 | Mesipuu, M., R.P. Shefferson, and T. Kull. 2009. Weather and herbivores | |
| influence fertility in the endangered fern Botrychium multifidum (S.G. Gmel.) Rupr. Plant Ecology 203:23-31. |
Abstract Fluctuations in local weather conditions and other stochastic processes are
important factors affecting species population persistence. We studied two differently
sized populations of the rare and declining fern species Botrychium multifidum for 4
and 5 years, respectively. Individually marked plants in permanent plots were followed
to detect trends in population size, reproductive success and dormancy in relation to
local precipitation and temperature. Our applied logistic regression model suggests
that the shortage of precipitation during summer decreases fertility in the next year in
both populations. Invertebrate herbivory of the fertile part of the plant additionally
diminishes the output of spores. We found the population size to be stable with a very
low percentage of each population composed of juvenile plants. Stochastic
processes and low recruitment could easily lead to the extinction of these populations.
Copyright 2010 Richard P. Shefferson. All rights reserved.
Mesipuu, Shefferson, and Kull 2009
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