title: The effects of achene type and germination time on plant performance in the heterocarpic Anacyclus clavatus (Asteraceae).
abstract: •
  
  
  
  In heterocarpy, fruits with different morphologies have been associated with alternative strategies of dispersal, germination, dormancy, and seedling competitive ability. In heterocarpic species, it is common to find fruits with competitive or dispersal syndromes. The competitive advantage of nondispersing fruits has been frequently attributed to their larger size, but recent studies have suggested that this could also be mediated by germination time. The main objective of our study was to investigate which factor, fruit type or germination time, most affects plant performance and, consequently, competitive ability, using the heterocarpic species Anacyclus clavatus•
  
  
  
  To explore the effects of achene type and germination time on plant performance, we followed an innovative experimental approach including two experiments: one allowing for differences in germination time, and the other evaluating the effect of achene type alone by synchronizing germination time.•
  
  
  
  A significant effect of germination time on several postdispersal life-history traits was observed: Achenes that germinated earlier produced plants with higher biomass and reproductive effort. When germination time was controlled, no significant differences were observed in any of the traits.•
  
  
  
  The competitive advantage of achenes with different morphologies was mainly mediated by germination time and not by differences in size or other intrinsic traits. The consequences of these results are discussed in light of the dispersal-competition trade-off. Our experimental approach (i.e., the synchronization of germination time) revealed the importance of manipulative experiments for testing the effects of germination time on plant survival and performance.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functional Ecology and Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afonso
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functional Ecology and Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functional Ecology and Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functional Ecology and Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functional Ecology and Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cerca de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functional Ecology and Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torices
mesh_terms: D019659:Asteraceae / Q000502:physiology*; D018533:Biomass; D005638:Fruit; D018525:Germination; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Anacyclus clavatus; achene type; biomass; competitive ability; dispersal ability; gynomonoecy; heterocarpy; reproductive effort; winged fruits