The Interaction between Dispersal and Dormancy Strategies in Varying and Heterogeneous Environments

Abstract

Natural environments are heterogeneous in space and time. This heterogeneity favors the evolution of mechanisms such as dispersal of seeds or other propagules, because dispersal allows escape in space from locally unfavorable conditions and, on the average, exploitation of ones temporarily more favorable (Levin 1976, Motro 1982). Similarly, delayed germination may be advantageous because it allows seeds to avoid exposure to unfavorable conditions and, on the average, to exploit more favorable ones (Cohen 1966, Templeton and Levin 1979).