Use of Silene acaulis for Dating: The Relationship of Cushion Diameter to Age

Benedict, James B.

doi:10.2307/1551520

Cited by 43 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…For example, Silene acaulis, a frequent neighbour of E. nanum, can live up to hundred years (Benedict 1989). In comparison, the maximum life span of E. nanum as revealed by our investigations (35-40 years), appears rather short.…”

Section: Cushion Composition and Root Systemcontrasting

confidence: 52%

Composed cushions and coexistence with neighbouring species promoting the persistence of Eritrichium nanum in high alpine vegetation

Lenzin¹

2006

Bot. Helv.

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Zoller H. and Lenzin H. 2006. Composed cushions and coexistence with neighbouring species promoting the persistence of Eritrichium nanum in high alpine vegetation. Cushions of high alpine plants may consist of several individuals, either of the same or of different species (composed cushions). To clarify the role of this coexistence for the life history of alpine plants, cushions of Eritrichium nanum (Boraginaceae) were investigated at 17 sites (2170-3320 m a.s.l.) distributed over the European Alps. We determined the age structure of large cushions using herbchronology, described their root systems, and recorded how frequently E. nanum directly coexists with other plant species. The maximum age of individual plants was 35-40 years, but cushions contained up to 25 individuals, including seedlings and juveniles, which suggests that composed cushions can become much older than individual plants. Unlike other cushion plants, E. nanum does not develop adventitious roots to take up nutrients trapped in the interior of cushions. Its root system consists of a primary axis bearing plenty of fine rootlets, two to four tap roots, and long plagiotropic side roots, which explore a large soil area and allow the effective exploitation of nutrients from humus-rich patches. About half of the surveyed plants grew individually on open soil, while the rest lived in close contact to other plants of the same or different species. When it coexisted with other species, E. nanum either acted as an epistratum, overgrowing dense cushion plants (63.5% of the contacts), or as a hypostratum, being overgrown by graminoids such as Festuca halleri. We conclude that at altitudes above 2500 m, E. nanum mainly profits from its coexistence with other species, which together with the joining of individuals into composed cushion seems to improve recruitment success and the persistence of stable populations.

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Section: Cushion Composition and Root Systemcontrasting

confidence: 52%

Composed cushions and coexistence with neighbouring species promoting the persistence of Eritrichium nanum in high alpine vegetation

Lenzin¹

2006

Bot. Helv.

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“…In the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, S. acaulis has a maximum radial growth rate of 10-15 mm year -1 , but juvenile plants have slower rates (Benedict 1989). The arctic cushion plant Diapensia lapponica shows a mean radial growth rate of only 0.6 mm year -1 (Molau 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microsite requirements, population structure and growth of the cushion plant Azorella compacta in the tropical Chilean Andes

Kleier

Rundel²

2004

Austral Ecology

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In the altiplano of northern Chile, we investigated the microsite habitats, adult population structure and growth rates over 14 months for the giant cushion plant Azorella compacta . The majority of plants (52.0%) were found growing downslope of large (>50 cm diameter) boulders and on north-facing rocky slopes with a slope angle greater than 10 Њ inclination (44.4%). Size was used as a surrogate for age. The youngest size class was most common; remaining size classes were roughly equal in frequency; but very large cushions were scarce. Growth rates were expressed as height, diameter and perimeter over a 14-month period. Height increased an average of 1.40 cm, perimeter increased an average of 10.28 cm and diameters actually decreased 2.30 cm, although this was not a significant difference. Using perimeter averages based on mean plant size, we estimated a radial growth rate of 1.70 cm per 14 months. Trenches 4 cm wide were cut over the length of five plants, and these trenches were nearly repaired after 1 year, indicating that growth is overall and not just on the perimeter of the plant. These findings indicate that although Azorella compacta populations may be recovering from past exploitation, future monitoring is still necessary to ensure viable populations.

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“…In the case of Silene, we selected fully healthy cushions with a diameter comprised between 35 and 40 cm. According to Benedict (1989) and McCarthy (1992), cushions of S. acaulis have a growth rate ranging from 0.06 to 3 cm yr À1 , even though the maximum rate of 2e3 cm yr À1 is reached in the intermediate part of their life, which can attain 350 years (Beschel, 1958). Because of this, we estimated the age of the selected cushions to be more than 50 years.…”

Section: Soil Sampling and Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rhizosphere effect of three plant species of environment under periglacial conditions (Majella Massif, central Italy)

Massaccesi

Benucci

Gigliotti

et al. 2015

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

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Use of Silene acaulis for Dating: The Relationship of Cushion Diameter to Age

Cited by 43 publications

References 14 publications

Composed cushions and coexistence with neighbouring species promoting the persistence of Eritrichium nanum in high alpine vegetation

Composed cushions and coexistence with neighbouring species promoting the persistence of Eritrichium nanum in high alpine vegetation

Microsite requirements, population structure and growth of the cushion plant Azorella compacta in the tropical Chilean Andes

Rhizosphere effect of three plant species of environment under periglacial conditions (Majella Massif, central Italy)

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