Seed mass effects across environments in an annual dune plant

Abstract

The natural environment has been shown to vary at both large and small scales. As the relationship between seed mass and the growth of subsequent plants varies depending on the environment, it is important to study the effects of seed mass on plant growth across environments for a better understanding of the ecological significance of seed mass. In this study, the effects of seed mass on the growth of Cakile edentula, an annual growing in the sand dunes along the Great Lakes, was examined across a wide range of soil nutrient, moisture levels, and depths of sand burial under controlled greenhouse conditions. The development of plants, such as time of true leaf production, flower bud formation, and fruit maturation, was faster in proportion to the original seed mass of the plants across all of the tested environmental factors. As drastic environmental variations prevail in beach sand dune systems, quick development and early reproductive growth of plants from the large seeds would enable them to survive sand burial and escape natural hazards. It is concluded that seed mass has significant effects on the performance of C. edentula across a wide range of environmental variation.