Differences in plant‐size structure and biomass allocation in plants between exposed and shaded Plantago asiatica populations at a mid‐elevated habitat in the cool‐temperate region of Japan

Abstract

Plantago asiatica L. (Plantaginaceae) is a perennial herb that is distributed over a wide range of habitats from exposed to shaded sites in lowlands to the subalpine zone in Japan. We investigated the patterns of biomass allocation and population structures based on the frequency distribution of individual plants in order to clarify the extent of plasticity in significant life-history traits and also population dynamics of this plantain species, which occurs under two contrasting light regimes-in exposed and shaded habitats-at Numappara, 1230 m a.s.l., Tochigi Prefecture, central Honshu. The plants at the shaded site allocated more biomass to leaves, but less to rhizomes than those at the exposed site. Increasing the biomass of the reproductive organs resulted in a reduction of the leaf and rhizome fractions. This trend is clearer in the shaded plants than in the exposed plants. In both exposed and shaded populations, the number of seedlings was greater in the first year, but the population structure was skewed more negatively in the second year during two consecutive study years. The possible effects of allocation traits of individuals on the population structures and regeneration mechanisms of P. asiatica at elevated habitats are discussed in terms of cyclic changes in population structure with the fluctuations of seeding activity over some years.

Plasticity of reproductive traits responding to variation in light availability at the rosette stage of the first year in a strict biennial, Pedicularis torta, from a field on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

“…In the present study, we found that light availability at the rosette stage of the first year in the obligate biennial plant P. torta had significant effects on most reproductive traits and on plant size at maturity in the second year. Previous studies of shade‐tolerant species have suggested that light availability has an important effect on vegetative growth and reproduction (Kobayashi et al . 1999, 2001, 2005; Meekins & McCarthy 2000).…”

Variation of biomass and morphology of the cushion plant Androsace tapete along an elevational gradient in the Tibetan Plateau

“…Kobayashi et al . , ; Lambers et al . ) can help to predict how plants will respond to environmental change.…”

“…Understanding variation of plant traits between sites characterized by different environmental conditions (e.g. Kobayashi et al 2001Kobayashi et al , 2005Lambers et al 2008) can help to predict how plants will respond to environmental change. We focused on one model species, Androsace tapete (Primulaceae), which is an endemic species of the Tibetan Plateau.…”