Early plant development depends on embryo damage location: the role of seed size in partial seed predation

• Published in: Oikos Vol. 129; no. 3; pp. 320 - 330
• Main Authors: Perea, Ramón, Fernandes, G. Wilson, Dirzo, Rodolfo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2020
• Subjects: acorn; Animal embryos; California; Chlorophyll; Chlorophylls; Computer simulation; Damage detection; Embryos; Emergence; Germination; granivores; Herbivores; Infestation; Insects; Interspecific relationships; Larvae; nitrogen content; plumule; Predation; Predators; probability; Probability theory; Quercus; Quercus agrifolia; rodents; seed damage; seed germination; Seed predation; seed size; seedling emergence; seedling performance; Seedlings; Seeds; seed–insect coevolution; Survival; California

Seed predators sometimes inflict non‐lethal seed damage. We asked whether seed size modulates the location of insect seed damage and examined whether location‐specific damage on the embryo influences early plant development (embryo survival, germination, seedling emergence and performance). We used...