Predispersal Reproductive Attrition in a Mojave Desert Population of Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae)
Boyd RS and Brum GD. 1983. Predispersal Reproductive Attrition in a Mojave Desert Population of Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae). The American Midland Naturalist. 110(1):14-24
During the 1979 blooming season, 92% of the reproductive potential of a Mojave Desert creosote bush population was destroyed prior to seed dispersal. The losses were partitioned into 12 categories. The largest category was insect predation (19.5%), which primarily occurred during the flower-bud stage. Most of the losses (57%) occurred during or after anthesis. While all pollination modes were equally sucessful in producing fruits, the behaviors of native bees and the flowers combined to favor xenogamy in open pollinated flowers, substantially boosting seed set. Despite the high rate of attrition, reproductive output was sufficient to allow dispersal of 7.8 times 105 viable seeds per hectare.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Boyd, Robert; Brum, Gilbert
- Units
- SODN
- Keywords
- Inventory and Monitoring (I&M), Plant Communities, Plant Studies