Reproductive investments driven by sex and altitude in sympatric Populus and Salix trees

The sex ratios of co-existing Populus and Salix vary depending on altitude and species: 1:1 equlibrium sex ratios are observed at mid-altitude but skewed ones at high altitudes, where Populus shows male-biased and Salix female-biased sex ratios. However, the underlying ecological mechanisms are poorly known. Reproductive investments of Populus purdomii Rehd. and Salix magnifica Hemsl. were assessed at altitudes of 2000 and 2600 m in the Gongga Mountain by different metrics, including biomass, carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and construction cost, and by estimating the payback time that combines energy gain and associated costs. Reproductive investment measured as C, N and P concentrations, and construction cost was higher in P. purdomii females at 2600 m. However, in S. magnifica, no difference was observed for biomass, C and N at 2600 m, but the investments for P and construction cost were even greater in males. The payback time showed no significant differences for the sexes at 2000 m, but it was shorter for P. purdomii males and S. magnifica females at 2600 m. We concluded that nutrient- and construction cost-based estimates of reproductive allocation can provide more informative insight into the cost of reproduction than does biomass, and together with the payback time they can supply an explanation for divergent sex ratios in Populus and Salix. Consequently, our results improve our understanding of the causes and consequences of sexual dimorphism in dioecious species.

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