Demographic change and microhabitat variability in a grassland endemic, Silene douglasii var. oraria (Caryophyllaceae)

Abstract

Variable spatial and temporal environments are known to affect the population dynamics of plants, but studies of localscale variability and its relationship to demographic change within a population remain limited. Using mapped plants, we examined the population dynamics of a coastal grassland endemic. Silene douglasii var. oraria, in two habitats over 10 yr. We hypothesized that ecological differences between rocky and grassy habitats might influence demographic parameters, including adult survival, growth, and density. Soil pH, soil moisture, and other abiotic variables differed little between habitats, but microsite differences in light, soil depth, and vegetation height were related to variation in Silene density and plant circumference. We also found significantly higher population densities, lower adult mortality, and more juvenile recruitment in rocky areas. Finite rates of population growth varied across years and habitats (λ = 0.82-1.12), with different patterns evident in the two habitats. In both, observed population sizes in 1992 were similar to matrix projections using 1982-1985 data. Populations declined in size in some years despite high adult survivorship and variable recruitment. More intensive study of seedlings is needed, including experimental evaluation of the role of light and competition. However, the habitat-specific differences we observed imply that ecological studies and conservation plans developed for rare plants should consider the effect of local scale variability on demography.