Contrasting Soil Seed-bank Dynamics in Relation to Local Recruitment Modes in Two Clonal Shrubs, Rhus aromatica Ait. and R. glabra L. (Anacardiaceae)

The Alpine Soil Seed Bank in Relation to Field Seedlings and Standing Vegetation in Subarctic Finland

“…On the other hand, species characterized by an ineffective vegetative reproduction ability were effective in both seed bank accumulation and seedling recruitment. Li et al (1999) demonstrated the deviation in these abilities within the Rhus genus. Both weakly clonal and strongly clonal species have persistent and large seed banks.…”

Regeneration by seeds in alpine meadow and heath vegetation in sub‐arctic Finland

“…The densities of seeds and seedlings were, in all the phases of the regeneration pathway, greater in the meadow than in the heath. This relationship indicates a trade-off between seed production and vegetative growth (Eriksson 1997) and clonal plants' low level of seedling recruitment, especially in closed populations (Eriksson & Fröborg 1996;Li et al 1999). Seed predation probably further limits the seed rain in the heath, where fleshy-fruited plants are abundant (Kollman 1995).…”

Juvenile Rhus glabra leaves have higher temperatures and lower gas exchange rates than mature leaves when compared in the field during periods of high irradiance

“…Rhus glabra was chosen as the experimental organism because it is a large shrub or small tree, abundant in abandoned farmlands in Arkansas (Larsen, 1935;Boyd, 1944) and one of the most widely distributed woody species in the US (Little, 1977). Rhus glabra vegetatively reproduces by sending up numerous shoots in the spring from an extensive underground root system (Li et al, 1999). Leaves are continually produced throughout the growing season from the apical meristem: each new leaf shows alternate phyllotaxy and has 5-7 leaflet pairs (topped by a ''flag'' leaflet) on each petiole.…”