Density of intraspecific competitors determines the occurrence and benefits of accelerated germination

Germination is a key process in plant recruitment and population dynamics, and seeds are expected to be under strong selection pressure to germinate under conditions that maximize subsequent plant survival. Increased rates of germination (i.e., accelerated germination) may occur in competitive environments. We examined the effects of conspecific density on the timing of germination of seeds of a bird-dispersed plant, Phytolacca americana (Phytolaccaceae, L.), in three different competitive environments. By comparing germination of seeds sown at the same time at different densities, we quantify the benefits of accelerated germination under conditions in which differences in performance among seedlings are attributable to germination timing only, and not to being sown at different times. We find that although the probability of germination is unchanged, the time to initiation of germination is significantly shorter when competition is greater. We also show that plants that germinate earlier are larger and have higher growth rates because they have more time to grow without competitors. Our work demonstrates that shifts in germination timing in response to competition can yield significant dividends for seeds that germinate earliest, but we caution that the magnitude and consequences of accelerated germination will likely depend on the competitive neighborhood.