Do seed dispersal strategies reflect adaptation to environmental variability?

Dispersal is one of the primary mechanisms by which organisms adapt to spatial and temporal variation in environment. Theory predicts that increasing spatiotemporal drives selection for offspring dispersal away from their natal habitat another. However, due inherent difficulties measuring plant systems, there are few empirical tests extent this hypothesis can explain seed strategies. In study, we characterized compared patterns three closely related species segregate across gradients seasonal wetlands. We tracked individual seeds as they dispersed natural habitats measure distance (the travelled maternal plant) inter-seed spread (distances between seeds) identify traits causing within-species dispersal. also evaluated flight terminal velocity a wind tunnel drop tube, respectively. found average was lowest occupies most spatiotemporally variable habitat, contradicting our predictions; however, least aligned with expectations. The explaining intraspecific varied among well method used potential. Two had non-intuitive effects on dispersal, including pappus size, reduced two focal taxa. Overall, results indicate differences detected taxa be only partially explained current environmental variability respective driving evolve rapidly change context measured. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.