Clonal extent, apical dominance and networking features in the phalanx angiosperm Zostera noltii Hornem.

Brun, Fernando G.; Cummaudo, Fabio; Olivé, Irene; Vergara, Juan J.; Pérez‐Lloréns, José Lucas

doi:10.1007/s00227-007-0627-y

Cited by 19 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 61 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…They proposed that the production of branches into these gaps, leading to a 60°b ranching pattern, would be optimal as it would lead to a population of ramets dense enough to prevent intrusion of competitors, while limiting investment in the rhizome network. A weak variation of a few degrees in these angles, as found in our study, would furthermore decrease the risk of ramet superposition (Bell and Tomlinson 1980;Callaghan Evol Ecol (2010) 24:1475-14871483Meyer and Schmid 1999;Brun et al 2007). In guerrilla growth forms, long and little branched primary rhizomes are generally considered to enable the colonization of new habitats (Lovett-Doust 1981).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Do spatial patterns of clonal fragments and architectural responses to defoliation depend on the structural blue-print? An experimental test with two rhizomatous Cyperaceae

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

International audienceClonal architecture is involved in performance of clonal fragments, as it determines spatial distribution of ramets. It is expected to rely on the species-specific expression of several architectural traits (structural blue-print). However, in contrasting environments, realized clonal architectures may differ, due to phenotypic plasticity. In this paper, we compared clonal architectures between two rhizomatous ecologically close Cyperaceae (Carex divisa and Eleocharis palustris) in non-defoliated and defoliated conditions. Two questions were addressed. (1) How much do the structural blue-print and resulting colonization and occupation of space differ between both species? (2) Does the structural blue-print constrain plastic responses of clonal architecture to defoliation? Traits related to performance, spatial pattern, architecture and biomass allocation of clonal fragments were monitored through an original non-destructive mapping method. In nondefoliated conditions, both species showed similar biomass but contrasting architectures and patterns of biomass allocation to rhizomes that resulted in different spatial patterns. The rhizome network of C. divisa, which consisted in only two primary rhizomes but several branches, was involved in resource storage rather than in spatial colonization. Conversely, E. palustris produced on average six primary rhizomes that grew in the whole horizontal plane, maximizing both occupation and colonization of space. These differences in structural constraints coupled with allometric relationships, resulted in differential responses to defoliation. In C. divisa, the costs associated to defoliation caused a decrease in branching, limiting the area occupied and number of ramets produced by clonal fragments, but increasing ramet density. Conversely, the weakly branched rhizome network of E. palustris was not affected by defoliation. Both spatial strategies (consolidation vs. colonization) are likely to provide ecological advantages allowing their coexistence in grazed meadows

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Do spatial patterns of clonal fragments and architectural responses to defoliation depend on the structural blue-print? An experimental test with two rhizomatous Cyperaceae

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This is supported by the apparent importance of the apical dominance and clonal integration in the clonal architecture of Z. noltii (Cabaço et al. 2005; Brun et al. 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Density peaked before the biomass, in agreement to the dominant role of the clonal architecture of seagrasses in the configuration of closed meadows (Marbà & Duarte 2003), suggesting the occurrence of a self-thinning process and ⁄ or the regulation of ramet formation to prevent the overproduction of shoots. This is supported by the apparent importance of the apical dominance and clonal integration in the clonal architecture of Z. noltii (Cabaço et al 2005;Brun et al 2007). The shoot density decline before reaching maximum biomass and the lowest biomass of Z. noltii in the established meadow occurring at lower shoot density than in the colonizing meadow, also suggests a possible self-shading process preceding self-thinning.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Population dynamics and production of the seagrass Zostera noltii in colonizing versus established meadows

Cabaço

Santos

Sprung³

2011

Marine Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The dynamics of the seagrass Zostera noltii in established and colonizing meadows were assessed in Ria Formosa lagoon, Southern Portugal. Shoot weight, above:belowground biomass ratio, flowering shoot density, meadow production, and biomass–density relationships were investigated. Results indicate that the species population dynamics differ clearly in different development stages of the meadows. The overall mean of flowering shoot density was five times higher in the colonizing (83 flowering shoots m−2) than in the established meadow (16 flowering shoots m−2), revealing a greater contribution of sexual reproduction during the species colonization process. The temporal variation of the biomass–density relationship in the colonizing meadow showed a cyclic seasonal trajectory, a wider range of data, and a simultaneous peak of biomass and density, suggesting no space limitations constraining the internal packing of shoots during the growing season. In the established meadow, density peaked before biomass in agreement to the dominant role of the clonal architecture of seagrasses in the configuration of closed meadows, suggesting the occurrence of self‐thinning and/or regulation of ramet formation. Slope of the biomass–density relationships was similar in the established and colonizing meadows, generally suggesting similar nutritional conditions, regardless of their muddy and sandy sediments. Plants of the colonizing meadow invest mainly on the belowground fraction (above:belowground biomass ratio <1), as meadow expansion is mainly controlled by the elongation of horizontal rhizomes. The annual total production (1163 g C m−2 year−1) and the biomass turnover (34.8 year−1) were also higher in this meadow, corroborating the high investment of the species during the meadow expansion. The faster biomass turnover of the colonizing meadow implies a more limited capacity to accumulate biomass, indicating a greater exportation of organic carbon and nutrients to the coastal area. The different biomass turnover rates suggest different trophic and structural roles of Z. noltii communities in established and colonizing meadows.

show abstract

“…2C & 4A), indicating that Z. noltii can rapidly acclimate to moderate sudden burial events. This rapid response may be supported by the apical dominance in Z. noltii, suggesting that, under stress conditions, such as sudden burial, plant resources will mainly be directed to the apical shoot , Marbà et al 2002, Brun et al 2007). Thus, plants buried at deeper points frequently developed rhizomes without shoots when the rhizomes remained well below the preferential depth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilience of Zostera noltii to burial or erosion disturbances

Han¹,

Bouma²,

Brun³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dynamic environments like seagrass habitats are characterised by continuous local erosion and burial processes, which may induce seagrass decline if disturbances become too intense or frequent. We aim to quantify for Zostera noltii the resilience of both the edge of a meadow and individual propagules to local-scale burial and erosion events. In a set of mesocosm and in situ manipulation experiments, we varied the frequency (sudden vs. continuous rate) and intensity (different levels; −6 cm erosion to 6 cm burial) of sediment dynamics. Our results showed that the intensity of the disturbance event (−6 up to 6 cm) was negatively correlated with plant survival. Burial frequency also had a significant effect on plant survival, with sudden events having a stronger negative impact than continuous ones. Both experiments, on individual propagules and attached rhizomes at meadow edges, demonstrated a rapid acclimatization of seagrass plants to sediment dynamics within certain levels of disturbance (−6 up to 6 cm). After erosion or burial, all surviving plants in the field and mesocosm experiments were able to relocate their rhizomes to the preferential depth (from 0.3 to 0.8 cm), which was the depth at which the rhizomes of undisturbed plants were most frequently found in the field. In situ manipulation experiments showed that at the edge of the meadow, Z. noltii invaded experimentally created hollows more easily than hills. Overall, our results demonstrate that Z. noltii meadows can rapidly recover by clonal growth after modest sediment disturbance, thereby contributing to the current understanding of seagrass recovery mechanisms following disturbances (e.g. sediment dynamics).

show abstract

Clonal extent, apical dominance and networking features in the phalanx angiosperm Zostera noltii Hornem.

Cited by 19 publications

References 61 publications

Do spatial patterns of clonal fragments and architectural responses to defoliation depend on the structural blue-print? An experimental test with two rhizomatous Cyperaceae

Do spatial patterns of clonal fragments and architectural responses to defoliation depend on the structural blue-print? An experimental test with two rhizomatous Cyperaceae

Population dynamics and production of the seagrass Zostera noltii in colonizing versus established meadows

Resilience of Zostera noltii to burial or erosion disturbances

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About