Perennial geophytic plants have underground bulbs that allow for prolonged periods of dormancy where growth and reproduction are delayed. Dormant plants cannot be observed from above ground, and so present a challenge to population monitoring efforts. In addition, because fitness measures of dormant plants are often lower than those of active plants, the explanation of dormancy within the life history of plants can be troublesome. We used mark-recapture techniques on life history data for Lilium catesbaei to determine rates of survival, dormancy, recruitment, and population growth.
Results/Conclusions
Results show that dormancy fluctuates, while survival is consistently high. However, survival rates are lower for dormant than active individuals. We discuss the life history consequences of dormancy with regard to its effects on individual survival.
