Phenotypic plasticity in Mercurialis annua : the role of signal detection and response in sex determination

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dc.contributor.advisorPannell, Johnen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorHarris, Marken_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorMidgley, Jeremy Jen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHarris, Sue-Reen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-12-14T12:17:39Z
dc.date.available2017-12-14T12:17:39Z
dc.date.issued2006en_ZA
dc.date.updated2017-02-09T10:20:48Z
dc.description.abstractMercurialis annua has been found to show phenotypic plasticity in terms of their sexual strategies. In androdioecious populations (males coexisting with cosexes), genetically labile males function as cosexes at low densities. At high densities, the frequency of males increases, while cosexes respond by increasing biomass allocation to the female function. Phenotypic plasticity in this species is likely a result of environmental detection. This study investigated possible mechanisms for density detection. Greenhouse experiments showed that Mannua responded to an above ground signal by increasing male frequency and male frequency was related to the proportion female allocation in cosexes. Individuals that were isolated from each other below ground and treated with leachate (collected from high density populations) responded by increasing allocation to female function while male frequency decreased. There is most likely an interaction between below and above ground sensing and response to the environment in M annua.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationHarris, S. (2006). <i>Phenotypic plasticity in Mercurialis annua : the role of signal detection and response in sex determination</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26663en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationHarris, Sue-Re. <i>"Phenotypic plasticity in Mercurialis annua : the role of signal detection and response in sex determination."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26663en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHarris, S. 2006. Phenotypic plasticity in Mercurialis annua : the role of signal detection and response in sex determination. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Harris, Sue-Re AB - Mercurialis annua has been found to show phenotypic plasticity in terms of their sexual strategies. In androdioecious populations (males coexisting with cosexes), genetically labile males function as cosexes at low densities. At high densities, the frequency of males increases, while cosexes respond by increasing biomass allocation to the female function. Phenotypic plasticity in this species is likely a result of environmental detection. This study investigated possible mechanisms for density detection. Greenhouse experiments showed that Mannua responded to an above ground signal by increasing male frequency and male frequency was related to the proportion female allocation in cosexes. Individuals that were isolated from each other below ground and treated with leachate (collected from high density populations) responded by increasing allocation to female function while male frequency decreased. There is most likely an interaction between below and above ground sensing and response to the environment in M annua. DA - 2006 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2006 T1 - Phenotypic plasticity in Mercurialis annua : the role of signal detection and response in sex determination TI - Phenotypic plasticity in Mercurialis annua : the role of signal detection and response in sex determination UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26663 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/26663
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationHarris S. Phenotypic plasticity in Mercurialis annua : the role of signal detection and response in sex determination. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2006 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26663en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherBotanyen_ZA
dc.titlePhenotypic plasticity in Mercurialis annua : the role of signal detection and response in sex determinationen_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBSc (Hons)en_ZA
uct.type.filetype
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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