Abstract
A special type of clonal growth, spread by lateral roots, ishypothesized to be a favourable trait of invasive, opportunistic plant speciesof disturbed habitats. We tested this hypothesis for the invasive forbRorippa austriaca (Brassicaceae). Regenerationfrom root fragments, subsequent vegetative spread and allocation patterns inrelation to varied nutrient supply and intensity and pattern of interspecificcompetition were analyzed in container experiments. Regeneration success fromroot fragments was 100% and clonal spread was rapid but vegetativeperformance was strongly reduced under unfertilized conditions and,particularly, when interspecific competition was present. While the ratio ofabove- to belowground bio-mass did not differ considerably betweentreatments, R. austriaca allocated a high amount ofresources to belowground growth resulting in low aboveground but highbelowground biomass at harvest time relative to the matrix vegetation.Differences in shoot number or biomass between simulated gaps and denselyvegetated quadrants in the containers were (relatively) weak.Reproductive effort was less reduced under low resource levels, and the clonesdid not set seed at all, irrespective of the treatment. Our results show thatclonal growth by lateral roots and plasticity in clonal growth patterns inR. austriaca promote both exploitation of gaps andnutrient-rich microsites and resistance to competitors. Such plasticity,combined with its ability to regenerate from widely-dispersed rootfragments, contribute to the ability of the species to invade and persistwithindisturbed and spatially heterogeneous habitats.
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Dietz, H., Köhler, A. & Ullmann, I. Regeneration growth of the invasive clonal forb Rorippa austriaca (Brassicaceae) in relation to fertilization and interspecific competition. Plant Ecology 158, 171–182 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015567316004
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015567316004