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Flower and Fruit Characteristics in Small and Isolated Populations of a Fleshy-Fruited Shrub
J. Kollmann,
K. Pflugshaupt,
Corresponding Author
J. Kollmann
Department of Ecology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
Department of Ecology Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University Rolighedsvej 21 1958 Frederiksberg C. Denmark [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorK. Pflugshaupt
Geobotanisches Institut ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Kollmann,
K. Pflugshaupt,
Corresponding Author
J. Kollmann
Department of Ecology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
Department of Ecology Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University Rolighedsvej 21 1958 Frederiksberg C. Denmark [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorK. Pflugshaupt
Geobotanisches Institut ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Abstract: During a warm period after the last glaciation the fleshy-fruited shrub, Prunus mahaleb, extended its area of distribution from the Mediterranean basin towards central Europe. Under a subsequent cooler climate, and probably increased competition from trees, the species became restricted to steep, south-facing cliffs and scree slopes with a particularly sunny and warm microclimate. Thus, the small relict populations in central Europe have been isolated for about 5000 - 6000 years. To investigate whether or not reproductive traits of P. mahaleb are affected by isolation and population size, several flower and fruit characteristics were sampled in ten populations in Switzerland. A Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) based on these reproductive characteristics differentiated the populations. The first CCA axis was determined by flower size, pollination frequency, pulp and seed mass. This ran parallel to increasing precipitation and decreasing altitude. The second axis correlated with the number of fruits per raceme and seed viability, and ran parallel to increasing sunshine. None of the six flower and fruit variables correlated with population size or with the degree of isolation. However, flower size, pollination frequency, pulp and seed mass showed a negative correlation with altitude. The results suggest that, in populations of P. mahaleb in central Europe, climatic conditions explain more of the observed variation in flower and fruit characteristics than population size or degree of isolation.
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