Ecological systems have finite resources available for organisms to utilize. The scarcity of these resources necessitates that individuals allocate them in ways that optimize their fitness. Reproduction, vegetative growth, and defense against herbivory are all crucial operations for a plant. This study investigates how the dioecious understory shrub Lindera benzoin navigates resource allocation trade-offs. We tagged and monitored 157 females spread across 8 sites and 3 genetically distinct regions of Ohio. During the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons, we collected data on each plant relating to fruit count, seasonal vegetative growth, leaf nitrogen content, herbivory rate, and basal diameter of the main ramet.
Results/Conclusions
2017 fruit count was negatively influenced by 2017 herbivory, but positively associated with 2017 basal diameter and 2016 fruiting. New growth was negatively linked with nitrogen levels. These results failed to provide clear evidence for substantial resource trade-offs in L. benzoin. Future work could incorporate male reproductive data to explore differential resource usage by sex. An understanding of resource allocation patterns in plants can inform conservationists to project ecological dynamics in a changing climate.