Subindividual variation accounts for most of the variability in two reproductive traits in Cistus ladanifer

Abstract

There is increasing evidence of within species flower trait variability. In Cistus ladanifer, there is a great variation in the number of locules of the ovary (6–12). In this study, we assessed the variation in the number of ovary locules and ovule production at population, individual and intraindividual levels in 5 localities in the Madrid Region (Central Spain). We have answered the following questions: What level present larger variation? Is there a relationship between the number of ovary locules and ovule production? And if yes, does it hold across all levels? We sampled almost 500 flowers from 50 individuals for five localities. We counted the number of locules of the ovary and estimate the number of ovules per flower. The partitioning of total variation among populations, individuals and within-individuals was estimated for both variables. To analyze differences among locations, we performed general linear models. We found that within-individual variation was the main source of variation for all measured variables. Inter-individual variation was relevant only for the number of locules, and interpopulation variation was almost negligible for all variables. Despite the positive correlation between the number of locules per flower and ovule production, populations with more locules did not present more ovules per flower. In summary, we found that variation in the number of locules and its relationship with ovule production is scale dependent.