Co-Authors:
Ben-Hur, E., Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Campus Edmond J. Safra, Givat-Ram, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
Fragman-Sapir, O., Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat-Ram, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
Hadas, R., Israel Plant Gene Bank, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization - Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6 Bet-Dagan 50250, Bet-Dagan, Israel
Singer, A., Israel Plant Gene Bank, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization - Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6 Bet-Dagan 50250, Bet-Dagan, Israel
Kadmon, R., Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Campus Edmond J. Safra, Givat-Ram, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
Abstract:
Functional trade-offs have long been recognised as important mechanisms of species coexistence, but direct experimental evidence for such mechanisms is extremely rare. Here, we test the effect of one classical trade-off - a negative correlation between seed size and seed number - by establishing microcosm plant communities with positive, negative and no correlation between seed size and seed number and analysing the effect of the seed size/number correlation on species richness. Consistent with theory, a negative correlation between seed size and seed number led to a higher number of species in the communities and a corresponding wider range of seed size (a measure of functional richness) by promoting coexistence of large- and small-seeded species. Our study provides the first direct evidence that a seed size/number trade-off may contribute to species coexistence, and at a wider context, demonstrates the potential role of functional trade-offs in maintaining species diversity. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd/CNRS.
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