Utilisation of Spatiotemporal Gaps in Meadows by Different Types of Clonal Growth

Oulu

Department of Biology University of Oulu

2003

S. 37

Artikel aus einem BuchUnselbständiges Werk

200120840

7th Clonal Plant Workshop, 1st-5th August 2002, Kuusamo, Finland, 37, Oulu, S. 37

Severe loss of biomass by cutting is the main driving force in athropogenous meadows of the temperate zone. Meadow plants show rather different adaptive potentials in reacting against this main factor of disturbance. Few species utilize temporal niches by annual growth and fruiting before cutting date (Thinanthus). Many (long living perennials do not depend on annual fruiting because they are able to regenerate vegetatively by activating lateral meristems (sympodial innovation systems) for reiteration of regular shoots (Festuca). Some other species show continuous vegetative growth at the top of the shoots and fructification on short living lateral shoots (monopodial innovation systems, Potentilla alba). Sympodially innovating clonal species multipoly by producing more than one innovation shoot at one regeneration cycle (Festuca rubra). Plants of monopodial innovation type show no or scarce multiplication like Plantago media, or produce lateral meristems with different functions: generative lateral shoots that terminate with inflorescences and vegetative lateral shoots (or buds) that have the potential to duplicate the mother shoot (Potentilla alba, Geum rivale). Rarely meadow ploants show regular but not necessarily annual regeneration by root suckers (Gentianopsis ciliata, Ajuga genevensis). Architectural concepts of clonal meadow plants may be classified non-hierarchically (see Klimes & Klimesova) or hierarchically by regularities of shoot (re)growth, leaf positioning and duration, and the development of root systems (Kästner & Karrer). Both classifications serve quite well for the description of spatiotemporal niches in anthropogenous meadows.