Belowground growth strategies of native and invasive rhizomatous perennial grasses in response to precipitation variability, clipping, and competition
Invasive clonal species may exhibit different growth strategies than their native clonal competitors. In this study, we examined the spatial distribution of tiller outgrowth and the bud bank by comparing the investment in phalanx versus guerilla growth of a native and invasive perennial grass in Nor...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Folia geobotanica 2024-04, Vol.58 (3-4), p.245-257 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Invasive clonal species may exhibit different growth strategies than their native clonal competitors. In this study, we examined the spatial distribution of tiller outgrowth and the bud bank by comparing the investment in phalanx versus guerilla growth of a native and invasive perennial grass in North America. We also examined the effect of altered precipitation frequency, clipping, and competition on their clonal growth strategies. Investment in phalanx and guerilla growth was assessed by examining live propagule and tiller production from the plant crown versus its rhizomes. Although invasive
Bromus inermis
and native
Pascopyrum smithii
exhibited similar clonal growth strategies as young seedlings, their clonal growth strategies significantly differed by the end of their first growing season.
Pascopyrum smithii
invested in dual phalanx and guerilla tiller outgrowth and bud placement, and
B. inermis
primarily invested in phalanx tiller outgrowth and bud placement. Competition rather than intra-annual precipitation variability and clipping altered the clonal growth strategy of these species. Intra- and inter- specific competition did not alter tiller outgrowth for either species. However, inter-specific competition caused both species to alter their bud placement.
Bromus inermis
shifted more buds from phalanx to guerilla positions while
P. smithii
shifted in the opposite direction. This may enable invasive
B. inermis
to expand while confining native
P. smithii
to more localized areas in the future. Clonal growth strategies appear to be species specific and responsive to inter-specific competition. Investigating the belowground bud aspect of clonal growth can reveal the mechanism driving the future aboveground clonal growth strategy of native and invasive rhizomatous grasses and help inform the patterns of invasion within a plant community. |
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ISSN: | 1211-9520 1874-9348 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s12224-023-09438-1 |