suggests that this adaptive. The goal of project was to investigate chemical basis for plasticity. To test hypothesis increased anthocyanin production low temperatures underlies plasticity, extracts P. warm cool were analyzed using UV/visible spectrophotometry coupled with mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry allowed us...

To determine the evolutionary importance of parental environmental effects in natural populations, we must begin to measure magnitude these field. For this reason, conducted a combined growth chamber-field experiment temperature Plantago lanceolata. We grew field offspring controlled crosses chamber-grown parents subjected six treatments. Each treatment was characterized by unique combination maternal prezygotic (prior fertilization), paternal prezygotic, and postzygotic (during...

This study describes the temporal pattern of seed dispersal in Daucus carota and examines fate seeds dispersed at different dates SE Michigan. Plants varied greatly both time onset rate dispersal. Onset was directly related to flowering time, a phenotypically plastic character, tended occur earlier newly established populations. Dispersal similar for different-aged populations plants times. The latter indicates that later-flowering greater proportion winter. Seed germination outdoor plots...

We explore the relationships among phenotypic plasticity, parental effects, and care in plants by presenting data from four experiments examining reflectance/color patterns Plantago lanceolata . In three experiments, we measured spike (inflorescence) reflectance between 362 850 nm using a spectrophotometer with an integrating sphere. Experiments show that (1) changes seasonally within outside visible portion of spectrum radiant energy, (2) increasing ambient temperature causes individual...

Adaptive phenotypic plasticity in thermally sensitive traits, that is, thermal acclimation, generally increases with increasing latitude and altitude. The presumed explanation is high‐latitude/altitude organisms have evolved greater acclimation ability because of exposure to temperature fluctuations. Using a conceptual model the environment during reproductive season, we tested this hypothesis against an alternative increased specific temperatures strongly select for acclimation. We examined...

In spite of the potential evolutionary importance parental effects, many aspects these effects remain inadequately explained.This paper explores both their causes and consequences for evolution life-history traits in plants.In a growth chamber experiment, I manipulated pre-and postzygotic temperatures parents controlled crosses Plantago lanceolata.All offspring were affected by temperature.On average, low temperature increased seed weight, reduced germination rate, accelerated onset...

Understanding how plant reproduction responds to temperature has become increasingly important because of global climate change. Temperature-sensitive plasticity in floral reflectance is likely involved some these responses. Such plasticity, which underlies thermoregulatory ability, affects reproductive success Plantago lanceolata. To see whether other species also show thermal reflectance, we measured P. lagopus, coronopus, major, subulata, albicans, tomentosa, maritima, and weldenii.We...

A study of a population Ilex montana mountain winterberry showed strongly skewed age distribution with few individuals reaching reproductive maturity. Sexual differences the adults were manifested in several ways. The tertiary sex ratio 436 trees was significantly male-biased; males produced more flowers per tree than did females, and there slight spatial segregation between females. However, females not differ estimated size distributions, nor proportion vary density. data suggest that...

To learn more about the basic biology of exotic relative to native tree species we conducted a greenhouse experiment comparing germination and early seedling growth four successional found in southeastern United States: two exotics (Ailanthus altissima Paulownia tomentosa) natives (Liquidambar styraciflua Platanus occidentalis). Five soil types three water regimes were used for experiment. Liquidambar Platanus, species, germinated significantly quickly sensitive type than exotics, Ailanthus...

Daucus carota, a common herbaceous weed, grows over wide latitudinal range in eastern North America. Viability and germination tests of mature seeds collected from 36° to 45°N were conducted measure predispersal seed mortality. declined as latitude the source decreased. Only 30–50% southern populations germinated owing high embryo inviability absence embryos. Sixty ninety percent northern germinated. Reciprocal planting outdoor experimental plots at three latitudes testing two generations...

• In many plant species, the alternative respiratory pathway consisting of oxidase (AOX) is affected by growth temperature. The adaptive significance this temperature-sensitivity unresolved. Here, leaf and spike (flower cluster) AOX protein content spike/floral reflectance genotypes from European Plantago lanceolata populations found in regions differing reproductive season temperatures were measured. Cloned grown at controlled warm cool used to assess natural within- between-population...