Functional consequences of temporal reversal of height dimorphism for pollen and seed dispersal in a dioecious plant

The adaptive significance of phenotypic differences between females and males can provide insights into sex-specific selection and the evolution of sexual dimorphism. Dioecious plants commonly exhibit sexual dimorphism in height although its ecological and evolutionary significance have rarely been examined experimentally. Here, we investigate the functional consequences of the temporal reversal of height dimorphism for pollen and seed dispersal in dioecious Rumex hastatulus, a species in which males are taller than females at flowering and the reverse pattern occurs at fruiting. Populations of this colonizing weed of open fields are wind-pollinated and seeds wind dispersed.In a glasshouse experiment we manipulated the height of pollen donors and using sex-specific genetic markers compared the paternal success of males of contrasting height and whether seed families showed evidence of sexual dimorphism in early life history traits. In a second glasshouse experiment using fruiting plants we also examined how female height influenced the distance that seeds were dispersed.Taller males had significantly higher siring success than males of equivalent height to flowering females. Similarly, taller females dispersed fruit to greater distances than shorter females. Female seeds were significantly heavier than male seeds and germinated more rapidly, although early seedling growth was greater in males.The striking sex reversal of height in R. hastatulus is unusual among dioecious plants. This growth pattern likely functions to optimize the contrasting reproductive functions of the sexes by promoting increased pollen and seed dispersal distances. Improved dispersal quality may limit inbreeding and reduce local mate and resource competition within populations.