Date of Award
Spring 5-2017
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Program
Biological Sciences
Department
Biological Sciences
Major Professor
Howard, Jerome J.
Second Advisor
Bell, Charles D.
Third Advisor
O'Connell, Martin T.
Abstract
Knowledge of sex allocation trade-offs with tree growth in insect-pollinated woody plants is limited, particularly in invasive plants. This study examined patterns of growth and reproductive investment in a North American invasive plant species, Triadica sebifera, I hypothesized that the energy limitations of smaller trees may result in the production of more male reproductive structures that are energetically less costly. Diameter at breast height was a significant predictor of seed and catkin mass and regression can describe these relationships across sites. Seed and catkin mass were positively correlated across sites. The relationship between the seed mass:catkin mass ratio and DBH was not significant, nor was seed mass:catkin mass and total investment. Results showed a significant positive relationship between total reproductive investment and tree size across sites. Seed mass:catkin mass ratio and reproduction investment showed substantial variation among individual trees of similar size within sites.
Recommended Citation
Babin, Courtney H., "Size-dependent patterns of reproductive investment in the North American invasive plant species Triadica sebifera (L.) Small (Euphorbiaceae)" (2017). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2295.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2295
Included in
Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Weed Science Commons
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.