I am interested in an aspect of life history theory, but I can't find any previous literature on the subject. How do long-lived organisms make decisions about resource use? For example, since survivorship is high, they could put a burst of resources into repro a little at a time over many years, or many other possibilities.
For example, a turtle that comes across a carcass, or a tree root that happens into a large pocket of high nutrient soil. Short-lived organisms might pop that sort of thing right into reproduction or growth right away, but long-lived organisms have many more options. Any papers on this?
Russell, I think your question has some relation to plant growth strategy. Many plants will not develop generative organs until their roots will occupy all possible volume of soil.
Alex: by "generative organs" do you mean reproductive structures like flowers? Certainly you don't mean all possible soil volume, you must mean all volume in some limited area around the plant?
Russell,
Plant that starts flowering at early stage has weak root system and dies soon after seeds maturing. As soon as it bolts it does not form new roots (and cannot be transplanted). for an example: rapid-cycling plants of Brassica (Wisconsin University, CrGC). In small pot (1 sq. cm) it forms 25 seeds matured in 45-50 days and plant dies after that. In large pot (>100 sq. cm) plant grows large and can produce many hundred of seeds, flowering for one year or more. It interesting that root density of such plant is high along the pot perimeter, and low – in its central part. Roots in this part usually found at late stage of plant growth. It looks like plant can estimate available resources of soil and chose strategy of further development.
Actually, some animals (even some wasp) use the same strategy – they hunt on perimeter of personal territory, and never touch prey near own nest... keeping resources for multiplying?
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