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EcologyA > Plant Populations > Flashcards

Plant Populations Flashcards

1
Q

Why study plant populations

A
  • primary producers = important to ecosystems
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2
Q

The different ways to study populations

A
  • density
  • distribution
  • structure
  • growth
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3
Q

What kind of info is studying plant pops aiming to find

A
  • life cycles = aids describing populations
  • influence of physical environment = how it affects growth and survival
  • stresses on plants = how it affects growth and survival
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4
Q

Modular growth

A

Plants have intermediate growth and grow by adding modules

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5
Q

Vertical growth

A

Leaves, buds, twigs, branches, flowers, fruits

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6
Q

Horizontal growth

A

Clones

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7
Q

Genets

A

Produced by sexual reproduction

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8
Q

Ramets

A

Produced by asexual reproduction.

May be connected to a genet or independent

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9
Q

Clone

A

A group of ramets arising from the same gent

  • all the same genotype
  • usually dominant species in terrestrial ecosystems; important to plant communities
  • allows physical integration ( transporting resources across ramets) = successful colonisation across wide range of habitats
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10
Q

Counting individual plants

A

Are to do if have runners/stolons or are clones

- w/ clones, genet may be very old but ramets young = ramets counted as separate individuals

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11
Q

Ubiquitous species

A

Broad, widespread range made up of many populations

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12
Q

Endemic species

A

Narrow range, containing a few populations

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13
Q

How can plant ranges be shifted

A
  • global change e,g, some species expanding to cold regions, whilst others reducing distributions
  • human influence e,g, transporting seeds = broken dispersal barriers
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14
Q

What are the different types of distribution

A

Random
Clumped
Uniform

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15
Q

Random distribution

A

Rare
Position of each is independent of the others
May occur in wind-dispersal
Requires uniform environment

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16
Q

Clumped distribution

A

Most common
Influenced by propagation type and environmental requirements
E.g. asexual reproduction

17
Q

Uniform dispersal

A

No as common

Influenced by intraspecific competition due to scarcity of resources

18
Q

Propagules

A 
Vegetative structure that detaches from plant and forms new one 
Mostly by vectors:
- biotic e.g. animals 
- abiotic e.g. water
- other e.g. ballistic
19
Q

Population structured by age

A

3 basic categories

  • pre-reproductive
  • reproductive
  • post-reproductive
20
Q

How to measure a plants age

A
  • growth rings
  • bud scars
  • tracking through time (but may live longer than researcher)
    Modular structure and asexuality can make it difficult
21
Q

The Rauniker system

A

Alternate way of categorising population structure for plants
Via position of perennating buds in relation to ground surface
- phanerophytes
- chamaephytes
- hemi-cryptophytes
- cryptophtes
- therophytes

22
Q

Phanerophytes

A

Dormant buds on branches which project freely into the air

23
Q

Chamaephytes

A

Buds/short-spices on the surface of the ground or just above it

24
Q

Hemi-cryptophytes

A

Resting buds at or near soils surface

25
Q

Cryptophytes

A

Resting buds beneath the surface

26
Q

Therophytes

A

Live through unfavourable season as seeds

27
Q

Annuals/biennials

A

Often have Long-lived seed and significant seed bank

  • opportunists
  • their habitat changes unpredictable
28
Q

Major problem with studying plant age

A

Seed bank in soil

  • seeds can be dormant for many years
  • plants may germinate at same time but aren’t from the same time
  • do you factor in seed age?
29
Q

The affect of competition on population structure

A
  • older plants often exclude younger age classes
  • younger trees my become larger = size cant always indicate age
  • plants normally stage structured rather than age; but plant size often indicates reproductive potential
    Complicated to sort out
30
Q

Influences on popualtion growth

A 
Extrinsic 
- density dependent 
- density independent 
Intrinsic 
- births and immigration 
- deaths and emigration
31
Q

Negative density-dependence

A

Resource competition = plants slow growth
- increased mortality and reduced fecundity
Self thinning = progressive decline in density and increase in biomass of remaining individuals in a population

32
Q

Positive density-dependence

A

Allele affect = increase in reproduction/survival with increasing density
May increase seed production per plant..perhaps due to increased mate availability and pollinator attraction

33
Q

How life histories may affect pop growth

A
  • variation in age and frequency of reproduction (mono or polycarpic)
  • variation in offspring number and size
  • R or K selected lifestyles
34
Q

E.g. monocarpic bamboo

A
  • fastest growing on the planet
  • flower en-mass = whole pop at same time (not every year)
  • major animal food source
  • economically important to humans; building and food
  • on every continent except Europe and America
  • 1,500 spp
35
Q

E.g. offspring number/size variation

A

Orchids = 1billion seeds the size of fungal spores

Vs. Sea coconut takes 6-7 years to mature + 2 to germinate. 1 seed per year produced

36
Q

Grimes triangular model

A 
Created by Philip Grime 
3 strategy scheme to refine R and K selection theory for plants 
Split plants into either:
- competitors
- stress-tolerators 
- ruderals
37
Q

Competitors in grimes triangle

A

Fast growing
Inhabit high fertility, low disturbance sites
Maximise captured resources

38
Q

Stress tolerators in grimes triangle

A

Slow growing
Inhabit low fertility, low disturbance sites
Conserve captured resources

39
Q

Ruderals in grimes triangle

A

Fast growing
Inhabit high fertility, high disturbance sites
High seed production

EcologyA (18 decks)

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