Effects of simulated root herbivory and fertilizer application on growth and biomass allocation in the clonal perennialSolidago canadensis |
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Authors: | B Schmid S L Miao F A Bazzaz |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Abstract: | Summary Compensatory growth in response to simulated belowground herbivory was studied in the old-field clonal perennialSolidago canadensis. We grew rootpruned plants and plants with intact root systems in soil with or without fertilizer. For individual current
shoots (aerial shoot with rhizome and roots) and for whole clones the following predictions were tested: a) root removal is
compensated by increased root growth, b) fertilizer application leads to increased allocation to aboveground plant organs
and increased leaf turnover, c) effects of fertilizer application are reduced in rootpruned plants. When most roots (90%)
were removed current shoots quickly restored equilibrium between above-and belowground parts by compensatory belowground growth
whereas the whole clone responded with reduced aboveground growth. This suggests that parts of a clone which are shared by
actively growing shoots act as a buffer that can be used as source of material for compensatory growth in response to herbivory.
Current shoots increased aboveground mass and whole clones reduced belowground mass in response to fertilizer application,
both leading to increased allocation to aboverground parts. Also with fertilizer application both root-pruned and not root-pruned
plants increased leaf and shoot turnover. Unfertilized plants, whether rootpruned or not, showed practically no aboveground
growth and very little leaf and shoot turnover. Effects of root removal were as severe or more severe under conditions of
high as under conditions of low nutrients, suggesting that negative effects of belowground herbivory are not ameliorated by
abundant nutrients. Root removal may negate some effects of fertilizer application on the growth of current shoots and whole
clones. |
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Keywords: | Clonal integration Compensatory growth Fertilizer application Root removal Solidago canadensis |
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