Differential Resource Utilization by the Sexes of Dioecious Plants

The distribution of male and female plants was examined in five dioecious, wind-pollinated species representing five plant families and two classes (gymnosperms and angiosperms). The arid to semiarid habitats occupied by these species in northern Utah were stratified for sampling into two categories...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1976-08, Vol.193 (4253), p.597-599
Main Authors: Freeman, D. Carl, Klikoff, Lionel G., Harper, Kimball T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Enzymes
Female animals
Histones
Intraspecific competition
Male animals
Meadows
Plant reproduction
Plants
Pollen
Soil water
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Summary:The distribution of male and female plants was examined in five dioecious, wind-pollinated species representing five plant families and two classes (gymnosperms and angiosperms). The arid to semiarid habitats occupied by these species in northern Utah were stratified for sampling into two categories: chronically xeric and seasonally moist. The results show that for all species, males are more abundant on xeric microsites, while females are overrepresented on the moister parts of each local environment. Differential distribution of the sexes along a soil moisture gradient is a strategy that maximizes seed set of females and pollen dispersal of males; it also tends to minimize intraspecific competition between the sexes.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.193.4253.597