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

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Xue ◽  
Lin Huang ◽  
Fei-Hai Yu
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Clonal Plants ◽  
Initial Position ◽  
Nutrient Level ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Heterogeneous Environment ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Competitive Response ◽  
High Nutrient ◽  
Resource Patches

Abstract Aims Plants can benefit from heterogeneous environments via disproportionately increasing resource harvesting in resource-rich patches. Their initial growing positions with respect to resource patches may thus have important influences on their performance and relative competitive ability. Such impacts may differ between species with contrasting spatial architectures. However, the potential influence of initial growing positions in heterogeneous environment on plant growth and competition has largely been ignored. Methods We grew the phalanx plant Carex neurocarpa and the guerrilla plant Bolboschoenus planiculmis alone or in competition in a heterogeneous environment consisting of high- and low-nutrient soil patches. In treatments without competition, one ramet of each species was grown in either a high- or a low-nutrient patch in the heterogeneous environment. In treatments with competition, a ramet of the target species was grown in either a high- or a low-nutrient patch, and a ramet of the competitor species was grown in the same patch as the target species or an adjacent patch with a different nutrient level. Important Findings Without competition C. neurocarpa produced more biomass and ramets when initially grown in a high-nutrient patch than when initially grown in a low-nutrient patch. With competition, these differences disappeared. Consequently, competitive intensity on C. neurocarpa was higher when it initially grew in a high-nutrient patch than when it initially grew in a low-nutrient patch. These impacts were independent of the initial position of its competitor. By contrast, the initial positions of B. planiculmis did not influence its growth or competitive response. Therefore, in heterogeneous environments, initial growing positions of clonal plants may influence their performance in competition-free environments and may also affect their relative competitive ability, and these effects may depend on spatial architecture of the plants.

scholarly journals Effects of Heterogeneous Environment After Deforestation on Plant Phenotypic Plasticity of Three Shrubs Based on Leaf Traits and Biomass Allocation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinniu Wang ◽  
Jing Gao ◽  
Yan Wu ◽  
Bo Xu ◽  
Fusun Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Carbon Content ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Principal Components ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Heterogeneous Environment

Phenotypic plasticity among natural plant populations is a species-specific ecological phenomenon of paramount importance that depends on their life forms, development stages, as well as environmental factors. While this phenomenon is broadly understood, it has hardly been observed in nature. This study aimed at understanding phenotypic plasticity and ecological adaptability in three shrubs (Salix etosia, Rubus setchuenensis, and Hydrangea aspera) affected by potential environmental variables after deforesting in sparse Larix spp. forest and tall shrub mixed secondary forests. Soil organic carbon content, total nitrogen content, and available nitrogen content were greater outside the forests, contrary to other measured factors whose availability was higher in the forest interiors. In case of leaf traits and stoichiometric indicators, there were significant interactions of leaf area (LA), leaf dry matter (DW), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf phosphorus content (LPC) between shrub species and heterogeneous environments (P < 0.05) but not for leaf C/N, N/P, and C/P. Principal components analysis (PCA) indicated that soil temperature, pH value, soil carbon content, soil nitrogen content, and MBC and MBN mainly constituted the first component. Summarized results indicated that TB and leaf C/P of S. etosia were significantly correlated with three principal components, but only marginal significant correlations existed between R/S and relevant components. SLA and R/S of R. setchuenensis had marginal significant relationships with independent variables. Both SLA and TB of H. aspera were significantly correlated with three principal components. Based on the pooled values of leaf functional traits and leaf stoichiometric indicators, R. setchuenensis (vining type) had better leaf traits plasticity to adapt to a heterogeneous environment. In descending order, the ranks of biomass allocation plasticity index of three shrubs were H. aspera (bunch type), R. setchuenensis (vining type), and S. etosia (erect type). The highest integrated plasticity values of leaf traits and biomass allocation was observed in H. aspera (bunch type), followed by R. setchuenensis, and by S. etosia with less adaptive plasticity in heterogeneous environments.

scholarly journals Environmental heterogeneity decreases reproductive success via effects on foraging behaviour

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1904) ◽  
pp. 20190795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice M. Trevail ◽  
Jonathan A. Green ◽  
Jonathan Sharples ◽  
Jeff A. Polton ◽  
Peter I. Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Environmental Heterogeneity ◽  
Optimal Foraging Theory ◽  
Gps Tracking ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Rissa Tridactyla ◽  
Distribution Of Resources ◽  
Resource Patches ◽  
Patch Density ◽  
The Cost

Environmental heterogeneity shapes the uneven distribution of resources available to foragers, and is ubiquitous in nature. Optimal foraging theory predicts that an animal's ability to exploit resource patches is key to foraging success. However, the potential fitness costs and benefits of foraging in a heterogeneous environment are difficult to measure empirically. Heterogeneity may provide higher-quality foraging opportunities, or alternatively could increase the cost of resource acquisition because of reduced patch density or increased competition. Here, we study the influence of physical environmental heterogeneity on behaviour and reproductive success of black-legged kittiwakes, Rissa tridactyla . From GPS tracking data at 15 colonies throughout their British and Irish range, we found that environments that were physically more heterogeneous were associated with longer trip duration, more time spent foraging while away from the colony, increased overlap of foraging areas between individuals and lower breeding success. These results suggest that there is greater competition between individuals for finite resources in more heterogeneous environments, which comes at a cost to reproduction. Resource hotspots are often considered beneficial, as individuals can learn to exploit them if sufficiently predictable. However, we demonstrate here that such fitness gains can be countered by greater competition in more heterogeneous environments.

scholarly journals Spatial segregation among fishing vessels in a multispecies fishery

2009 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Poos ◽  
F. J. Quirijns ◽  
A. D. Rijnsdorp
Keyword(s):  
Interference Competition ◽  
Ideal Free Distribution ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Spatial Segregation ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Beam Trawl ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Fishing Vessels ◽  
Competitive Abilities

Abstract Poos, J. J., Quirijns, F. J., and Rijnsdorp, A. D. 2010. Spatial segregation among fishing vessels in a multispecies fishery. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 155–164. Individual decisions of fishers on where to fish in heterogeneous environments may shape the relation between fishing effort and fishing mortality. Fishers may be viewed as individual foragers, whose decisions are aimed at optimizing short-term gain, as in ideal free distribution (IFD) theory. Although IFD assumes all foragers to be equal, they are likely to differ in competitive abilities for different prey types or target species. Here, we present an IFD-like model of a fishing fleet consisting of two components with different competitive abilities for two target species, showing that spatial segregation can result from unequal interference competition, but also in the absence of interference competition. Differences in catch efficiency between vessels for target species in combination with differences in the spatial distribution of target species can result in spatial segregation among vessel groups. The theoretical results are used to interpret the observed spatial segregation of two components within the Dutch beam trawl fleet using observations from a vessel monitoring by satellite system. However, this study cannot pinpoint which of the processes included in the theoretical model is the prime cause of the segregation within the Dutch beam trawl fleet.

Seed size effects and competitive ability in Thlaspi arvense L. (Brassicaceae)

Botany ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Susko ◽  
Paul B. Cavers
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Intraspecific Competition ◽  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Thlaspi Arvense ◽  
High Nutrient

We examined the effects of seed size on plant size and competitive ability of Thlaspi arvense L. grown with and without intraspecific competition under contrasting soil fertility regimes. For solitary plants from each of four half-sibship families, seed mass was positively correlated with percentage germination, cotyledon size, and plant biomass after 15 d of growth, but differences in plant biomass largely disappeared at later dates. Small and large seeds of a single maternal family were sown in uniform or mixed arrangements of seed size classes (small:large; 100%:0%; 75%:25%; 50%:50%; 25%:75%; 0%:100%) at each of two densities (8 or 16 seeds·pot–1) under low and high soil nutrient regimes. In mixtures at low density under low soil fertility, plants from small seeds had significantly lower relative yields than expected. At high density, under either low or high nutrient conditions, plants from large seeds had significantly greater relative yields than expected. Hence, under most conditions, size inequalities between plants from seeds of different size resulted in a relative competitive advantage for plants from large seeds. The duration and extent of differences in plant size arising from T. arvense seeds of contrasting size depends on maternal genetic differences, intensity of intraspecific competition, and soil fertility.

Effects of N:P Ratio and Nutrient Level on the Competition between Invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides and Native Oenanthe javanica

2012 ◽  
Vol 534 ◽  
pp. 337-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Ying Chang ◽  
Ren Qing Wang ◽  
Yi Ran Zhang ◽  
Jian Liu
Keyword(s):  
N:P Ratio ◽  
Nutrient Supply ◽  
Physiological Traits ◽  
Alternanthera Philoxeroides ◽  
Nutrient Level ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
High Nutrient ◽  
Morphological And Physiological Traits ◽  
Oenanthe Javanica ◽  
High Nutrient Supply

This study examined the effects of N:P ratio and nutrient level on the competition between invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides and native Oenanthe javanica in terms of morphological and physiological traits and the relative dominance index (RDI). In the experiment, A. philoxeroides was grown in mixture with O. javanica at three N:P supply ratios (1,10,100) combined with three levels of nutrient supply. The results suggested that the morphological and physiological traits of invasive and native species were both significantly affected by N:P ratio and nutrient supply level. The total biomass of both species was maximal under the treatment of lowest N:P ratio and highest nutrient supply, and A. philoxeroides had higher total biomass than O. javanica in every treatment. A. philoxeroides had higher plasticity than O. javanica on total biomass, R/S, SLA, which had sensitive response to the changing nutrient conditions. Meanwhile, the RDI of A. philoxeroides under high nutrient supply was higher than that under low nutrient supply, which showed that high nutrient supply could promote the invasion of A. philoxeroides while P-limitation (high N:P ratio) may prevent the successful invasion of A. philoxeroides under the lower nutrient supply.

scholarly journals Effect of Environmental Stress on the Nutrient Stoichiometry of the Clonal Plant Phragmites australis in Inland Riparian Wetlands of Northwest China

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zhou ◽  
Liang Jiao ◽  
Huijun Qin ◽  
Fang Li
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Stress ◽  
Phragmites Australis ◽  
Clonal Plant ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Clonal Plants ◽  
Nutrient Allocation ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Riparian Wetlands ◽  
Nutrient Stoichiometry ◽  
Whole Plant

Clonal plants play an important role in determining ecosystem properties such as community stability, species diversity and nutrient cycling. However, relatively little information is available about the stoichiometric characteristics of clonal plants and their drivers in inland riparian wetlands under strong environmental stress. In this manuscript, we studied the clonal plant Phragmites australis in an inland riparian wetland of Northwest China and compared its nutrient distribution and stoichiometry trade-offs as well as its responses to soil environmental factors in three different environments, namely, a wetland, a salt marsh, and a desert. We found that (1) P. australis could adapt to heterogeneous environments by changing its nutrient allocation strategies, as evidenced by the significant decrease in N and P concentrations, and significant increase in whole-plant C:P and N:P ratios from the wetland to the desert habitats. (2) P. australis adapted to stressful environments by changing its nutrient allocation patterns among different modules, showing a greater tendency to invest N and P in underground modules (rhizomes and roots) and an increase in the utilization efficiency of N and P in the leaves, and stems as environmental stress increased. (3) The C-N, C-P, and N:P-C in the whole plant and in each module showed significant anisotropic growth relationships in the three habitats (P < 0.05). (4) Soil water, pH and salt were the main factors limiting nutrient stoichiometry. The results of this study clarified the ecological adaptation mechanism of the clonal plant P. australis to heterogeneous environments and provided targeted protection strategies for inland riparian wetlands in Northwest China.

scholarly journals Ultraviolet B Radiation Triggers DNA Methylation Change and Affects Foraging Behavior of the Clonal Plant Glechoma longituba

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaxin Quan ◽  
Vít Latzel ◽  
Dan Tie ◽  
Yuhan Zhang ◽  
Zuzana Münzbergová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Foraging Behavior ◽  
Clonal Plants ◽  
Ultraviolet B ◽  
Light Environment ◽  
Polymorphism Analysis ◽  
Epigenetic Variation ◽  
Heterogeneous Environment ◽  
Distributed Resources ◽  
Glechoma Longituba

Clonal plants in heterogeneous environments can benefit from their habitat selection behavior, which enables them to utilize patchily distributed resources efficiently. It has been shown that such behavior can be strongly influenced by their memories on past environmental interactions. Epigenetic variation such as DNA methylation was proposed to be one of the mechanisms involved in the memory. Here, we explored whether the experience with Ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation triggers epigenetic memory and affects clonal plants’ foraging behavior in an UV-B heterogeneous environment. Parental ramets of Glechoma longituba were exposed to UV-B radiation for 15 days or not (controls), and their offspring ramets were allowed to choose light environment enriched with UV-B or not (the species is monopodial and can only choose one environment). Sizes and epigenetic profiles (based on methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism analysis) of parental and offspring plants from different environments were also analyzed. Parental ramets that have been exposed to UV-B radiation were smaller than ramets from control environment and produced less and smaller offspring ramets. Offspring ramets were placed more often into the control light environment (88.46% ramets) than to the UV-B light environment (11.54% ramets) when parental ramets were exposed to UV-B radiation, which is a manifestation of “escape strategy.” Offspring of control parental ramets show similar preference to the two light environments. Parental ramets exposed to UV-B had lower levels of overall DNA methylation and had different epigenetic profiles than control parental ramets. The methylation of UV-B-stressed parental ramets was maintained among their offspring ramets, although the epigenetic differentiation was reduced after several asexual generations. The parental experience with the UV-B radiation strongly influenced foraging behavior. The memory on the previous environmental interaction enables clonal plants to better interact with a heterogeneous environment and the memory is at least partly based on heritable epigenetic variation.

scholarly journals Contrasting Effects of Plant-Soil Feedbacks on Growth and Morphology of Two Clonal Plants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Xue ◽  
Lin Huang ◽  
Wei-Jia Sheng ◽  
Jia-Tao Zhu ◽  
Shu-Qi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clonal Plants ◽  
Physiological Integration ◽  
Bulk Soil ◽  
Heterogeneous Environment ◽  
Conditioning Phase ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
Glechoma Longituba ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mother And Daughter ◽  
Feedback Phase

Abstract AimSoil abiotic and biotic conditions are often spatially variable, challenging plants with a heterogeneous environment consisting of favorable and unfavorable patches of soil. Many stoloniferous clonal plants can escape from unfavorable patches by elongating stolon internodes, but aggregate in favorable ones through shortening stolon internodes. However, whether these plants can use their stolons to respond to plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) is largely unknown. MethodsIn the conditioning phase, we grew either Hydrocotyle vulgaris or Glechoma longituba clonal plants separately in mesocosms to condition bulk soil. In the feedback phase, we grew connected mother and daughter ramets of each species in soil inoculated with the unsterilized or sterilized soil conditioned by conspecifics. We grew the plants for 12 weeks and measured the growth of the mother and daughter ramets separately. ResultsThe daughter ramets of H. vulgaris produced more biomass but shorter stolon internodes when grown in soil with sterilized inocula than with unsterilized inocula. However, no difference was found between the daughter ramets of G. longituba grown in soil with unsterilized and sterilized inocula. For both species, no significant difference was found between the mother ramet or between the daughter ramets when the mother ramet was grown in soil with sterilized and unsterilized inocula. ConclusionsThe daughter ramets rather than the mother ramet of H. vulgaris experienced negative biotic PSFs. However, PSF had no effects on the daughter or mother ramet of G. longituba. Moreover, physiological integration or plasticity in stolon internode lengths cannot help H. vulgaris alleviate the negative PSFs.

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