入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊和本土蟛蜞菊生长对土壤养分的响应

植物入侵对全球生态系统造成了严重威胁,土壤养分条件(养分水平和养分异质性)对外来植物的成功入侵有重要影响。为了探讨土壤养分条件对入侵植物与同属本地植物生长的影响,本研究以入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)和同属本地种蟛蜞菊(W.chinensis)为试验材料开展了温室控制实验。实验设置了低、中、高及异质性养分条件下的单种和混种两种种植方式,测定了每种植物总生物量,根、茎、叶生物量及分节数、根冠比等指标,并分析了土壤养分对二者生长的影响。结果表明:土壤养分水平增加显著促进了南美蟛蜞菊和本地蟛蜞菊的生长;土壤养分异质性显著增加了南美蟛蜞菊根生物量和根冠比,显著增加了本地蟛蜞菊的总生物量、根生物量和茎生物量;土壤养分水平和养分异质性对南美蟛蜞菊和本地蟛蜞菊的竞争响应均无显著影响;在土壤养分较高或较低时南美蟛蜞菊更容易入侵成功;在异质养分环境中,当南美蟛蜞菊生长处于高养斑块时更容易入侵成功。     

干旱及复水条件下接种AMF和根瘤菌对疏叶骆驼刺根系生长的影响北大核心CSCD

疏叶骆驼刺为塔里木河下游优势草本植物,对下游地区防风固沙,涵养水源具有重要的生态价值。该试验以疏叶骆驼刺为研究对象,设定正常水分(土壤相对含水量70%±5%)、干旱胁迫(土壤相对含水量20%±5%)和复水处理(干旱胁迫60 d后恢复至正常水分)3个水分梯度,以及单接种丛枝菌根真菌、单接种根瘤菌、双接种丛枝菌根真菌+根瘤菌和不接种4组接种处理,分析不同水分条件下各接种处理对疏叶骆驼刺根系生长的影响。结果表明:(1)双接种丛枝菌根真菌+根瘤菌处理的疏叶骆驼刺根系AMF侵染率在干旱胁迫、复水条件下均显著降低,且低于单接种AMF处理。(2)随着正常水分→干旱胁迫→复水的水分变化,双接种处理疏叶骆驼刺根系根瘤数量先降低后增加,复水后显著高于单接种根瘤菌处理。(3)双接种处理扩大了疏叶骆驼刺的根系吸收范围,提高了根系的吸收能力,并随着正常水分→干旱胁迫→复水的水分变化,呈现先降低后增加的变化趋势。(4)双接种处理显著提高了疏叶骆驼刺根系SOD和POD活性,并随着正常水分→干旱胁迫→复水的水分变化而逐渐升高。研究发现,双接种AMF+根瘤菌处理可以显著促进疏叶骆驼刺根系的生长,增强其抗逆性,而干旱胁迫会降低AMF和根瘤菌的协同促进作用,复水后双接种AMF+根瘤菌处理的疏叶骆驼刺能及早地做出响应,对其根系生长表现出一定的补偿效应。     

土壤养分空间异质性与植物根系的觅食反应

植物在长期进化过程中,为了最大限度地获取土壤资源,对养分的空间异质性产生各种可塑性反应．包括形态可塑性、生理可塑性、菌根可塑性等．许多植物种的根系在养分丰富的斑块中大量增生,增生程度种间差异较大,并受斑块属性(斑块大小、养分浓度)、营养元素种类和养分总体供应状况的影响．植物还通过调整富养斑块中细根的直径、分枝角、节问距以及空间构型来实现斑块养分的高效利用．根系的生理可塑性及菌根可塑性可能在一定程度上影响其形态可塑性．生理可塑性表现为处于不同养分斑块上的根系迅速调整其养分吸收速率,从而增加单位根系的养分吸收,对在时间上和空间上变化频繁的空间异质性土壤养分的利用具有重要意义,可在一定程度上弥补根系增生反应的不足．菌根可塑性目前研究较少,一些植物种的菌根代替细根实现在富养斑块中的增生．菌根增生的碳投入养分吸收效率较高、根系增生对增加养分吸收的作用较复杂,取决于养分离子在土壤中的移动性能以及是否存在竞争植物;对植物生长(竞争能力)的作用因种而异,一些敏感种由此获得生长效益,而其它一些植物种受影响较小．植物个体对土壤养分空间异质性反应能力和生长差异,影响其在群落中的地位和命运,最终影响群落组成及其结构．     

Importance of starting points in heterogeneous environments: interactions between two clonal plants with contrasting spatial architectures

在异质性环境中，植物能够通过将更多的生物量投资到高资源斑块而获利。因此，相对于高资源斑块的初始生长位置可能会对植物的生长和竞争能力产生影响，且这种影响可能与植物的构型有关。然而，以往有关土壤异质性对植物生长和竞争影响的研究都忽略了植 物初始生长位置的潜在效应。在本研究中，我们把密集型克隆植物翼果苔草(Carex neurocarpa)和游击型克隆植物扁秆荆三棱(Bolboschoenus planiculmis)分别单独种植(不存在竞争)或者混合种植(存在竞争)在由高营养斑块和低营养斑块组成的异质性环境中。在不存在竞争处理时，每种植物的一个分株被分别单独种植于高营养或者低营养斑块中；在存在竞争处理时，目标种的一个分株被种植于高营养斑块中，而竞争种被种植在这个高营养斑块中或者邻近的低营养斑块中，或目标种的一个分株被种植于低营养斑块中，而竞争种被种植在这个低营养斑块中或者邻近的高营养斑块中。结果表明，在不存在竞争时，初始生长位置处于高营养斑块的翼果苔草的生物量和分株数均显著高于初始位置处于低营养斑块的翼果苔草，但在存在竞争时，却未发现这种差异。因此，初始位置处于高营养斑块的翼果苔草受到的竞争强度要显著高于初始位置处于低营养斑块的翼果苔草，而且这种效应与其竞争者的初始生长位置无关。相反的，扁秆荆三棱的初始生长位置对其生长和竞争的响应没有影响。因此，在异质性环境中，克隆植物的初始生长位置能够影响其生长和相对竞争能力，并且这些效应可能取决于植物的克隆构型。     

基于根系形态可塑性的空心莲子草克隆分工特征

资源在空间和时间上不均匀分布现象往往形成资源异质性斑块,克隆植物凭借强大的侧向生长能力占据广阔空间,分株间的生理连接促进了其对异质性生境的适应。克隆分株首先通过资源获取结构的功能特化来提高从各种资源富养斑块中的养分获取,然后通过克隆整合作用实现分株间的养分传输,这种功能特化和资源共享模式被称为‘分工’。该文以入侵克隆植物空心莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)为研究对象,研究其根系对资源异质性分布的形态可塑性响应;通过调节光照强度和土壤养分来实现资源的异质性分布,共设置4个处理:1近端分株高光低养—远端分株高光低养(HL-HL),2近端分株低光高养—远端分株低光高养(LH-LH),3近端分株高光低养—远端分株低光高养(HL-LH),4近端分株低光高养—远端分株高光低养(LH-HL);使用WinRHIZO Pro软件分析相关根系指标,SPSS 18.0单因素方差(one-way ANOVA)分析方法分析异质性条件对近、远端分株以及整个克隆片段的影响。结果表明:异质性斑块中经历高光低养的分株分配更多的生物量到地上部分,经历低光高养的分株分配更多的生物量到地下部分,空心莲子草通过调整对地上和地下部分的生物量分配比例实现了克隆分工;异质性斑块中,生长在富养斑块中的空心莲子草分株根系有更高的根生物量、根长、根表面积、根体积以及分枝系数等,表明空心莲子草分株根系通过对异质性斑块的形态可塑性变化提高了土壤养分的吸收能力。由此可见,空心莲子草通过对资源获取结构的功能特化提高了其资源吸收能力,这可能是其具强入侵能力的重要原因。     

根状茎型植物扁秆荆三棱对土壤养分异质性尺度和对比度的生长响应

土壤养分的空间异质性在自然界普遍存在, 而克隆植物被认为能很好地适应和利用土壤养分异质性。尽管尺度和对比度是异质性的两个重要属性, 但有关土壤养分异质性的尺度和对比度及其交互作用对克隆植物生长和分株分布格局影响的研究仍比较缺乏。在一个温室实验中, 根状茎型草本克隆植物扁秆荆三棱(Bolboschoenus planiculmis) (异名扁秆藨草(Scirpus planiculumis))被种植在由高养分斑块和低养分斑块组成的异质性环境中。实验为两种尺度处理(大斑块和小斑块)和两种对比度处理(高对比度和低对比度)交叉组成的4种处理组合。在每个处理中, 高养分和低养分斑块的总面积相同; 在所有4种处理中, 土壤养分的总量也完全相同。无论在整个克隆(植株)水平, 还是在斑块水平, 尺度、对比度及其交互作用对扁秆荆三棱的生物量、分株数、根状茎长和块茎数的影响均不显著。然而, 在斑块水平, 扁秆荆三棱在高养分斑块中的生物量、分株数、根状茎长和块茎数均显著高于低养分斑块, 而在高养分斑块中相邻分株间的距离(间隔物长)小于低养分斑块, 并且这种效应均不依赖于斑块尺度的大小和对比度的高低。因此, 在土壤养分异质性环境中, 扁秆荆三棱可以通过缩短间隔物长, 并可能通过提高根状茎的分枝强度, 把较多的分株和潜在分株放置在养分条件好的斑块中。这种响应格局体现出克隆植物的觅食行为, 有利于整个克隆对异质性资源的吸收和利用。然而, 该实验中的尺度和对比度对扁秆荆三棱分株的放置格局均没有显著效应。作者推测, 在一个更大的斑块尺度和(或)对比度范围内, 扁秆荆三棱对土壤养分异质性的响应可能不同。因此, 下一步的研究应涉及更广泛的尺度和对比度。     

植物根系养分捕获塑性与根竞争

为了更有效地从土壤中获取养分, 植物根系在长期的进化与适应中产生了一系列塑性反应, 以响应自然界中广泛存在的时空异质性。同时, 植物根系的养分吸收也要面对来自种内和种间的竞争。多种因素都会影响植物根竞争的结果, 包括养分条件、养分异质性的程度、根系塑性的表达等。竞争会改变植物根系的塑性反应, 比如影响植物根系的空间分布; 植物根系塑性程度差异也会影响竞争。已有研究发现根系具有高形态塑性和高生理塑性的植物在长期竞争过程中会占据优势。由于不同物种根系塑性的差异, 固定的对待竞争的反应模式在植物根系中可能并不存在, 其响应随竞争物种以及土壤环境因素的变化而变化。此外, 随着时间变化, 根系塑性的反应及其重要性也会随之改变。植物对竞争的反应可能与竞争个体之间的亲缘关系有关, 有研究表明亲缘关系近的植物可能倾向于减小彼此之间的竞争。根竞争对植物的生存非常重要, 但目前还没有研究综合考虑植物的各种塑性在根竞争中的作用。另外根竞争对群落结构的影响尚待深入的研究。     

盐渍生境疏叶骆驼刺生态特征与环境因子关系

以塔里木盆地南缘自然盐渍生境生长的疏叶骆驼刺为研究对象,结合冗余分析技术和传统的相关分析,研究疏叶骆驼刺生态特征与环境因子的关系,揭示疏叶骆驼刺对环境因子变化的生态响应规律。结果表明:土壤总盐、土壤有机碳含量、土壤全氮含量、地下水矿化度与疏叶骆驼刺生态特征呈极显著的相关性(P0.01),地下水位与疏叶骆驼刺生态特征呈显著的相关性(P0.05),其他指标与疏叶骆驼刺生态特征的相关性均不显著(P0.05)。综合分析环境因子认为,地下水矿化度、地下水位、土壤总盐是影响疏叶骆驼刺生态特征的主要因素。盐渍生境下地下水矿化度、土壤总盐的升高和地下水位的上升不利于疏叶骆驼刺的生长。因此,在利用疏叶骆驼刺进行盐渍区植被修复时,应综合考虑地下水矿化度、地下水位、土壤总盐。     

根间相互作用对玉米与马铃薯响应异质氮的调控

近年研究表明养分异质促进植物多样性与群落生产力的正相关性。然而,相关的促进机制还很不清楚。以农田生态系统下作物多样性群体(玉米马铃薯间作体系)为例,在盆栽条件下采用控释性氮肥构建养分异质性,通过目标植物法设计根间作用处理,探讨根系的觅养行为,植株个体生长和总生产力对土壤氮空间分布和根间作用的响应特征。结果表明:根间作用提高作物的觅养精确度(F=3.017,P=0.094),在异质性条件下马铃薯的根冠比增加(P=0.001),而玉米的根冠比则不论在均质性还是异质性条件下均显著降低(F=4.781,P=0.039);氮异质性显著地提高在根间作用下两作物的生物量生产(P=0.021),明显增加总生产力LER(Land equivalent ratio)(F=4.171,P=0.064),显著地降低相对关系指数RII(Relative interaction index)值(F=5.636,P=0.026),显著降低玉米的根冠比(F=4.273,P=0.049),增加根间作用下马铃薯的根冠比,而在无竞争下则降低。上述结果说明,非资源性的根间作用激发玉米和马铃薯对异质性氮的觅养能力,这可能是为什么异质性养分环境促进植物多样性与群体生产力正向关系的重要原因;结果还表明觅养能力的激发主要来自非资源性的根间作用机制,因此本研究验证了植物对异质性养分和竞争者的协同响应理论。而有关的非资源性根间作用机制,例如种间识别作用等值得进一步深入探讨。     

不同干扰方式对疏叶骆驼刺形态特征及地上生物量的影响

以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘策勒绿洲为研究区,研究了春季砍伐、秋季砍伐和春季火烧等干扰处理对绿洲-沙漠过渡带的自然植被疏叶骆驼刺形态特征及地上生物量的影响.结果表明：春季火烧降低了疏叶骆驼刺的株高、冠幅和生物量,不利于疏叶骆驼刺植被的恢复和再生;不同时间砍伐对疏叶骆驼刺植被恢复和再生的影响差异较大.春季砍伐使疏叶骆驼刺株高、冠幅和生物量降低,叶片生物量、刺的长度和直径增加.秋季砍伐使疏叶骆驼刺株高和冠幅降低,但分枝数量和生物量增加.秋季适度的砍伐有利于塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘疏叶骆驼刺的保护.     

Shading and the capture of localized soil nutrients: nutrient contents,carbohydrates, and root uptake kinetics of a perennial tussock grass

Summary The ability to exploit spatial and temporal heterogeneity in soil resources can be one factor important to the competitive balance of plants. Competition above-ground may limit selective plant responses to below-ground heterogeneity, since mechanisms such as root proliferation and alterations in uptake kinetics are energy-dependent processes. We studied the effect of shading on the ability of the perennial tussock grassAgropyron desertorum to take up nutrients from enriched soil microsites in two consecutive growing seasons. Roots of unshaded plants selectively increased phosphate uptake capacity in enriched soil microsites (mean increases of up to 73%), but shading eliminated this response. There were no changes in ammonium uptake capacity for roots in control and enriched patches for either shaded or unshaded plants. The 9-day shade treatments significantly reduced total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentrations for roots in 1990, but had no apparent effect on root carbohydrates in 1991 despite dramatic reductions in shoot TNC and fructan concentrations. Enrichment of the soil patches resulted in significantly greater phosphate concentrations in roots of both shaded and unshaded plants, with less dramatic differences for nitrogen and no changes in potassium concentrations. In many respects the shaded plants did surprisingly well, at least in terms of apparent nutrient acquisition. The effects of aboveground competition on nutrient demand, energy requirements, and belowground processes are discussed for plants exploiting soil resource heterogeneity.     

The effects of shading and N status on root proliferation in nutrient patches by the perennial grass Agropyron desertorum in the field

Competition for light can affect exploitation of spatially heterogeneous soil resources. To evaluate the influence of shoot status on root growth responses in nutrient-rich soil patches, we studied the effects of shading and whole-plant nitrogen status on root growth in N-enriched and nonenriched patches by mature Agropyron desertorum plants growing in the field with below-ground competition. Roots in enriched patches had greater length to weight ratios (specific root length, SRL), indicating increased absorptive surface areas, compared with roots in control patches. Increased SRL was due to increased production and length of higher order laterals rather than morphological changes in roots of the same branching order. Although the pattern of root growth rates in patches was the same for shaded and unshaded plants, the magnitude of this response to enriched patches was damped by shading. Root relative growth rates (RGR) in N-enriched patches were reduced by more than 50% by short-term shading treatments (60% reduction in photosynthetic flux density), while root RGR in unenriched patches was unaffected by shading. Unexpectedly, plants with higher nitrogen status had greater root RGR in enriched patches than plants that had not received nitrogen supplement, again with no detectable effect on root RGR in the unenriched patches. Therefore, while both shading and plant N status affected the ability of roots to exploit enriched patches by proliferation, there was no stimulation or suppression of root growth in the unenriched, control patches. Thus, plants already under competitive pressure above ground for light and below ground for nutrients should be less able to rapidly respond to opportunities presented in nutrient patches and pulses.     

Root plasticity of native and invasive Great Basin species in response to soil nitrogen heterogeneity

Soil nutrients are heterogeneously distributed in natural systems. While many species respond to this heterogeneity through root system plasticity, little is known about how the magnitude of these responses may vary between native and invasive species. We quantified root morphological and physiological plasticity of co-occurring native and invasive Great Basin species in response to soil nitrogen heterogeneity and determined if trade-offs exist between these foraging responses and species relative growth rate or root system biomass. The nine study species included three perennial bunchgrasses, three perennial forbs, and three invasive perennial forbs. The plants were grown in large pots outdoors. Once a week for 4 weeks equal amounts of ¹⁵NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃ were distributed in the soil either evenly through the soil profile, in four patches, or in two patches. All species acquired more N in patches compared to when N was applied evenly through the soil profile. None of the species increased root length density in enriched patches compared to control patches but all species increased root N uptake rate in enriched patches. There was a positive relationship between N uptake rate, relative growth rate, and root system biomass. Path analysis indicated that these positive interrelationships among traits could provide one explanation of how invasive forbs were able to capture 2 and 15-fold more N from enriched patches compared to the native grasses and forbs, respectively. Results from this pot study suggest that plant traits related to nutrient capture in heterogeneous soil environments may be positively correlated which could potentially promote size-asymmetric competition belowground and facilitate the spread of invasive species. However, field experiments with plants in different neighbor environments ultimately are needed to determine if these positive relationships among traits influence competitive ability and invader success.     

Root growth and plant biomass in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lolium perenne</Emphasis> exploring a nutrient-rich patch in soil

We investigated soil exploration by roots and plant growth in a heterogeneous environment to determine whether roots can selectively explore a nutrient-rich patch, and how nutrient heterogeneity affects biomass allocation and total biomass before a patch is reached. Lolium perenne L. plants were grown in a factorial experiment with combinations of fertilization (heterogeneous and homogeneous) and day of harvest (14, 28, 42, or 56 days after transplanting). The plant in the heterogeneous treatment was smaller in its mean total biomass, and allocated more biomass to roots. The distributions of root length and root biomass in the heterogeneous treatment did not favor the nutrient-rich patch, and did not correspond to the patchy distribution of inorganic nitrogen. Specific root length (length/biomass) was higher and root elongation was more extensive both laterally and vertically in the heterogeneous treatment. These characteristics may enable plants to acquire nutrients efficiently and increase the probability of encountering nutrient-rich patches in a heterogeneous soil. However, heterogeneity of soil nutrients would hold back plant growth before a patch was reached. Therefore, although no significant selective root placement in the nutrient-rich patch was observed, plant growth before reaching nutrient-rich patches differed between heterogeneous and homogeneous environments.     

Effects of soil nutrient heterogeneity on intraspecific competition in the invasive, clonal plant Alternanthera philoxeroides

Background and Aims

Fine-scale, spatial heterogeneity in soil nutrient availability can increase the growth of individual plants, the productivity of plant communities and interspecific competition. If this is due to the ability of plants to concentrate their roots where nutrient levels are high, then nutrient heterogeneity should have little effect on intraspecific competition, especially when there are no genotypic differences between individuals in root plasticity. We tested this hypothesis in a widespread, clonal species in which individual plants are known to respond to nutrient heterogeneity.

Methods

Plants derived from a single clone of Alternanthera philoxeroides were grown in the greenhouse at low or high density (four or 16 plants per 27·5 × 27·5-cm container) with homogeneous or heterogeneous availability of soil nutrients, keeping total nutrient availability per container constant. After 9 weeks, measurements of size, dry mass and morphology were taken.

Key Results

Plants grew more in the heterogeneous than in the homogeneous treatment, showing that heterogeneity promoted performance; they grew less in the high- than in the low-density treatment, showing that plants competed. There was no interactive effect of nutrient heterogeneity and plant density, supporting the hypothesis that heterogeneity does not affect intraspecific competition in the absence of genotypic differences in plasticity. Treatments did not affect morphological characteristics such as specific leaf area or root/shoot ratio.

Conclusions

Results indicate that fine-scale, spatial heterogeneity in the availability of soil nutrients does not increase competition when plants are genetically identical, consistent with the suggestion that effects of heterogeneity on competition depend upon differences in plasticity between individuals. Heterogeneity is only likely to increase the spread of monoclonal, invasive populations such as that of A. philoxeroides in China.     

Context dependence in foraging behaviour of Achillea millefolium

Context-dependent foraging behaviour is acknowledged and well documented for a diversity of animals and conditions. The contextual determinants of plant foraging behaviour, however, are poorly understood. Plant roots encounter patchy distributions of nutrients and soil fungi. Both of these features affect root form and function, but how they interact to affect foraging behaviour is unknown. We extend the use of the marginal value theorem to make predictions about the foraging behaviour of roots, and test our predictions by manipulating soil resource distribution and inoculation by soil fungi. We measured plant movement as both distance roots travelled and time taken to grow through nutrient patches of varied quality. To do this, we grew Achillea millefolium in the centers of modified pots with a high-nutrient patch and a low-nutrient patch on either side of the plant (heterogeneous) or patch-free conditions (homogeneous). Fungal inoculation, but not resource distribution, altered the time it took roots to reach nutrient patches. When in nutrient patches, root growth decreased relative to homogeneous soils. However, this change in foraging behaviour was not contingent upon patch quality or fungal inoculation. Root system breadth was larger in homogeneous than in heterogeneous soils, until measures were influenced by pot edges. Overall, we find that root foraging behaviour is modified by resource heterogeneity but not fungal inoculation. We find support for predictions of the marginal value theorem that organisms travel faster through low-quality than through high-quality environments, with the caveat that roots respond to nutrient patches per se rather than the quality of those patches.     

Heterogeneous distribution of phosphorus and potassium in soil influences wheat growth and nutrient uptake

Heterogeneous distribution of mineral nutrients in soil profiles is a norm in agricultural lands, but its influence on nutrient uptake and crop growth is poorly documented. In this study, we examined the effects of varying phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) distribution on plant growth and nutrient uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in a layered or split soil culture in glasshouse conditions. In the layered pot system the upper soil was supplied with P and either kept watered or allowed to dry or left P-deficient but watered, whereas the lower soil was watered and fertilised with K. Greater reductions in shoot growth, root length and dry weight in the upper soil layer occurred in −P/wet than in +P/dry upper soil treatment. Shoot P concentration and total P content were reduced by P deficiency but not by upper soil drying. Genotypic responses showed that K-efficient cv. Nyabing grew better and took up more P and K than K-inefficient cv. Gutha in well-watered condition, but the differences decreased when the upper soil layer was dry. In the split-root system, shoot dry weight and shoot P and K contents were similar when P and K were applied together in one compartment or separated into two compartments. In comparison, root growth was stimulated and plants took up more P and K in the treatment with the two nutrients supplied together compared with the treatment in which the two nutrients were separated. Roots proliferated in the compartment applied with either P or K at the expense of root growth in the adjoining compartment with neither P nor K. Heterogeneous nutrient distribution has a direct decreasing effect on root growth in deficient patches, and nutrient redistribution within the plant is unlikely to meet the demand of roots grown in such patches.     

Growth Consequences of Soil Nutrient Heterogeneity for two Old-field Herbs,Ambrosia artemisiifoliaandPhytolacca americana, Grown Individually and in Combination

Plant species can respond to small scale soil nutrient heterogeneityby proliferating roots or increasing nutrient uptake kineticsin nutrient-rich patches. Because root response to heterogeneitydiffers among species, it has been suggested that the distributionof soil resources could influence the outcome of interspecificcompetition. However, studies testing how plants respond toheterogeneity in the presence of neighbours are lacking. Inthis study, individuals of two species,Phytolacca americanaL.andAmbrosia artemisiifoliaL. were grown individually and incombination in soils with either a homogeneous or heterogeneousnutrient distribution. Above-ground biomass of individuallygrown plants of both species was greater when fertilizer waslocated in a single patch than when the same amount of fertilizerwas distributed evenly throughout the soil. Additionally, bothspecies proliferated roots in high-nutrient patches.A. artemisiifoliaexhibitedlarger root:shoot ratios, increased nitrogen depletion fromnutrient patches, and a higher growth rate thanP. americana,suggestingA. artemisiifoliais better suited to find and rapidlyexploit nutrient patches. In contrast to individually grownplants, soil nutrient distribution had no effect on final above-groundplant biomass for either species when grown with neighbours,even though roots were still concentrated in high nutrient patches.This study demonstrates that increased growth of isolated plantsas a consequence of localized soil nutrients is not necessarilyan indication that heterogeneity will affect interspecific encounters.In fact, despite a significant below-ground response, soil nutrientheterogeneity was inconsequential to above-ground performancewhen plants were grown with neighbours.Copyright 1999 Annalsof Botany Company Phytolacca americana, pokeweed,Ambrosia artemisiifolia, ragweed, nutrient heterogeneity, root proliferation, plasticity, foraging, nutrient patches.