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<p>Urbanization is a key driver of the Anthropocene, drastically altering landscapes and potentially impacting plant’s life history and traits. Urban conditions may, for example, skew sexual biomass allocation in hermaphroditic flowers, while the influence of urban stress on sexual investment and reproductive processes is poorly understood. Additionally, urbanization reduces pollinator populations, potentially pushing plants to invest more in attractive floral traits. We examined the effect of urbanization on floral sexual investment using <i>Turnera subulata</i>, a ruderal species widespread in the tropics. We measured stamen and pistil biomass, floral display, and traits such as petals, sepals, and nectar guide sizes, using impervious surface area as a proxy for urbanization. Results showed no effect of urbanization on sexual biomass allocation in <i>T. subulata</i>, but floral display decreased with urbanization. Flower size was inversely related to stamen biomass; plant size positively influenced investment in both sexual structures. Our findings highlight the complex effects of urbanization on plant reproduction, suggesting species-specific responses in sexual biomass allocation. Urbanization decreases floral display and could impair sexual reproduction. However, generalist pollinators in urban landscapes may allow a similar investment in petals in obligately outcrossing plants, as they would decrease the need for investment in larger petal size.</p>

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Urbanization decreases floral display without shifting sexual biomass allocation in Turnera subulata, a common tropical urban plant

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年1月27日

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  • Dalton Serafim,
  • Luziene Seixas,
  • Julia Evily Rocha Silva,
  • Anne Karolynne Santos Souza,
  • Mariana Souza do Nascimento Vital,
  • Kim Ribeiro Barão,
  • Guilherme Ramos Demetrio

摘要

Urbanization is a key driver of the Anthropocene, drastically altering landscapes and potentially impacting plant’s life history and traits. Urban conditions may, for example, skew sexual biomass allocation in hermaphroditic flowers, while the influence of urban stress on sexual investment and reproductive processes is poorly understood. Additionally, urbanization reduces pollinator populations, potentially pushing plants to invest more in attractive floral traits. We examined the effect of urbanization on floral sexual investment using Turnera subulata, a ruderal species widespread in the tropics. We measured stamen and pistil biomass, floral display, and traits such as petals, sepals, and nectar guide sizes, using impervious surface area as a proxy for urbanization. Results showed no effect of urbanization on sexual biomass allocation in T. subulata, but floral display decreased with urbanization. Flower size was inversely related to stamen biomass; plant size positively influenced investment in both sexual structures. Our findings highlight the complex effects of urbanization on plant reproduction, suggesting species-specific responses in sexual biomass allocation. Urbanization decreases floral display and could impair sexual reproduction. However, generalist pollinators in urban landscapes may allow a similar investment in petals in obligately outcrossing plants, as they would decrease the need for investment in larger petal size.