DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/5HF6-NB36
Defense Date
2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Donald Young
Abstract
For dioecious plant species, sex ratios within a population depend on multiple environmental and life history characteristics. Sex ratio is an indicator of population health and can be a predictor for genetic bottlenecking. My study established the previously unknown sex ratio for the shrub, Morella cerifera, on a Virginia barrier island. The ratio was compared with multiple environmental and reproductive traits to determine their potential influence on sex determination and/or distribution of male and female plants. Multivariate analyses were used to identify relationships between sex, sex ratio and environmental drivers. The sex ratio for M. cerifera changed depending on scale. The entire island ratio did not vary significantly from 50:50, based on a Chi-squared analysis. Different spatial scales resulted in different and more variable sex ratios. The environmental variables measured did not suggest any relationships with sex or sex ratio. Future studies with a focus at multiple spatial scales may elucidate the connection between environment and sex ratios for M. cerifera.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
December 2013