My research on snowberry growth is based on the hypothesis that fruit production and size are influenced by direct sunlight exposure. The ecological processes involved in relationship between fruit growth and sunlight include photosynthesis (this process dictates the ability of snowberry plants to convert light energy into sugars, which directly impacts their size and overall development), and resource allocation (the availability of light may influence the allocation of resources in snowberry plants, which could affect leaf, root, and berry growth, as well as reproduction).
Other ecological processes, unaffected by sunlight exposure, may also influence snowberry growth and fruit size:
-Herbivory: plant-animal trophic interactions can reduce the plant’s ability to carry out photosynthesis; severe leaf damage can stunt snowberry growth; and stress responses from herbivory can lead to plants investing more energy in producing defensive compounds or in repairing damaged tissues, which can affect overall growth.
-Intra and interspecific competition: competition for sunlight, nutrients, and water can affect snowberry growth.
-Pollination: directly influences the reproductive success and fruit production – quality and quantity of fruit produced depend on effective pollination.
Sunlight exposure is not the only element that influences snowberry growth and production – the processes stated above may also have an effect on berry size and therefore alter the results of my research. It would be interesting to know what process(es) influence(s) berry size the most, and which are the limiting factors for snowberry growth (light availability? soil nutrients? water availability? pollination?).
Key words: sunlight exposure, light gradients, resource allocation, photosynthesis, fruit size