Effects of a spatially heterogeneous nutrient distribution on the growth of clonal wetland plants

Abstract

Background Clonal plants are important in maintaining wetland ecosystems. The main growth types of clonal plants are the guerrilla and phalanx types. However, little is known about the effects of these different clonal growth types on plant plasticity in response to heterogeneous resource distribution. We compared the growth performance of clonal wetland plants exhibiting the two growth forms (guerrilla growth form: Scirpus yagara, Typha orientalis, Phragmites australis and Sparganium stoloniferum; phalanx growth form: Acorus calamus, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani and Butomus umbellatus) grown in soil substrates that were either homogeneous or heterogeneous but had the same total amount of nutrients. Results We found that the morphological traits (plant height, ramet number, spacer diameter and length) and biomass accumulation of the guerrilla clonal plants (T. orientalis) were significantly enhanced by heterogeneity, but those of the phalanx clonal plants (A. calamus, S. tabernaemontani and B. umbellatus) were not. The results showed that the benefits of environmental heterogeneity to clonal plants may be correlated with the type of clonal structure. Conclusions Guerrilla clonal plants, which have a dispersed, flexible linear structure, are better suited to habitats with heterogeneous resources. Phalanx clonal plants, which form compact structures, are better suited to habitats with homogeneous resources. Thus, wetland clonal species with the guerrilla clonal structure benefit more from soil nutrient heterogeneity.

Competition and Plant Trait Plasticity of Invasive (Wedelia trilobata) and Native Species (Wedelia chinensis, WC) under Nitrogen Enrichment and Flooding Condition

“…Our results were supported by previous studies that indicated that flooding along with nitrogen promotes the growth of invasive plant species [36]. Therefore, WT and WC can survive in nitrogen enrichment and flooding conditions due to elongation of plant height that was plant approach to survive with these conditions [37,38]. Plant height increment was plant response to flooding and high nitrogen, to get connect with air and sunlight to do photosynthesis process for its growth development [39].…”

The Genetic and Environmental Adaptation of the Associated Liana Species Derris trifoliata Lour. (Leguminosae) in Mangroves

“…Clonal growth provides a competitive advantage in community development, species diversity, and community composition [28,29]. Extensive clonal growth may be a major reason for the rapid diffusion of the D. trifoliata population in mangroves, and similar results were verified for other liana species [28,30,31].…”

Water Content of Plant Tissues: So Simple That Almost Forgotten?

“…As a result, clonal species have an advantage with respect to biomass accumulation in more spatially heterogeneous environments. However, particular types of clonal structures are associated with adaptations to habitats with different degrees of heterogeneity: in relatively homogeneous and stable habitats, clonal plants usually exhibit aggregated structure (phalanx morphology) with short spacer distances, but clonal plants with long spacers (guerrilla morphology) usually prevail in highly heterogeneous and dynamic or disturbed habitats [ 117 , 120 , 121 ].…”