scholarly journals Cushion plant morphology controls biogenic capability and facilitation effects of Silene acaulis along an elevation gradient

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1216-1226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuliano Bonanomi ◽  
Adriano Stinca ◽  
Giovanni Battista Chirico ◽  
Giampiero Ciaschetti ◽  
Antonio Saracino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Plant Morphology ◽  
Cushion Plant ◽  
Silene Acaulis

scholarly journals Cushion plants act as facilitators for soil microarthropods in high alpine Sweden

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Ľuptáčik ◽  
Peter Čuchta ◽  
Patrícia Jakšová ◽  
Dana Miklisová ◽  
Ľubomír Kováč ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Oribatid Mite ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Soil Microarthropods ◽  
Cushion Plant ◽  
Cushion Plants ◽  
Diapensia Lapponica ◽  
Silene Acaulis ◽  
Positive Effect

1.Cushion plants can have positive impacts on plant richness in severe environments and possibly across trophic levels on arthropods, an under-studied topic. 2.This study examined whether soil communities under cushions of Silene acaulis and Diapensia lapponica have higher richness and abundance of soil microarthropods (Acari, Collembola) than adjacent non-cushion vegetation; and whether differences in collembolan and mite abundance and species richness between S. acaulis cushions and adjacent vegetation increase with elevation.3.In total, 5199 individuals of Collembola (n=1392) and mites (n=3807) were identified to order/species level in samples along an elevation transect (1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, and 1400 m a.s.l.), and an exposed ridge above the treeline (1000 m a.s.l.) in northern Sweden. Paired soil samples were taken within cushions of Silene acaulis (along the elevation gradient) and Diapensia lapponica (on the exposed ridge) and adjacent non-cushion plant vegetation. 4.Silene acaulis had a positive effect on species richness and abundance of Collembola, with richness effects from 1100 m a.s.l. upwards. Oribatid mite abundance and richness were also higher in S. acaulis compared with adjacent vegetation. 5.Species richness of Collembola and Oribatida declined with increasing elevation from 1200 m a.s.l. Collembola abundance peaked at mid-elevation (1200 m a.s.l.) in both S. acaulis and adjacent vegetation, while oribatid mite abundance peaked at 1300 m a.s.l. in both vegetation types. 6.Cushions of D. lapponica on the exposed ridge had a significant positive effect on species richness, abundance and diversity of Collembola, and abundance of Oribatida. 7.Alpine cushion plants play an important role in supporting biodiversity of soil fauna in severe alpine environments, with the positive effect of cushion plants increasing with environment severity.

scholarly journals Differences in the fungal communities nursed by two genetic groups of the alpine cushion plant, Silene acaulis

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (23) ◽  
pp. 11568-11581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Roy ◽  
Jean-Marc Bonneville ◽  
Patrick Saccone ◽  
Sébastian Ibanez ◽  
Cécile H. Albert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Communities ◽  
Cushion Plant ◽  
Genetic Groups ◽  
Silene Acaulis

Genetic variation in Silene acaulis increases with population age

Botany ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Powolny ◽  
Peter Poschlod ◽  
Christoph Reisch
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Age Determination ◽  
Polymorphism Analysis ◽  
European Alps ◽  
Cushion Plant ◽  
Glacier Foreland ◽  
Silene Acaulis ◽  
The Mean

This study examined the relationship between genetic variation and the mean age of individuals within populations of the alpine cushion plant Silene acaulis (L.) Jacq. along a chronosequence on a glacier foreland in the Central European Alps. We studied 67 individuals of S. acaulis from four populations located at 2390, 2530, 2680, and 2820 m a.s.l. on the glacier foreland and applied a combined approach of growth-ring analysis and individual size measurements to determine the mean age of individuals within populations. Genetic variation was studied using amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. The mean age of individuals within populations ranged from 11 to 20 years and increased with decreasing altitude toward the older stages of the chronosequence, reaching a maximum age of 50 years. According to regression analysis, genetic variation increased slightly from early to late successional stages and was associated with the mean age of individuals within populations. The results suggest that genetic variation in S. acaulis depends on the mean age of individuals within populations, and emphasize that both species diversity and genetic diversity in plant species can increase during succession on glacier forelands. Integration of age determination methods proves to be a promising approach in the analysis of genetic variation in plant species.

Snowmobile Impact on Three Alpine Tundra Plant Communities

1974 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Greller ◽  
Madeline Goldstein ◽  
Leslie Marcus
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Alpine Tundra ◽  
Living Plant ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Cushion Plant ◽  
Cushion Plants ◽  
Plant Coverage ◽  
Winter Snow ◽  
Silene Acaulis

This paper describes the effects of 1,020 passages of snowmobiles, made over two winters, on three regularly winter-snow-free alpine tundra plant communities. A cushion-plant community on a 7-degrees slope showed a 31% reduction in total living plant coverage due to snowmobile impact. Destruction was greatest to soil lichens, rock lichens, and the cushion-plants Arenaria obtusiloba, Arenaria fendleri, Paronychia sessiliflora var. pulvinata, Silene acaulis, Eritrichium aretioides, and Phlox pulvinata. Graminoids generally survived to increase in importance. On a flat site, a cushion-plant community with Kobresia myosuroides as its most important species, showed the greatest loss of living-plant coverage, namely 46%. This was due primarily to the destruction of Kobresia, although Selaginella densa, Arenaria obtusiloba, Hymenoxys acaulis, and Eritrichium aretioides, also showed heavy losses. In a Kobresia turf community, destruction was decidedly less severe than in the cushion-plant communities, reduction in total living plant coverage being only 19%. It is suggested that the closed nature of the Kobresia turf, with its stiff tussocks, enables it to absorb impact well. It is recommended that snow-mobile travel be confined to Kobresia or similar turfs, when such travel is necessary under snow-free conditions.

scholarly journals Cushion plant Silene acaulis is a pioneer species at abandoned coal piles in the High Arctic, Svalbard

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Minwoo Oh ◽  
Eun Ju Lee
Keyword(s):  
Stress Gradient ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Control Site ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Stressed Condition ◽  
Pioneer Species ◽  
Cushion Plant ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Silene Acaulis

Abstract Background Abandoned coal piles after the closure of mines have a potential negative influence on the environment, such as soil acidification and heavy metal contamination. Therefore, revegetation by efficient species is required. For this, we wanted to identify the role of Silene acaulis in the succession of coal piles as a pioneer and a nurse plant. S. acaulis is a well-studied cushion plant living in the Arctic and alpine environments in the northern hemisphere. It has a highly compact cushion-like form and hosts more plant species under its canopy by ameliorating stressful microhabitats. In this research, we surveyed vegetation cover on open plots and co-occurring species within S. acaulis cushions in coal piles with different slope aspects and a control site where no coal was found. The plant cover and the similarity of communities among sites were compared. Also, the interaction effects of S. acaulis were assessed by rarefaction curves. Results S. acaulis was a dominant species with the highest cover (6.7%) on the coal piles and occurred with other well-known pioneer species. Plant communities on the coal piles were significantly different from the control site. We found that the pioneer species S. acaulis showed facilitation, neutral, and competition effect in the north-east facing slope, the south-east facing slope, and the flat ground, respectively. This result was consistent with the stress gradient hypothesis because the facilitation only occurred on the north-east facing slope, which was the most stressed condition, although all the interactions observed were not statistically significant. Conclusions S. acaulis was a dominant pioneer plant in the succession of coal piles. The interaction effect of S. acaulis on other species depended on the slope and its direction on the coal piles. Overall, it plays an important role in the succession of coal piles in the High Arctic, Svalbard.

scholarly journals Ecological implications of reduced pollen supply in the alpine: a case study using a dominant cushion plant species

F1000Research ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anya Reid ◽  
Robyn Hooper ◽  
Olivia Molenda ◽  
Christopher J. Lortie
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Stress Gradient ◽  
Life History Strategy ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Reproductive Assurance ◽  
Cushion Plant ◽  
Silene Acaulis ◽  
Plant Pollinator

The reproductive assurance hypothesis states that self-incompatible female plants must produce twice the number of seeds relative to their self-compatible hermaphroditic counterparts to persist in gynodioecious populations. This is a viable life-history strategy, provided that pollination rates are sufficiently high. However, reduced pollination rates in alpine plants are likely due to climate induced plant-pollinator mismatches and general declines in pollinators. Using a gynodioecious population of the dominant plant Silene acaulis (Caryophyllaceae), we tested the reproductive assurance hypothesis and also the stress gradient hypothesis with a series of pollinator exclusion trials and extensive measurements of subsequent reproductive output (gender ratio, plant size, percent fruit-set, fruit weight, seeds per fruit, total seeds, seed weight, and seed germination). The reproductive assurance hypothesis was supported with female plants being more sensitive to and less likely to be viable under reductions in pollination rates. These findings are the first to show that the stress gradient hypothesis is also supported under a gradient of pollen supply instead of environmental limitations. Beneficiary abundance was negatively correlated to percent fruit-set under current pollen supply, but became positive under reduced pollen supply suggesting that there are important plant-plant-pollinator interactions related to reproduction in these alpine plant species.

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