| 1. |
- Bienau, Miriam J, et al.
(författare)
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Clonality increases with snow depth in the arctic dwarf shrub Empetrum hermaphroditum.
- 2016
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Ingår i: American Journal of Botany. - : Botanical Society Of America. - 0002-9122 .- 1537-2197. ; 103:12, s. 2105-2114
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Vegetative reproduction and spread through clonal growth plays an important role in arctic-alpine ecosystems with short cool growing seasons. Local variation in winter snow accumulation leads to discrete habitat types that may provide divergent conditions for sexual and vegetative reproduction. Therefore, we studied variation in clonal structure of a dominant, evergreen, dwarf shrub (Empetrum nigrum s.l. with the two taxa E. nigrum L. s.s. and E. hermaphroditum Hagerup) along a snow cover gradient and compared clonal diversity and spatial genetic structure between habitats.METHODS: We studied 374 individual shoots using 105 polymorphic AFLP markers and analyses based on hierarchical clustering, clonal diversity indices, and small-scale spatial genetic structure with pairwise kinship coefficient. We used two approaches to define a threshold of genotypic distance between two samples that are considered the same clone. Clonality was examined among three habitats (exposed ridges, sheltered depressions, birch forest) differing in snow conditions replicated in four study regions in Norway and Sweden.KEY RESULTS: Clonality of E. hermaphroditum differed between habitats with an increase in clonal diversity with decreasing snow depth. Small-scale spatial genetic structure increased with decreasing clonal diversity and increasing clone size. In three study regions, E. hermaphroditum was the only species, whereas in one region E. nigrum also occurred, largely confined to exposed ridges.CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that snow cover in conjunction with associated habitat conditions plays an important role for the mode of propagation of the dwarf shrub E. hermaphroditum.
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| 2. |
- Bienau, Miriam J., et al.
(författare)
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Snow cover consistently affects growth and reproduction of Empetrum hermaphroditum across latitudinal and local climatic gradients
- 2014
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Ingår i: Alpine Botany. - : Springer. - 1664-2201 .- 1664-221X. ; 124:2, s. 115-129
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Arctic ecosystems face strong changes in snow conditions due to global warming. In contrast to habitat specialists, species occupying a wide range of microhabitats under different snow conditions may better cope with such changes. We studied how growth and reproduction of the dominant dwarf shrub Empetrum hermaphroditum varied among three habitat types differing in winter snow depth and summer irradiation, and whether the observed patterns were consistent along a local climatic gradient (sub-continental vs. sub-oceanic climates) and along a latitudinal gradient (northern Sweden vs. central Norway). Habitat type explained most of the variation in growth and reproduction. Shoots from shallow snow cover and high summer irradiation habitats had higher numbers of flowers and fruits, lower ramet heights, shorter shoot segments, lower numbers of lateral shoots and total biomass but higher leaf density and higher relative leaf allocation than shoots from habitats with higher snow depth and lower summer irradiation. In addition, biomass, leaf allocation and leaf life expectancy were strongly affected by latitude, whereas local climate had strong effects on seed number and seed mass. Empetrum showed high phenotypic trait variation, with a consistent match between local habitat conditions and its growth and reproduction. Although study areas varied strongly with respect to latitude and local climatic conditions, response patterns of growth and reproduction to habitats with different environmental conditions were consistent. Large elasticity of traits suggests that Empetrum may have the potential to cope with changing snow conditions expected in the course of climate change.
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| 3. |
- Bienau, Miriam J., et al.
(författare)
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Synchronous flowering despite differences in snowmelt timing among habitats of Empetrum hermaphroditum
- 2015
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Ingår i: Acta Oecologica. - : Elsevier BV. - 1146-609X .- 1873-6238. ; 69, s. 129-136
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The topography within arctic-alpine landscapes is very heterogeneous, resulting in diverse snow distribution patterns, with different snowmelt timing in spring. This may influence the phenological development of arctic and alpine plant species and asynchronous flowering may promote adaptation of plants to their local environments. We studied how flowering phenology of the dominant dwarf shrub Empetrum hermaphroditum varied among three habitats (exposed ridges, sheltered depressions and birch forest) differing in winter snow depth and thus snowmelt timing in spring, and whether the observed patterns were consistent across three different study areas. Despite significant differences in snowmelt timing between habitats, full flowering of E. hermaphroditum was nearly synchronous between the habitats, and implies a high flowering overlap. Our data show that exposed ridges, which had a long lag phase between snowmelt and flowering, experienced different temperature and light conditions than the two late melting habitats between snowmelt and flowering. Our study demonstrates that small scale variation seems matter less to flowering of Empetrum than interannual differences in snowmelt timing.
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| 4. |
- Blomqvist, Elin L., et al.
(författare)
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The effects of dry heat and steam on germination of dry and imbibed seeds of the invasive garden lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.)
- 2024
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Ingår i: Invasive Plant Science and Management. - : Cambridge University Press. - 1939-7291 .- 1939-747X.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Regularly mown road verges are an important habitat for conservation of grassland vegetation. Disturbance and movement of seed-contaminated soil during road construction and maintenance makes road verges susceptible to the establishment of invasive alien plants such as garden lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.). To combat spread of L. polyphyllus via seeds, we tested methods for seed destruction using heat. This study aimed at developing heat eradication methods for dry and imbibed L. polyphyllus seeds applying dry heat (88, 93, 98, 103 C at 1, 3, 5, 10 min) in a laboratory, steam (85, 90, 95 C at 3, 5, 10 min) in a test-box steaming device and (97 C at 10-17 min; dry seeds only) in a stationary soil-steaming machine (S30). In order to speed up water absorption and post-treatment germination, the imbibed seeds were manually scarified before the heat treatment and the dry seeds afterwards. Additionally, germination of two different age seed batches was tested applying dry heat (88, 98 C at 3, 5 min). The results showed that steam treatments inhibited seed germination more than dry heat in both dry and imbibed seeds. Germination dropped to < 5% when steamed at ≥ 90 C or dry-heated at > 100 C. Seed germination decreased with higher temperatures and longer exposure times. Imbibed seeds exhibited lower germination compared to dry seeds for dry and steam heat. Approximately 0.5% of dry seeds germinated when steamed using S30. 2022-collected seeds were less sensitive to dry heat th an seeds from 2020. In conclusion, hot steam is more effective in reducing L. polyphyllus seed germination than dry heat. Thus, to successfully eradicate L. polyphyllus seeds in soil masses, we recommend steaming them at 97 C for at least 10 minutes.
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| 5. |
- Burmeier, Sandra, et al.
(författare)
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Desiccation cracks act as natural seed traps in flood-meadow systems
- 2010
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Ingår i: Plant and Soil. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0032-079X .- 1573-5036. ; 333:1-2, s. 351-364
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Desiccation cracks are a natural phenomenon of clay-rich soils that form via soil shrinkage during dry conditions. Our aim was to test the seed trapping potential of such cracks and assess its impact on seed bank formation in a flood-meadow ecosystem. We documented crack patterns on permanent plots and analysed the soil seed content along and adjacent to cracks. Seed translocation via cracks was tested with a mark-recapture experiment, and post-entrapment seed fate was tested with a burial experiment. Most cracks re-opened in the same positions in consecutive dry periods. Along cracks, most seeds were found in 10-20 cm depth, whereas adjacent to cracks most seeds were found in 0-5 cm depth. The majority of seeds found in shallow depths adjacent to cracks belonged to species that were also present in the above-ground vegetation, whereas this rate was always under 50% along desiccation cracks. The mark-recapture experiment gave evidence for vertical seed translocation through desiccation cracks. Post-entrapment seed fate differed between species and burial depth, with a trend towards increasing survival with increasing depth. We conclude that desiccation cracks act as natural seed traps, foster seed bank formation and thus influence plant community dynamics in flood meadow systems.
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| 6. |
- Burmeier, Sandra, et al.
(författare)
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Plant Pattern Development during Early Post-Restoration Succession in Grasslands-A Case Study of Arabis nemorensis
- 2011
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Ingår i: Restoration Ecology. - 1061-2971 .- 1526-100X. ; 19:5, s. 648-659
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The main objective of this study was to analyze whether plant material transfer is a suitable approach for establishing plant populations with spatial patterns and population structures resembling those of remnant populations. We studied pattern formation and population characteristics in three remnant and two restored populations of the biennial plant species Arabis nemorensis in the upper Rhine valley in southwestern Germany over a period of 2 years. We investigated spatial patterns of seedlings, juveniles, and adults as well as the small-scale horizontal and vertical distribution of seeds in the soil, followed the fate of individual plants and recorded structural habitat parameters such as vegetation and litter cover. Population dynamics differed between the study sites, but there was no pronounced difference between restored and remnant sites. Seedlings, juveniles, and adults as well as seeds in the seed bank showed aggregated spatial patterns on all study sites, with positive autocorrelation on a scale of 20-60 cm. Within sites, patterns remained approximately stable through time. Restored sites experienced rapid seed bank formation as a result of the restoration measures. Our results suggest that the restoration measures were not only successful in transferring the target species but also triggered rapid formation of spatially structured populations that, years after restoration, closely resembled those of remnant sites.
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| 7. |
- Burmeier, Sandra, et al.
(författare)
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Rapid burial has differential effects on germination and emergence of small- and large-seeded herbaceous plant species
- 2010
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Ingår i: Seed Science Research. - 0960-2585 .- 1475-2735. ; 20:3, s. 189-200
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dynamics of many plant populations essentially depend upon seed and seedling stages, and a persistent seed bank may give species an opportunity to disperse through time. Seed burial is a decisive prelude to persistence and may strongly influence seed-bank dynamics. The fate of buried seeds depends on species-specific traits, environmental conditions and possibly also burial mode. We tested seed germination, seedling emergence and growth of the co-occurring herbaceous flood-meadow species Arabis nemorensis, Galium wirtgenii, Inula salicina, Sanguisorba officinalis and Selinum carvifolia in response to the experimental manipulation of burial depth (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 cm) and substrate type (sand, clay). Increasing burial depth led to decreased germination, emergence and growth in all species studied, and seedling growth differed significantly between substrate types. The responses of species differed on an individual basis, but also showed a higher-ranking pattern based on seed size. Larger-seeded species were able to emerge from greater depths and experienced less depth-mediated growth inhibition than smaller-seeded species, which, in turn, had higher survival rates during burial and were less likely to experience fatal germination. Based on these results, we suggest that herbaceous flood-meadow species have developed two different seed-size based strategies for coping with the extreme recruitment conditions prevailing in flood meadows, the balance of which seems to be maintained by disturbance events.
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| 8. |
- Burmeier, Sandra, et al.
(författare)
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Spatially-restricted plant material application creates colonization initials for flood-meadow restoration
- 2011
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Ingår i: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3207 .- 1873-2917. ; 144:1, s. 212-219
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plant material transfer is a well-established technique for overcoming dispersal limitation during grassland restoration. As restoration sites are frequently more abundant than donor sites, the plant material is often applied as patches or strips, with the assumption that these will act as colonization initials from which transferred species will spread and eventually cover the entire sites. Our aim was to test this assumption and to evaluate whether it is feasible to restore entire sites by spatially-restricted plant material application in a flood-meadow ecosystem. We established transverse transects consisting of eight 2 x 2 m plots on five plant material strips 7-8 years after plant material application. We monitored the above-ground vegetation development, analyzed the seed rain and determined the composition of the soil seed bank, i.e. we compared three different components of the emerging flood-meadow community. Transferred species were present in all three community components studied, and 88.6% of the 79 species we found in total had already spread from the plant material strips and colonized their surroundings. Detected dispersal distances differed between community components, and the share of colonizers was highest for the above-ground vegetation and lowest for the soil seed bank. We conclude that plant material transfer is a suitable technique for restoring flood-meadows as transferred species not only establish on the sites supplied with plant material, but also colonize their surroundings. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- De Frenne, Pieter, et al.
(författare)
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Plant movements and climate warming : intraspecific variation in growth responses to nonlocal soils
- 2014
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Ingår i: New Phytologist. - : Wiley. - 0028-646X .- 1469-8137. ; 202:2, s. 431-441
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Most range shift predictions focus on the dispersal phase of the colonization process. Because moving populations experience increasingly dissimilar nonclimatic environmental conditions as they track climate warming, it is also critical to test how individuals originating from contrasting thermal environments can establish in nonlocal sites. We assess the intraspecific variation in growth responses to nonlocal soils by planting a widespread grass of deciduous forests (Milium effusum) into an experimental common garden using combinations of seeds and soil sampled in 22 sites across its distributional range, and reflecting movement scenarios of up to 1600km. Furthermore, to determine temperature and forest-structural effects, the plants and soils were experimentally warmed and shaded. We found significantly positive effects of the difference between the temperature of the sites of seed and soil collection on growth and seedling emergence rates. Migrant plants might thus encounter increasingly favourable soil conditions while tracking the isotherms towards currently colder' soils. These effects persisted under experimental warming. Rising temperatures and light availability generally enhanced plant performance. Our results suggest that abiotic and biotic soil characteristics can shape climate change-driven plant movements by affecting growth of nonlocal migrants, a mechanism which should be integrated into predictions of future range shifts.
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| 10. |
- Donath, Tobias W., et al.
(författare)
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Effects of bryophytes and grass litter on seedling emergence vary by vertical seed position and seed size
- 2010
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Ingår i: Plant Ecology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1385-0237 .- 1573-5052. ; 207:2, s. 257-268
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Establishment of plants through seeds is often constrained by the quality of microsites, which is in part controlled by the nature and amount of ground cover. The latter consists of living shoots of vascular plants or bryophytes and/or the dead remains of the dominant species. In the present article, we report the results of a controlled pot experiment with five species characteristic of floodplain grasslands. We manipulated the amounts of grass litter and/or mosses to study (1) differences between ground cover types with respect to their effects on microenvironment and seedling emergence and (2) how these effects interact with seed size and seed sowing position. Increasing amounts of both cover types led to increasing soil humidity, whereas temperature amplitude and illumination were decreased. However, since grass litter decomposed much faster than bryophytes, light conditions for germination under grass litter improved considerably with time. Although seedling emergence varied significantly between species, ground cover types and cover amounts, seed position alone explained about 50% of the variation in the data set. Additionally, we found an important interaction between seed size, seed position and cover type: large-seeded species showed a fitness advantage when seeds were situated beneath a cover, irrespective of cover type, which disappeared when seeds were shed on top of a cover layer. We suggest that this interaction may be ecologically and evolutionarily relevant because it may lead to changes in species composition and diversity of plant communities as a consequence of changes in the amount and type of ground cover.
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