Comparative growth and biomass allocation of two varieties of cat's claw creeper, Dolichandra unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae) in Australia

Introduced as an ornamental vine, cat’s claw creeper Dolichandra unguis-cati (syn. Macfadyena unguis-cati) has invaded coastal and subcoastal areas of subtropical eastern Australia. Two varieties have been indentified, one of which (‘short-pod’) is found throughout south-eastern Australia, while the other (‘long-pod’) appears to be restricted to several sites in south-eastern Queensland. We compared the growth and biomass allocation patterns of the two varieties in the field over a 22-month period to determine if a higher growth rate and/or more efficient allocation of biomass may contribute to this disparity in distribution. The long-pod variety produced greater aboveground and total biomass than the short-pod variety in both riparian and non-riparian zones. Belowground the two varieties produced a similar number of tubers and overall biomass, though the long-pod variety allocated a smaller portion of its carbon belowground. High growth rates and greater biomass allocation aboveground are characteristic of invasive species, allowing them to outcompete and crowd out existing vegetation. There was no significant site by variety interaction, an indication of consistency in variety performance across riparian and non-riparian sites. Results from our study suggest that differences in growth and biomass allocations are unlikely to have contributed to the disparity in distribution of the two varieties. Despite currently occupying a relatively small range, the long-pod variety may be a more adept invader than the short-pod variety, and could become more prevalent in the future.

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Survival and biomass of exotic earthworms, Aporrectodea spp. (Lumbricidae), when introduced to pastures in south-eastern Australia

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar98181 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 50 (7) ◽

pp. 1233 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

G. H. Baker ◽

P. J. Carter ◽

V. J. Barrett

Keyword(s):

South Australia ◽

Clay Content ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Soil P ◽

South Eastern ◽

Inoculation Density ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

Exotic Earthworms ◽

Soil Clay Content ◽

South Eastern Australia

The earthworm fauna of pastures in south-eastern Australia is dominated by exotic lumbricid earthworms, in particular the endogeic species, Aporrectodea caliginosa and A. trapezoides. Anecic species such as A. longa are very rare. All 3 species were introduced within cages in 10 pastures on a range of soil types within the region. Five months later, A. longa had generally survived the best and A. trapezoides the worst. The survivals and weights of individual worms varied between sites for all 3 species. The survivals of A. caliginosa and A. longa, and to a lesser extent A. trapezoides, were positively correlated with soil clay content. The weights of A. caliginosa and A. longa, but not A. trapezoides, were positively correlated with soil P content. The survivals and weights of A. longa and A. trapezoides and the weights only of A. caliginosa decreased with increasing inoculation density, suggesting increased intraspecific competition for resources, particularly in the first two species. A. longa reduced the abundance and biomass of the exotic acanthodrilid earthworm, Microscolex dubius, at one site, and the total biomass of 3 native megascolecid species at another, when these latter species occurred as contaminants in A. longa cages. The addition of lime had no effect on the survivals and weights of A. caliginosa, A. longa, and A. trapezoides, although the soils were acid at the sites tested. The addition of sheep dung increased the survival and weights of some species at some sites. Mechanical disturbance of the soil within cages reduced the survivals of A. longa and A. trapezoides. A. longa was released without being caged at 25 sites within one pasture in South Australia. Four years later, it was recovered at all release points. A. longa has the potential to colonise pastures widely throughout the higher rainfall regions of south-eastern Australia.

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Winter jellyfish macroplankton off the coastal of Crimea

Marine Biological Journal ◽

10.21072/mbj.2016.01.4.03 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 22-29

Author(s):

S. M. Ignatyev ◽

V. V. Gubanov ◽

N. A. Datsyk

Keyword(s):

Black Sea ◽

Size Range ◽

Size Structure ◽

The Black Sea ◽

Winter Period ◽

Small Range ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Southern Coast ◽

South Eastern ◽

Azov Sea

Predatory macroplankton of jellyfish species is an important component of the pelagic ecosystem. It is capable of mass development, and may influence pelagic communities. Surveillance monitoring of jellyfish populations can detect the seasonal and long-term trends of their variability and assess the role of jellyfish in the trophic structure of the pelagic zone. Monitoring of plankton community (jellyfish macroplankton) off the coastal of Crimea from the Cape Tarkhankut to the Kerch coast (including the Azov Sea) in winter period is presented. 22 comprehensive oceanographic stations from Cape Tarkhankut to the Kerch Strait and in Azov Sea at the depths of up to 100 m were made. We used a Bogorov — Russ plankton net (entrance area is 0.5 square meters) for collecting plankton in the upper 100-m water layer. Jellyfish were measured immediately, we used a standard method of measuring and calculated the mass of the individual instances by the formulas. The biomass is calculated as the product of the abundance and the average wet weight of organisms in the population. Abundance and biomass macroplankton were counted per square meter of water surface or per the volume of filtered water. The species composition of jellyfish macroplankton was represented by 1 species of jellyfish and 3 species of ctenophores. Aurelia aurita dominated in biomass (98 % of the total biomass of gelatinous macroplankton) everywhere; Pleurobrachia and Aurelia dominated in abundance (67 and 25 % respectively). The share of both species of ctenophores-invaders did not exceed 8 %. The average relative abundance of jellyfish along the coast of Crimea was fluctuated between 9 and 43 %, comb jellies — from 32 to 77 %. Quantitative distribution of gelatinous macroplankton was non-uniform — from complete absence to 83.3 g·m-3 (average of 12.6 g·m-3). The highest biomass was registered in the area of Sevastopol and Eupatoria, the minimum — off the southern coast of Crimea. Jellyfish were noted at almost all stations. Their biomass reached a value of 18 g·m-3. Distribution of jellyfish is characterized by marked heterogeneity with higher values of abundance and biomass in the area of the southern coast of Crimea and lower — in the stations in the western part of the Black Sea. Aurelia was presented with large dome diameter of 21–220 mm (average diameter — 93 mm). The bulk of the population was accounted for last year’s individuals generation. Biomass of the ctenophore M. leidyi varied from 86 to 4788 mg·m-3 (average of 1595 mg·m-3). The structure of its population was represented by wide size range of animals — 10–65 mm, while the share of larger animals of 60–100 % was observed in the western and south-eastern parts of the Black Sea. On the southern coast of Crimea 45 % of population of ctenophore were animals of 15–25 mm. Biomass of the ctenophore B. ovata was within 34.8–1316.6 mg·m-3 (average of 371.4 mg·m-3). Its abundance varied within a small range, except the area of Feodosia stations, where the maximum value was observed (it was more than 1 g·m-3). B. ovata population consisted of individuals of 20–40 mm long, while it formed the basis of immature specimens of 20–30 mm (50–70 % of the total). In Kerch area their share has reached 100 %. There were hibernating animals of last year’s generation. The coldwater ctenophore Pleurobrachia pileus was present almost everywhere, with biomass from 0.1 to 6.0 mg·m-3. Maximum values of abundance were observed in Alushta region. The stations of Crimean southern coast were characterized by intermediate, relatively flat values. South-eastern and western parts of the Black Sea were marked by similar values of abundance and biomass. In all studied regions, the prevailing size group in the structure of P. pileus populations were individuals with a diameter of 10 mm. In the deep-sea area of the southern part of Crimea population was represented in the larger size range, and the proportion of animals ranging in size from 11 to 20 mm was low (5 %). In general, “winter” composition, size structure and abundance of jellyfish off the coast of the Crimea are the same of indicators in the coastal waters of Sevastopol. But the results show the existence of certain differences in the structure and quantitative development of jellyfish macroplankton in southern and western coasts of Crimea.

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Biomass-allocation patterns in populations of Trillium erectum and T. grandiflorum in southern Ontario

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b87-228 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 65 (8) ◽

pp. 1671-1675 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jerry G. Chmielewski ◽

Gordon S. Ringius

Keyword(s):

Biomass Allocation ◽

Reproductive Effort ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Southern Ontario ◽

Allocation Patterns

Biomass-allocation patterns to aerial tissues were examined among six populations for each of Trillium erectum L. and T. grandiflorum (Michx.) Salisb. in southern Ontario. Total biomass did not differ among populations of T. erectum, but androecial proportions and reproductive effort generally decreased from southwest to northeast. Total biomass of T. grandiflorum varied significantly among populations and its pattern of reproductive effort was the reverse of that of T. erectum. Androecium–gynoecium ratios decreased across southern Ontario from southwest to northeast for both species. These results suggest that there may be a shift from allogamy to autogamy in a northeasterly direction across southern Ontario.

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Changes of Aboveground and Belowground Biomass Allocation in Four Dominant Grassland Species Across a Precipitation Gradient

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.650802 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yongjie Liu ◽

Mingjie Xu ◽

Guoe Li ◽

Mingxia Wang ◽

Zhenqing Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biomass Allocation ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Precipitation Amount ◽

Belowground Biomass ◽

Leymus Chinensis ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Precipitation Gradient ◽

Plant Parts ◽

Artemisia Frigida ◽

Allocation Patterns

Climate change is predicted to affect plant growth, but also the allocation of biomass to aboveground and belowground plant parts. To date, studies have mostly focused on aboveground biomass, while belowground biomass and allocation patterns have received less attention. We investigated changes in biomass allocation along a controlled gradient of precipitation in an experiment with four plant species (Leymus chinensis, Stipa grandis, Artemisia frigida, and Potentilla acaulis) dominant in Inner Mongolia steppe. Results showed that aboveground biomass, belowground biomass and total biomass all increased with increasing growing season precipitation, as expected in this water-limited ecosystem. Biomass allocation patterns also changed along the precipitation gradient, but significant variation between species was apparent. Specifically, the belowground biomass: aboveground biomass ratio (i.e., B:A ratio) of S. grandis was not impacted by precipitation amount, while B:A ratios of the other three species changed in different ways along the gradient. Some of these differences in allocation strategies may be related to morphological differences, specifically, the presence of rhizomes or stolons, though no consistent patterns emerged. Isometric partitioning, i.e., constant allocation of biomass aboveground and belowground, seemed to occur for one species (S. grandis), but not for the three rhizome or stolon-forming ones. Indeed, for these species, the slope of the allometric regression between log-transformed belowground biomass and log-transformed aboveground biomass significantly differed from 1.0 and B:A ratios changed along the precipitation gradient. As changes in biomass allocation can affect ecosystem functioning and services, our results can be used as a basis for further studies into allocation patterns, especially in a context of environmental change.

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