| Abstract Detail
Conservation Biology Ramirez-Bullon, Natali [1], Negron-Ortiz, Vivian [2], Winn, Alice A. [3]. Implications of pollen limitation for the persistence of a threatened dioecious endemic plant of Northwest Florida. The effective conservation of threatened plants requires an understanding of population dynamics and the evaluation of factors that could reduce population growth. Studies indicate that pollen limitation of seed production is widespread but few have quantified its effects on population growth. Recognizing the effects of pollen limitation on population growth could provide information important to insuring the persistence of species at risk. To quantify pollen limitation of seed production in populations of the threatened dioecious perennial plant, Euphorbia telephioides, and to explore how pollen limitation could affect population growth in this species, we combined experimental tests for pollen limitation with construction and analysis of structured demographic models. We simulated the effects of four levels of pollen limitation on population growth in demographic models parameterized with field data for these populations. Stage structured models indicate that all three populations are projected to decline. We did not find evidence of significant pollen limitation of fruit or seed production during the year of our experiments, but simulations of pollen limitation further reduced estimates of population growth rate by 1 to 4 %. Determining the current status of populations, and simulating the consequences of possible threats, such as pollen limitation, provides a quantitative basis for conservation actions.
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1 - Florida State University, Department of Biological Science, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4295, USA
2 - U.S. Fish And Wildlfe Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, FL, 32405, USA
3 - Department Of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4295, USA
Keywords:
demography
conservation
stage structured model.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 48, Conservation Biology II
Location: 204/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016
Time: 3:45 PM
Number: 48008
Abstract ID:489
Candidate for Awards:None |
