Morphological variability of Carex buekii (Cyperaceae) as a function of soil conditions: a case study of the Central European populations

Abstract

Carex buekii is a highly adaptive species showing a fairly wide ecological spectrum. It belongs to the group of river corridor plants which are vulnerable to any human activity directed at transformation of river valley habitats worldwide. This study was aimed at: determining the phenotypic variability of the species in the central part of its range, examining effects of soil conditions on the sedge’s morphological traits, and finding out whether the phenotypic plasticity observed may have taxonomic implications. A total of 487 specimens from 26 populations were collected in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia and tested by univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical methods. The analysis involved 16 morphological traits and 7 soil parameters (organic matter, pH, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, magnesium, calcium). Soil conditions were shown to affect the C. buekii morphology; particularly important was potassium, the only soil parameter that was indicated as a factor affecting intra-specific variability. Sites with lower contents of bioavailable potassium hosted C. buekii individuals which were generally smaller than those at sites showing higher soil potassium contents. The relationship held true also with respect to generative traits important in sedge taxonomy, i.e. utricle and beak lengths. Consideration of morphological differences only, without analysing relationships between morphology and soil conditions, could have resulted in distinguishing new entities at the level of species, subspecies or variety. Thus, knowledge on the range of phenotypic plasticity in field populations seems to be of a key importance in taxonomic studies.

Microenvironment created by Plantago lagopus L. may affect cover and diversity of coexisting species in urban vegetation

“…Some species of Plantago received some attention based on their chromosomal characteristics, variation in mucilage content, and grain yield traits [ 39 ]. However, various taxonomic studies depend on the plants' morphological and genetic variability with minimal consideration for the habitat conditions [ 40 ]. In addition, breeding strategies for increasing the productivity of Plantago species may be limited due to a lack of germplasm diversity characterization [ 41 ].…”

Response Patterns of Fen Sedges to a Nutrient Gradient Indicate both Geographic Origin-Specific Genotypic Differences and Phenotypic Plasticity

“…Phenotypic plasticity might therefore be especially advantageous in heterogeneous habitats, such as peatlands. More generally, considerable phenotypic plasticity occurs in different Carex species (Więcław 2017;Więcław et al 2021Więcław et al , 2022, including alpine Carex species, i.e., in species which also live in rather heterogeneous habitats (Schmidt et al 2018). An advantage of increased biomass at higher nutrient levels, as observed in our study, could be higher ability to deal with competition, e.g., for light (Kotowski et al 2006).…”