Mineral nutrient stoichiometry of Hedera seeds

Mineral nutrient stoichiometry of <i>Hedera</i> seeds

Analysis of variability in mineral allocation to seeds has rarely been considered in relation to allometric patterns and deviations from the allometric trajectory. Obeso examines the scaling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur with seed mass in field-collected seeds of Hedera helix (ivy) and finds that whilst C and N content both vary isometrically with seed mass, P and S vary allometrically and seeds with higher mass contain proportionately more P. Furthermore, seeds from small broods contain proportionally more P than those from large broods, suggesting that brood size may influence the mineral nutrient concentration.