JEB logo

Journal of Environmental Biology

pISSN: 0254-8704 ; eISSN: 2394-0379 ; CODEN: JEBIDP
About Journal
    Home
    Obituary: Dr. R. C. Dalela
    Editorial Board
    Reviewer Panel
    Publication Policies
    Guidelines for Editors
    Guidelines for Reviewers
    Abstracting and Indexing
    Subscription and Payments
    Contact Journal
    About Triveni Enterprises
 
Read Journal
    Current Issue
    Journal Archives
 
For Authors
    Guidelines for Authors
    Terms and Conditions
    Author Resources
    Fees and Payments
    Track Paper Status
 

Google Search the Journal web-site:


    Abstract - Issue Mar 2009, 30 (3)                                     Back


Interactions between marine facultative epiphyte Chlamydomonas sp

Samara size versus dispersal and seedling establishment in

Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle

J.A. Delgado*1,2, M.D. Jimenez2 and A. Gomez1

1Instituto Madrileno de Investigacion y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario, Finca El Encin,

A2 Km 38.200, 28800 Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain

2Department of Ecologia, C/Jose Antonio Novais 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain

(Received: July 05, 2007; Revised received: December 28, 2007; Re-revised received: January 03, 2008; Accepted: February 10, 2008)

Abstract: We have specifically carried out a greenhouse experiment to assess relationship between samara weight and seed success. Relationship assessed as dispersal potential, germination level, germination rate and early seedling mass for the invasive species Ailanthus altissima. For this purpose, we considered two close stands as seeds source. We found no correlation between samara size and neither germination level, germination rate, nor seedling mass, but a positive correlation with samara projected area. These results suggest that samara weight is not directly related to germination, dispersal and invasion potential neither. Nevertheless, stands differed in the invasion potential of their samaras; one stand presented samaras with higher projected area per weight unit whereas the other one presented samaras that produced heavier seedlings. Whatever the origin, (genetic or environmental) of this differences it should be advantageous for a colonizing invader species such as A. altissima since it could imply a wider range of habitats susceptible to invasion.

Key words: Plant invader, Germination rate, Seed size, Seed viability, Seedling biomass

PDF of full length paper is available with author (*delgado@bio.ucm.es)

 

Copyright ? 2009 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).