Abstract
Seed size and cotyledon morphology are two key juvenile traits that have evolved in response to changes in plant species lifehistory strategies and habitat associations. Correlations of these traits with each other and with other juvenile traits were examined for 70 species of trees and shrubs in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Although species with photosynthetic cotyledons were more abundant than in other tropical floras, both univariate and multivariate analyses supported trait associations expected from the literature. Trait values varied continuously across species, yet mean trait values differed significantly among habitat association types. Species with large seeds, large seedlings, thick storage cotyledons, slow germination, large-stature adults, and dispersal by large animals were common in forest and gap habitats. An opposite suite of traits was common in open habitats (grassland and edge). Analyses incorporating phylogeny (independent contrasts and omnibus tests) confirmed that these suites of traits showed correlated evolution. Cotyledon functional morphology yielded a strong phylogenetic signal, while seed mass was labile. Nevertheless, contingent change tests found that evolutionary change from photosynthetic to reserve cotyledons was more likely when disperser and perhaps seed size of ancestral species were already large, suggesting a strong interdependency among these traits.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Species with photosynthetic cotyledons were more abundant than in other tropical floras.
Verbatim
e0“species with photosynthetic cotyledons were more abundant than in other tropical floras”
e1“70 species of trees and shrubs”
Claim · model-written summary
Trait associations matched expectations from literature.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“both univariate and multivariate analyses supported trait associations expected from the literature”
e1“70 species of trees and shrubs”
Claim · model-written summary
Trait values varied continuously across species.
Verbatim
e0“Trait values varied continuously across species”
e1“70 species of trees and shrubs”
Claim · model-written summary
Mean trait values differed significantly among habitat association types.
Verbatim
e0“mean trait values differed significantly among habitat association types”
e1“70 species of trees and shrubs”
Claim · model-written summary
Large seeds, seedlings, storage cotyledons, slow germination, large adults and dispersal by large animals were common in forests and gaps.
Verbatim
e0“Species with large seeds, large seedlings, thick storage cotyledons, slow germination, large-stature adults, and dispersal by large animals were common in forest and gap habitats”
Claim · model-written summary
The opposite trait suite was common in open habitats.
Verbatim
e0“An opposite suite of traits was common in open habitats (grassland and edge)”
e1“70 species of trees and shrubs”
Claim · model-written summary
Phylogenetic analyses confirmed correlated evolution of the trait suites.
- Taxon
- trees and shrubse1
- Organ / stage
- seedlingse2
- Outcome
- correlated evolutione0
- Qualifier
- these suites of traitse0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“these suites of traits showed correlated evolution”
e1“70 species of trees and shrubs”
e2“Species with large seeds, large seedlings, thick storage cotyledons, slow germination, large-stature adults, and dispersal by large animals were common in forest and gap habitats”
Claim · model-written summary
Cotyledon functional morphology showed a strong phylogenetic signal.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Cotyledon functional morphology yielded a strong phylogenetic signal”
e1“70 species of trees and shrubs”
Claim · model-written summary
Seed mass was evolutionarily labile.
Verbatim
e0“seed mass was labile”
e1“70 species of trees and shrubs”
Claim · model-written summary
Change from photosynthetic to reserve cotyledons was more likely when ancestral disperser and perhaps seed size were large.
Verbatim
e0“evolutionary change from photosynthetic to reserve cotyledons was more likely when disperser and perhaps seed size of ancestral species were already large”
e1“70 species of trees and shrubs”