Timing of flowering: opposed selection on different fitness components and trait covariation

Abstract

The timing of reproduction influences how organisms interact with the environment and can have important fitness effects. We examined direct and indirect phenotypic selection on the start of flowering via mutualistic and antagonistic interactions in the perennial herb Lathyrus vernus over 7 years.

We showed that the direction of selection strongly varies between years.

Keywords

• flowering phenology
• herbivory
• matrix models