Effect of local competition on resprouting of Arbutus unedo after clipping |
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Authors: | Montserrat Vil ,Jacob Weiner,Jaume Terradas |
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Affiliation: | Montserrat Vilà,Jacob Weiner,Jaume Terradas |
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Abstract: | Abstract. To evaluate the effects of local competition on the growth and size variability of sprouts following disturbance in a natural population of Arbutus unedo in Catalonia, plants were cut at the base and a neighbor removal experiment was performed. Removal of neighbors resulted in an increase in the number and biomass of sprouts at 2 and 7.5 months after clipping. Number and biomass of sprouts was also correlated with initial plant size (stump area). Inter-genet competition appeared to be symmetric, and acted to delay the onset of interference among sprouts within a genet. Size variability of sprouts on an individual was positively correlated with their density on the stump, supporting the hypothesis that competition among ramets (sprouts) within a genet is asymmetric. Reduced inter-genet competition from neighbor removal resulted in an increase in the number and biomass of sprouts growing from a stump. This resulted in an increase in the asymmetry of competition among sprouts, and therefore an increase in the size variability of these sprouts. |
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Keywords: | Disturbance Inter-genet competition Plant competition Removal experiment Size variability Tutin et al. (1964-1980) |
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