title: How does reproductive strategy influence demography? A case study in the tropical, unisexual epiphyllous moss Crossomitrium patrisiae.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Leaf-inhabiting organisms offer an experimentally tractable model system within which to investigate the influence of alternative reproductive strategies on plant metapopulation dynamics. We conducted a field study to determine whether (1) threshold colony sizes exist for the onset of sexual and asexual expression, and (2) alternative reproductive strategies differentially influence within-patch dynamics of the tropical pleurocarpous moss Crossomitrium patrisiae.
  
  
  METHODS
  The growth, reproduction, and fate of 2101 colonies of C. patrisiae were followed over 2 years to investigate threshold size and age for sporophyte and brood branch formation and their influence on within-patch growth rates and longevity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asexual expression rather than sexual onset was limited by a minimal colony size. Age was uncoupled with threshold sizes. Colonies bearing brood branches survived nearly twice as long as sterile and solely sporophytic colonies. However, no effect of reproductive strategies on colony growth rates was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is among the few attempts to correlate life history strategies with demographic parameters of terrestrial plants. Specifically, we provide evidence for differential influence of reproductive strategies on metapopulation survivorship.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Pernambuco, Department of Botany, Moraes Rego Av., s/n, University City 50670-901 - Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil lisidamaris@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Lisi D P
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Alvarenga
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Pernambuco, Department of Botany, Moraes Rego Av., s/n, University City 50670-901 - Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kátia C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Pôrto
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Pernambuco, Department of Botany, Moraes Rego Av., s/n, University City 50670-901 - Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria L P
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Department of Botany, André Av., 2936, Petrópolis 69083-000 - Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Zartman
mesh_terms: D044002:Bryophyta / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D003710:Demography; D065947:Rainforest; D012098:Reproduction
keywords: Hookeriaceae; bryophyte; demography; epiphyll; metapopulation; rainforest; reproductive strategy; tropics