Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Phenological spread in plants: A result of adaptations to environmental stochasticity?

  • Published:
Vegetatio Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Plant species co-inhabiting a given geographical region often have distinetly different times of flowering. It is shown that such phenological spread, duc to short-term stochastic variation in weather variables, relaxes competition for empty sites to be colonized by diaspores. For sufficiently large spreads stable coexistence becomes possible. The applicability of the proposed hypothesis to the observed instances of phenological spread is discussed and shown to extend beyond that of other current theories.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Fagerström, T. & G.I.Ågren, 1979. Theory for coexistence of species differing in regeneration properties. Oikos 33: 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falinska, K. 1972. Fenologiczna reakcja gatunkow na zroznicowanie gradow. Phytocoenosis 1: 5–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadgil, M.D. & O.T.Solbrig, 1972. The concept of r- and K- selection: evidence from wild flowers and some theoretical considerations. Am. Nat. 106: 14–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime, J.P. 1977. Evidence for the existence of three primary strategies in plants and its relevance for ecological and evolutionary theory. Am. Nat. 111: 1169–1194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper, J.L. 1977. ‘Population biology of plants’, Academic Press, London-New York-San Francisco, 892 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horn, H.S. & R.H.MacArthur, 1972. Competition among fugitive species in a harlequin environment. Ecology 53, 749–752.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, G.E. 1961. The paradox of the plankton. Am. Nat. 95, 137–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, C.G. 1969. ‘Migration and dispersal of insects by flight’. Methuen, London, ... pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, D.A. & W.W.Anderson, 1970. Competition for pollinators between simultaneously flowering species. Am. Nat. 104: 455–467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levins, R. & D.Culver, 1971. Regional coexistence of species and competition between rare species. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 68: 1246–1248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosquin, T. 1971. Competition for pollinators as a stimulus for the evolution of flowering time. Oikos 22: 398–402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pemadasa, M.A. & P.H.Lovell, 1974. Factors controlling the flowering time of some dune annuals. J. Ecol. 62: 869–880.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roughgarden, J. 1976. Resource partitioning among competing species — a coevolutionary approach. Theor. Pop. Biol. 9: 388–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiles, F.G. 1975. Ecology, flowering phenology, and hummingbird pollination of some Costa Rican Heliconia species: Ecology 56: 285–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waser, N.M. 1978. Interspecific pollen transfer and competition between co-occurring plant species. Oecologia (Berl.). 36: 223–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells, T.C.E. 1972. Ecological studies on calcareous grasslands. Monks Wood exp. Stn. Rep. 1969–1971: 44–46.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swedish Coniferous Forest Project, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-75007, Uppsala, Sweden

    Torbiörn Fagerström & Göran I. Agren

Authors
  1. Torbiörn Fagerström
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Göran I. Agren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

We thank L.-E. Liljelund, C. Solbreck and C. Wiklund for helpful comments. This work was carried out within the Swedish Coniferous Forest Project, supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council, the Swedish Environmental Protection Board, the Swedish Council of Forestry and Agricultural Research, and the Wallenberg foundation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fagerström, T., Agren, G.I. Phenological spread in plants: A result of adaptations to environmental stochasticity?. Vegetatio 43, 83–86 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121020

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121020

Keywords

Search

Navigation