Because L. perennis is not yet endangered, and occurs in populations ranging from a few hundred to several thousands of individuals, this species is well suited as a model system for study of the effects of population ecological structure on the development of demographic and genetic decline in population viability. Our long-term goal is to understand how demographic and genetic factors interact for plant populations, with an emphasis on effects of changes in population, size, density, and isolation. Such differences and changes may or may not be anthropogenic. Small population size causes low fruit and seed production. Small populations have low population density, which causes low fruit and seed production.
Pollinators visit more frequently, or behave in ways that improve reproduction in large populations.
Small populations harbor less genetic variation than large populations. Small populations exhibit more inbreeding depression than large populations. Small populations experience a different mating environment than large populations. Effects of Lupine population size on pollinator abundance Xiujie Shi, Bowling Green State University. Interactions between Lupinus perennis and the soil flora Scott Hevner, Bowling Green State University.