Reproductive ecology of forest trees

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

8 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

11/19/2008

Category :

Science & technology

Sub category :

Biology

Oboulo.com selection criteria

$ 16.95 Add to cart

Summary :

Introduction.
General reproductive strategies.
1. Vegetative reproduction.
2. Sexual reproduction.
Pollination of angiosperms.
1. Pollination by vertebrates.
2. Pollination by invertebrates.
3. Wind pollination.
Breeding systems and incompatibility.
Seed morphology and dispersal.
1. Seed size.
2. Seed dispersal.
Seed and seedling banks.
Natural disturbance.
Conclusion.

Abstract

Plant reproductive processes encompass biotic interactions, such as pollination and seed predation and dispersal, and abiotic elements, notably disturbance that creates differential reproductive opportunities for plant groups and thereby maintains diverse forest formations.

There are several important stages in the regeneration of trees, the ﬁrst of which is the allocation of resources to reproductive structures as opposed to vegetative growth. Among ﬂowering plants, that comprise the majority of tree species, allocation to reproductive structures such as ﬂowers, seeds, and fruit may vary enormously and may comprise a substantial portion of photosynthate. Even within plant families some trees (e.g., some dipterocarps of the genus Shorea) produce several million tiny ﬂowers, while others (e.g., Dipterocarpus) produce only a few hundred relatively large ﬂowers. Flower number and morphology reﬂect pollinator syndromes while the trade-off between seed size and number has also generated a huge variety of options for reproductive success. Beyond being a crucial step in seed production, pollination is the ﬁrst of two stages by which gene ﬂow is affected, by gamete dispersal within populations. Seed dispersal represents a second opportunity for gene ﬂow as seeds are transported to new locations by a variety of dispersal vectors.