Setting the stage: Germination timing and its influence on trait expression and fitness

Timing of early life history events, such as germination, is critical for individual success and fitness. Further, timing of these events, and the conditions under which they occur, can influence the expression, and adaptive value, of traits expressed later in life. Thus, germination timing is a pivotal transition that sets up the rest of the life cycle, with consequences for trait expression, fitness, and population dynamics. Shifting environmental conditions with climate change will affect germination timing, which is likely to affect these patterns and may present novel conditions and challenges. Here, we will discuss these mechanisms, consequences, and future implications.