Canopy Behavior of Three Milkvetch (Astragalus) Species in Acclimation to a New Habitat

Abstract

Empirical data on functional growth dynamics are extremely limited for herbaceous plants and do not exist for milkvetch (Astragalus) species, although they are essential to an understanding a plant's ability to acclimate to a new habitat, which we need to know in order to predict its performance in future climate scenarios. The paper examines how species spread to a habitat in which they do not initially occur. It presents results on changes in growth, canopy behavior, competition ability and morphological traits of Cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.), Sweet milkvetch (Astragalus glycyphyllos L.) and Russian milkvetch (Astragalus falcatus Lam.) from a ten-year experiment. They successfully acclimated to a new habitat and presented clearly similar growth dynamics and similar strategies for establishing and maintaining populations. Developmental and reductional perennial phases were noted. The developmental phase showed slow and fast subphases. Canopy cover area peaked at the height of the developmental phase. Morphological parameters measured from parts of plants growing outside the experimental plot were greater than for plants growing inside it. Milkvetch species are good competitors. Unlike invasive species, their expansion strategy is not colonization-oriented. The data suggest that systematic and evolutionary studies on these species should pay attention to morphological changes. K Ke ey y w wo or rd ds s: : Astragalus, autecology, biometrics, canopy behavior, developmental perennial phase, growth dynamics, new habitat, plant strategy, population ecology, reductional perennial phase.

Phenomena, Biometrics and Canopy Behavior of Prickly Comfrey (Symphytum Asperum Lep., Boraginaceae) in a Long-Term Experiment

“…The plant's density dynamics and canopy plot cover of over 100% by the population testify to its vigor and ability to compete for space in the habitat. Its tendency to cover and extend outside a plot is known and has also been reported for other species (Aniszewski, 2010). The deviation from vertical growth of the plants (i.e., from negative geotropism) in the second half of the vegetation period is a part of the behavioral strategy of the species.…”

“…The climate is continental with hot summers and cold winters. The soil in each plot was natural and typical garden soil with fine sand, sand, silt, clay and organic matter fractions (for details see Aniszewski, 2010). Soil pH in the plots was measured at the beginning of the experiment at three depth levels using pH indicators and a Batex IM 555 pH & mV meter.…”

“…Long-term experiments yield data crucial to understanding the life course of species in evolutionary biology, botany and ecology (Aniszewski, 2000(Aniszewski, , 2010Rozen and Lenski, 2000;Dudley, 2007;Phillippe et al, 2007). The life behavior and genetic expression of perennial plant species cannot be explained well without such data.…”

“…The behavior, biometrics and the phenomenal dynamics of perennial plants continue to be challenging research topics. At the Finnish Agricultural Research Center, in the 1980s we began long-term observations and measurements of some potentially useful plants and their populations (Aniszewski and Simojoki, 1984;Aniszewski, 1988) and have continued this line of research in our laboratory (Aniszewski, 2000(Aniszewski, , 2004(Aniszewski, , 2010Aniszewski et al, 1996Aniszewski et al, , 2001. Prickly comfrey (Symphytum asperum Lep.…”