土壤养分水平影响绢毛匍匐委陵菜匍匐茎生物量投资

为研究匍匐茎草本植物对基质养分供应水平的生物量分配格局的可塑性,在一盆栽实验中对绢毛匍匐委陵菜(Potentilla reptans var. sericophylla)进行了8种不同的养分处理。绢毛匍匐委陵菜植株生物量、匍匐茎数、分株数以及匍匐茎节间长在中等养分条件下最大。随土壤养分的降低,绢毛匍匐委陵菜对叶片和叶柄的生物量投资减小,而对根系的生物量投资增加。在中等养分条件下,绢毛匍匐委陵菜对匍匐茎的生物量投资倾向于最大,而在更高或更低的养分条件下倾向于减少。此生物量分配格局与de Kroon和Schieving的模型模拟结果相符合,结果表明在中等资源水平下增加对匍匐茎的生物量投资是克隆植物增加资源获取的对策之一。     

林下和林窗内绢毛匍匐委陵菜的克隆生长和克隆形态

 为了验证绢毛匍匐委陵菜(Potentilla reptans var. sericophylla)林窗和林下种群间的行为差异是完全由表型可塑性引起,还是局部分化的结果,将生长在北京东灵山油松（Pinus tabulaeformis）林林窗和林下的绢毛匍匐委陵菜,进行生境间的交互移植-重植野外生态实验。研究结果表明,实验植物的叶片长度、叶片宽度、叶柄长度和匍匐茎节间长度等克隆形态特征在两生境间无差异。两个来源的植株,其基株生物量、基株分株数和基株匍匐茎总长度等克隆生长特征在林下生境中都比在林窗生境中小,表现出显著的可塑性。所研究的克隆形态特征和克隆生长特征及其可塑性在不同生境来源的实验植物间没有差异。绢毛匍匐委陵菜克隆形态特征和克隆生长特征及其可塑性在林下和林窗生境间没有发生局部分化,林窗为其较适生境,克隆生长特征的可塑性对绢毛匍匐委陵菜利用生境异质性可能具有重要意义     

陕北黄土丘陵区撂荒群落土壤养分与地上生物量空间异质性

应用地统计学方法,研究了群落尺度上陕北黄土丘陵区不同演替阶段猪毛蒿、长芒草和达乌里胡枝子3种撂荒群落土壤全氮、全磷和地上生物量的空间异质性.利用基于距离矩阵的Mantel偏相关方法分析了群落地上生物量与土壤全氮、全磷在不同尺度上的相互关系,分析了土壤全氮、全磷及群落自身的空间过程对群落地上生物量空间分布的解释程度.结果表明:(1)猪毛蒿、长芒草和达乌里胡枝子3种群落土壤全氮含量空间自相关性较差,而全磷自相关性较好,不同深度的土壤全氮含量其空间异质性大小也有所差别.3种群落0～20cm全氮的空间变异性大小为:达乌里胡枝子〉长芒草〉猪毛蒿群落;20～40cm为:长芒草〉达乌里胡枝子〉猪毛蒿群落.即土壤表层全氮含量为撂荒年限越长空间变异性越大,而亚表层全氮含量则是演替中期空间异质性较大,演替前后期较小.3种群落0～20cm、20～40cm全磷含量也是演替中期空间异质性较大,而前后期较小.(2)3种群落地上生物量空间自相关性以长芒草群落为最小,并且空间异质性大小为猪毛蒿〉达乌里胡枝子〉长芒草群落;猪毛蒿群落地上生物量与土壤全氮在小尺度上(0.71m)为显著正相关,与全磷相关性也较好,为负相关,在19.80～20.51m尺度上与全磷为显著负相关.达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量与全磷在7.07～20.51m尺度上为显著正相关,在小尺度上(0.71m)正相关性也较好.长芒草群落地上生物量与土壤全氮、全磷相关性在各个尺度上都不显著,只在小尺度上与全氮负相关性较好.(3)土壤氮和磷,对达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量的解释较好,约为19.59%,猪毛蒿次之,长芒草群落最小.群落本身的空间过程对猪毛蒿群落的解释程度最高,约为5.42%,其次为达乌里胡枝子,长芒草最小. m)为显著正相关,与全磷相关性也较好,为负相关,在19.80～20.51 尺度上与全磷为显著负相关.达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量与全磷在7.07～20.51m尺度上为显著正相关,在小尺度上(0.71m)正相关性也较好.长芒草群落地上生物量与土壤全氮、全磷相关性在各个尺度上都不显著,只在小尺度上与全氮负相关性较好.(3)土壤氮和磷,对达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量的解释较好,约为19.59%,猪毛蒿次之,长芒草群落最小.群落本身的空间过程对猪毛蒿群落的解释程度最高,约为5.42%,其次为达乌里胡枝子,长芒草最小. m)为显著正相关,与全磷相关性也较好,为负相关,在19.80～20.51 尺度上与全磷为显著负相关.达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量与全磷在7.07～20.51m尺度上为显著正相关,在小尺度上(0.71m)正相关性也较好.长芒草群落地上生物量与土壤全氮、全磷相关性在各个尺度上都不显著,只在小尺度上与全氮负相关性较好.(3)土壤氮和磷,对达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量的解释较好,约为19.59%,猪毛蒿次之,长芒草群落最小.群落本身的空间过程对猪毛蒿群落的解释程度最高,约为5.42%,其次为达乌里胡枝子,长芒草最小. m)为显著正相关,与全磷相关性也较好,为负相关,在19.80～20.51 尺度上与全磷为显著负相关.达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量与全磷在7.07～20.51m尺度上为显著正相关,在小尺度上( .71m)正相关性也较好.长芒草群落地上生物量与土壤全氮、全磷相关性在各个尺度上都不显著,只在小尺度上与全氮负相关性较好.(3)土壤氮和磷,对达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量的解释较好,约为19.59%,猪毛蒿次之,长芒草群落最小.群落本身的空间过程对猪毛蒿群落的解释程度最高,约为5.42%,其次为达乌里胡枝子,长芒草最小. m)为显著正相关,与全磷相关性也较好,为负相关,在19.80～20.51 尺度上与全磷为显著负相关.达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量与全磷在7.07～20.51m尺度上为显著正相关,在小尺度上( .71m)正相关性也较好.长芒草群落地上生物量与土壤全氮、全磷相关性在各个尺度上都不显著,只在小尺度上与全氮负相关性较好.(3)土壤氮和磷,对达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量的解释较好,约为19.59%,猪毛蒿次之,长芒草群落最小.群落本身的空间过程对猪毛蒿群落的解释程度最高,约为5.42%,其次为达乌里胡枝子,长芒草最小. m)为显著正相关,与全磷相关性也较好,为负相关,在19.80～20.51 尺度上与全磷为显著负相关.达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量与全磷在7.07～20.51m尺度上为显著正相关,在小尺度上( .71m)正相关性也较好.长芒草群落地上生物量与土壤全氮、全磷相关性在各个尺度上都不显著,只在小尺度上与全氮负相关性较好.(3)土壤氮和磷,对达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量的解释较好,约为19.59%,猪毛蒿次之,长芒草群落最小.群落本身的空间过程对猪毛蒿群落的解释程度最高,约为5.42%,其次为达乌里胡枝子,长芒草最小. m)为显著正相关,与全磷相关性也较好,为负相关,在19.80～20.51 尺度上与全磷为显著负相关.达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量与全磷在7.07～20.51m尺度上为显著正相关,在小尺度上( .71m)正相关性也较好.长芒草群落地上生物量与土壤全氮、全磷相关性在各个尺度上都不显著,只在小尺度上与全氮负相关性较好.(3)土壤氮和磷,对达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量的解释较好,约为19.59%,猪毛蒿次之,长芒草群落最小.群落本身的空间过程对猪毛蒿群落的解释程度最高,约为5.42%,其次为达乌里胡枝子,长芒草最小. m)为显著正相关,与全磷相关性也较好,为负相关,在19.80～20.51 尺度上与全磷为显著负相关.达乌里胡枝子群落地上生物量与全磷在7.07～20.51m尺度上为显著正相关,在小尺度上( .71m)正相关性也较好.长芒草群落地上生物量与土壤全氮、全磷相关性在     

鄂尔多斯高原沙地植被和两种优势克隆半灌木的空间格局

群落优势种重要值的变化可以表征植被的演替状况。研究了鄂尔多斯高原飞播后不同演替阶段的沙地植被 ,以及两种优势克隆植物羊柴 (H edysarum laeve)和油蒿 (Artemisia ordosica)种群的空间格局。结果表明 :在调查的尺度内 ,群落水平上 ,演替前期和演替中期的植被盖度空间自相关发生的尺度远小于演替后期。随着植被的演替和发育 ,小于抽样尺度 (<1m)的随机变异逐渐增加。暗示着植被盖度空间格局的变化与羊柴种群和油蒿种群在群落中的地位的变化有关。种群水平上 ,小尺度的空间自相关控制着羊柴种群在 3个演替阶段的空间格局 ;处于前 2个演替阶段的油蒿种群 ,空间格局受更大尺度的过程控制 ,并在自身为建群种的群落随机分布。对于 3个演替阶段的油蒿种群而言 ,发生在小于抽样尺度 (<1m)的随机变异都高于相应的羊柴种群。这两种克隆半灌木的种群空间格局的差异可能与二者克隆构型和克隆性的不同有关。本文还根据这两种植物的生物学特性探讨了二者对鄂尔多斯高原沙地植被恢复的不同作用     

祁连山排露沟流域青海云杉种群种内竞争与促进作用分析

探索种群的空间分布格局及其相互作用有助于阐释种群结构构建过程和空间分布维持机制中的潜在驱动因素, 进而为森林生态系统内不同种群的配置、经营与管理提供指导, 也为当地生态环境保护和区域资源开发提供科学依据。该研究以青海云杉(Picea crassifolia)为研究对象, 在祁连山排露沟流域设置3个面积为1 hm²的重复样地, 对样地内所有胸径≥1 cm的树木个体进行测量记录。采用成对相关函数(单变量成对相关函数g(r)和双变量成对相关函数g₁₂(r))和标记相关函数(标记相关函数K_mm(r)、标记变异函数γ_m(r)和Schlather’s I_m(r)函数)等点格局分析方法分析青海云杉种群的空间格局及种内相互作用。发现: (1)青海云杉种群径级分布连续, 整体呈倒“J”形结构。(2)青海云杉整体及幼树、小树呈现出小尺度上的聚集分布, 随空间尺度的增大逐渐趋于随机分布, 中树在整个观察尺度内均为随机分布模式, 大树则表现为小尺度上的均匀分布和大尺度上的随机分布。(3)青海云杉大树在小尺度范围内与其他径级个体均呈现出负关联, 在中尺度上呈现出正关联, 中树与小树、小树与幼树在小中尺度上表现为显著的正相关关系且随着空间尺度的增大逐渐转变为不相关。(4)青海云杉个体属性(胸径、树高、树冠面积)间在小中尺度上呈现出高度的相关性、强烈的抑制作用和显著的对称性竞争。     

围封对退化矮嵩草草甸群落结构和主要种群空间分布格局的影响

通过研究围栏封育1年后中度退化的矮嵩草草甸(夏季牧场)群落结构的变化,探讨主要植物种群在小尺度(50 cm×50 cm)上的空间分布格局,并从生活史特征和生态适应对策等角度探讨产生和维持这些格局的机理。结果表明,围封1年显著降低了群落中主要种群矮嵩草(Kobresia humilis)、高山唐松草(Thalictrum alpinum)和雪白委陵菜(Potentilla nivea)的重要值,而增加了线叶龙胆(Gentiana farreri)的重要值;显著增加了群落的地上生物量和总生物量,但对地下生物量和群落多样性的影响不显著。围封使退化矮嵩草草甸主要种群矮嵩草、高山唐松草、珠芽蓼(Polygonum viviparum)、线叶嵩草(Kobresia capillifolia)和金露梅(Potentilla fruticosa)等空间分布格局从放牧后的随机分布向聚集分布发展,而雪白委陵菜、重齿风毛菊(S.katochaeteMaxim)、矮火绒草(Leonto-podium nanum)和美丽风毛菊(Saussurea pulchra)等种群的空间分布格局没有发生改变;但黑褐苔草(Carex atro-fusca)的空间格局从放牧后的聚集分布转向随机分布。因此,退化的矮嵩草草甸在围封的初始阶段,由于避免了家畜的选择性采食及其践踏作用,首先可能是使主要种群的空间分布格局有从随机分布向聚集分布变化的趋势,从而使小尺度的种间隔离来降低种间的竞争强度,从而改变了不同物种对资源和空间的竞争能力,进而推动群落物种组成和结构的恢复演替。     

三江平原沼泽湿地4种优势植物空间格局对不同水位环境的响应

水文过程是沼泽湿地最基本的生态过程, 理解物种空间格局形成机制及其种群特征随水位环境变化的规律对于科学指导沼泽湿地植被恢复具有重要意义。本研究分别选择三江平原季节性积水与常年积水沼泽, 应用点格局方法中的完全空间随机模型、泊松聚块模型和嵌套双聚块模型分析了毛薹草(Carex lasiocarpa)、漂筏薹草(C. pseudocuraica)、狭叶甜茅(Glyceria spiculosa)、小叶章(Deyeuxia angustifolia) 4个主要优势植物种群的空间格局, 并测定了不同水位环境条件下的种群密度和个体大小特征。结果表明: 在沼泽湿地中, 4个优势种群在0-200 cm的尺度范围内都偏离了完全随机模型, 表现为集体性聚集分布特征, 且聚集距离主要集中在0-50 cm之间。随着水位的升高, 毛薹草种群密度、个体生物量、株高和基径都呈显著增大趋势, 但其聚集强度变弱; 而小叶章种群密度和个体大小则显著降低, 其聚集强度增大; 漂筏薹草和狭叶甜茅种群密度、个体大小和聚集强度变化并不显著。在季节性积水区, 4个物种在小尺度上均偏离了泊松聚块模型, 符合嵌套双聚块模型, 即在大聚块中分布较高密度的小聚块。但是, 在常年积水区, 仅毛薹草、漂筏薹草和狭叶甜茅3个物种符合嵌套双聚块模型, 而小叶章种群则符合泊松聚块模型, 说明在高水位胁迫下小叶章种群空间格局的大聚块中不存在较高密度的小聚块。综上所述,水位环境胁迫主要通过影响繁殖分配、种内竞争、易化作用以及个体大小变异等生物学过程共同决定着三江平原淡水沼泽湿地植物种群的斑块化分布特征, 不同零模型可以帮助解释种群空间分布格局的形成机制。     

内蒙古高原针茅草原群落土壤水分和碳、氮分布的小尺度空间异质性

用地统计学的方法,研究比较了内蒙古高原4类地带性针茅草原群落,贝加尔针茅（Stipa baicalensis)群落,大针茅（S.grandis)群落,克氏针茅（S.krylovii)群落和小针茅（S.kelemenzii)群落0-20cm土壤水分和碳,氮的小尺度空间异质性特征,结果表明;4类群落土壤水分,有机碳和全氮均表现出显著的小尺度空间结构特征。自相关尺度为1.91m-10.81m,结构性方差占样本方差的35.31%-99.74%。从贝加尔针茅群落到小针茅群落空间自相关的尺度逐渐增大,纹理有逐渐变粗的趋势,土壤水分,碳和氮的小尺度空间格局共同作用于群落的生态学过程,即土壤水分格局→植物种群格局（基本斑块的大小）→土壤碳空间格局→土壤氮空间格局,同时,由于生态学过程的反馈作用,土壤氮空间格局→种群格局→土壤水分格局,土壤属性空间自相关尺度的改变可能是导致群落演替的驱动力,草原退化可能与土壤异质性尺度的改变相关。     

亚高寒草甸不同坡向金露梅种群的空间分布格局及空间关联

植物种群在不同干扰条件下对环境的适应对策可以通过其空间分布格局及关联性反映出来.金露梅是甘南亚高寒草甸中的优势种,通过野外群落调查,运用空间点格局分析的Ripley K函数,分析甘南不同坡向亚高寒草甸中金露梅种群的空间分布格局及其关联性.结果表明: 金露梅种群在3个坡向的分布具有显著差异,重要值、生物量和盖度在北坡均高于南坡;北坡和西坡金露梅种群Ⅰ、Ⅱ级个体在小尺度上呈显著聚集分布,随着龄级和空间尺度的增加,金露梅种群聚集强度逐渐减弱,趋向于随机分布;南坡由于其生境条件对金露梅生长的抑制,种间竞争激烈,各级金露梅种群的分布格局均以随机分布为主;不同坡向的金露梅种群Ⅰ、Ⅱ级个体之间在一定尺度内表现为负关联,随着尺度增加,关联度降低,Ⅲ、Ⅳ级与Ⅰ、Ⅱ级个体之间的关联性呈显著负关联;较大个体之间无明显关系,表明年龄接近的个体在空间分布上是相互独立的,利于其充分利用环境资源.     

珍稀濒危植物长蕊木兰种群的年龄结构与空间分布

珍稀濒危植物长蕊木兰为国家Ⅰ级保护植物。然而,由于受研究尺度和分析方法的限制,对其种群生态特征等方面仍不清楚。以云南高黎贡山原生的中山湿性常绿阔叶林4 hm2样地调查数据为基础,应用Ripley的L函数分析了长蕊木兰种群的年龄结构与空间分布格局。研究发现:(1)长蕊木兰种群的年龄结构为反"J"型,属稳定型种群。(2)长蕊木兰种群个体的空间分布格局与空间尺度关系密切,空间尺度小于75 m时为聚集分布,大于75 m时为随机分布。生境异质性在长蕊木兰种群空间分布格局的形成中可能发挥了重要的作用。(3)不同发育阶段个体的空间分布格局存在明显的差异,中树和小树阶段的分布格局在中、小尺度上呈聚集分布,在较大尺度上呈随机分布;大树阶段在整个空间尺度上均呈现随机分布。(4)长蕊木兰不同发育阶段的空间关联性主要表现为中、小尺度上的负相关,在较大尺度上则趋向于无关联。     

资源异质性环境中三种匍匐茎草本植物克隆内资源共享和分株功能特化

研究了3种来自中国北方林下、草地和碱化草甸匍匐茎型克隆草本植物绢毛匍匐委陵菜 (Potentilla reptans L. var. sericophylla Franch.)、鹅绒委陵菜 (P. anserina L.) 和金戴戴 (Halerpestes ruthenica (Jacq.) Qvcz.) 对由高光照低养分斑块和低光照高养分斑块组成的资源交互斑块性生境的适应性对策.当生长于高光照低养分条件下分株 (HL分株) 与生长于低光照高养分条件下分株 (LH分株) 之间的匍匐茎连接时, 3种克隆植物HL分株、LH分株以及整个分株对系统 (HL分株 + LH分株) 的生物量均得到显著提高.同时, LH分株根冠比显著增加, 而HL分株根冠比显著下降.这表明, 当互连分株置于由低光照高养分斑块和高光照低养分斑块组成的异质性环境中时, 3种植物克隆分株均发生了环境诱导的功能特化.克隆内资源共享以及克隆内不同分株的功能特化有利于整个分株系统对局部丰富资源的获取, 从而能够缓解资源交互斑块性生境对克隆植物的不利影响.     

资源异质性环境中三种匍匐茎草本植物克隆内资源共享和分株功能特化(英文)

研究了 3种来自中国北方林下、草地和碱化草甸匍匐茎型克隆草本植物绢毛匍匐委陵菜 (PotentillareptansL .var.sericophyllaFranch .)、鹅绒委陵菜 (P .anserinaL .)和金戴戴 (Halerpestesruthenica (Jacq .)Qvcz .)对由高光照低养分斑块和低光照高养分斑块组成的资源交互斑块性生境的适应性对策。当生长于高光照低养分条件下分株(HL分株 )与生长于低光照高养分条件下分株 (LH分株 )之间的匍匐茎连接时 ,3种克隆植物HL分株、LH分株以及整个分株对系统 (HL分株 LH分株 )的生物量均得到显著提高。同时 ,LH分株根冠比显著增加 ,而HL分株根冠比显著下降。这表明 ,当互连分株置于由低光照高养分斑块和高光照低养分斑块组成的异质性环境中时 ,3种植物克隆分株均发生了环境诱导的功能特化。克隆内资源共享以及克隆内不同分株的功能特化有利于整个分株系统对局部丰富资源的获取 ,从而能够缓解资源交互斑块性生境对克隆植物的不利影响     

匍匐茎草本绢毛匍匐委陵菜对局部遮荫的克隆可塑性

采自林窗和林内生境的绢毛匍匐委陵菜 (PotentillareptansL .var.sericophyllaFranch)“分株对”(即由一匍匐茎节间相连着的两个分株 ,其一为“目标分株” ,另一为“相连分株”)在一户外实验中经历了全不遮荫、全部遮荫和局部遮荫处理。该植物的基株生物量、匍匐茎总长度、分株数、匍匐茎比节间重、叶柄长、比叶柄重在遮荫条件下较小。匍匐茎节间长度没有对遮荫处理发生反应。在局部遮荫处理 ,遮荫斑块的分株的叶柄长度由于连着未遮荫斑块中分株而变得更长。这种克隆整合对克隆形态可塑性的修饰作用只在林窗生境来源的实验植物中观察到。其他克隆生长和克隆形态特征的可塑性在不同生境来源的实验植物间没有差异。     

Clonal Plasticity in Response to Partial Neutral Shading in the Stoloniferous Herb Potentilla reptans var. sericophylla

Ramet-pairs of Potentilla reptans L. var.sericophylla Franch from forest gap and forest understory were subjected to unshading, shading and partial shading treatments in a pot experiment. The genet biomass, total length of stolons, number of ramets, specific stolon weight, petiole length and specific petiole weight of the plant species under the shaded condition were smaller than those under the unshaded condition. The stolon internode length did not respond to the various treatments. In the plants from the forest gap, the petiloes of ramet grown in the shaded patch were longer as connected to plant part in the unshaded patch than as connected to plant part under the same shaded condition. Such modification of local response of ramet petiole to shading due to physiological integration was not observed in the plants from the understory. There was no effect of connection to ramets in shaded patches on the local response of the rest ramet characters to the partial unshading.     

How past and present influence the foraging of clonal plants?

Clonal plants spreading horizontally and forming a network structure of ramets exhibit complex growth patterns to maximize resource uptake from the environment. They respond to spatial heterogeneity by changing their internode length or branching frequency. Ramets definitively root in the soil but stay interconnected for a varying period of time thus allowing an exchange of spatial and temporal information. We quantified the foraging response of clonal plants depending on the local soil quality sampled by the rooting ramet (i.e. the present information) and the resource variability sampled by the older ramets (i.e. the past information). We demonstrated that two related species, Potentilla reptans and P. anserina, responded similarly to the local quality of their environment by decreasing their internode length in response to nutrient-rich soil. Only P. reptans responded to resource variability by decreasing its internode length. In both species, the experience acquired by older ramets influenced the plastic response of new rooted ramets: the internode length between ramets depended not only on the soil quality locally sampled but also on the soil quality previously sampled by older ramets. We quantified the effect of the information perceived at different time and space on the foraging behavior of clonal plants by showing a non-linear response of the ramet rooting in the soil of a given quality. These data suggest that the decision to grow a stolon or to root a ramet at a given distance from the older ramet results from the integration of the past and present information about the richness and the variability of the environment.     

Effects of inoculation with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on clonal growth of Potentilla reptans and Fragaria moschata (Rosaceae)

Many clonal plants live in symbiosis with ubiquitous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, however, little is known about their interaction with respect to clonal reproduction and resource acquisition. The effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza on the growth and intraclonal integration between ramets of two stoloniferous species were studied experimentally in a nutritionally homogenous soil environment. Two species coexisting at the same field site, Potentilla reptans and Fragaria moschata, were selected as model plants for the study. Pairs of their ramets were grown in neighbouring pots with each ramet rooted separately. Four inoculation treatments were established: (1) both mother and daughter ramets remained non-inoculated, (2) both ramets were inoculated with a mixture of three native AM fungi from the site of plant origin, (3) only mother or (4) daughter ramet was inoculated. The stolons connecting the ramets were either left intact or were disrupted. Despite the consistent increase in phosphorus concentrations in inoculated plants, a negative growth response of both plant species to inoculation with AM fungi was observed and inoculated ramets produced fewer stolons and fewer offspring ramets and had lower total shoot dry weights as compared to non-inoculated ones. A difference in the extent of the negative mycorrhizal growth response was recorded between mother and daughter ramets of P. reptans, with daughter ramets being more susceptible. Due to AM effect on ramet performance, and thereby on the source-sink relationship, inoculation also significantly influenced biomass allocation within clonal fragments. Physiological integration between mother and daughter ramets was observed when their root systems were heterogeneous in terms of AM colonization. These results hence indicate the potential of mycorrhizal fungi to impact clonal growth traits of stoloniferous plant species, with possible consequences for their population dynamics.     

The effects of clonal integration on morphological plasticity and placement of daughter ramets in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

We studied the field response of Robinia pseudoacacia L. to light, total soil nitrogen, available soil phosphorus and soil pH. Results indicated that there was very strong clonal integration between mother and daughter ramets. Mother ramets can provide nitrogen and phosphorus to daughter ramets sufficient for their continued growth through strong clonal integration, but cannot provide enough photosynthate. With clonal integration, soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability had no effect on biomass allocation to roots, number of ramets and length of connection roots. Biomass allocation to roots increased markedly and responded to nitrogen and phosphorus availability, when the connections were severed. Light had a significant effect on the percent of biomass allocation to leaves and number of ramets, but no effect on the length of connection roots. Daughter ramets allocated more resources to leaves, and clones placed more daughter ramets in high light patches than in low light patches. Soil pH had a significant effect on ramet number and connection root length. Clones concentrated in alkaline patches and escaped from acid patches through selective placement of daughter ramets and changing the length of connection roots. We suggest that the clonal integration may be very strong and provide sufficient soil resources to daughter ramets, then affect the daughter ramets’ morphology and placement, if the size of a specific ramet is significantly larger than the other ramets in an arbor clone.     

Patterns of Solidago altissima ramet growth and mortality: the role of below-ground ramet connections

Summary For the rhizomatous perennial, Solidago altissima, I identified clonal fragments in the field, mapped ramet spatial locations, and documented patterns of ramet recruitment, growth, and mortality. Parent ramet size influenced the size and number of daughter ramets produced, and small ramets had lower survivorship and fecundity than large ramets. Similarly, small rhizomes tended to develop into small ramets, and ramets that survived to produce daughter ramets had longer parent-daughter rhizome connections than ramets that did not survive. In addition, most ramets that died during the growing season were connected to (genetically identical) ramets that persisted. There were large size inequalities among rhizomes, ramets, and clonal fragments. Inequalities in the size of ramets increased during the early part of the growing season, then decreased at the end of the season; similar patterns were observed for the growth of clonal fragments. In both instances, the decrease in size inequality could be attributed to the mortality of small individuals (ramets or clonal fragments). I found little evidence that ramet size hierarchies were structured by intraspecific competition. For example, path analyses and randomization tests indicated that size variation among S. altissima ramets was influenced little by the size of their near neighbors (but was influenced by parent size and rhizome size). In addition, within-season variation for the relative size and growth rate of individual ramets led to poor correlations between early and final ramet size; this result suggests that there was no stable hierarchy of dominant and suppressed ramets. I discuss implications of my results for contrasting interpretations of clonal plant population dynamics.