On the analysis of size-dependent reproductive output in plants

A general model is presented to analyse size-dependent reproductive output in plants. The model formulation makes it possible to test for both a minimum size for reproduction and a non-linear relationship between size and reproductive output. The model is statistically analysed with the likelihood-ratio test. In contrast to previously proposed models, this model admits a hump-shaped relationship between reproductive effort (RE) and plant size. Data for three species analysed here show that RE is not always monotonically increasing or decreasing with plant size (...)