The Amelioration of Grazing through Physiological Integration by a Clonal Dune Plant
Rhizomatous growth and associated physiological integration can allow a clonal dune species to potentially compensate for the selective removal of leaves associated with herbivory. <i>Hydrocotyle bonariensis</i> is a rhizomatous clonal plant species that is abundant in the coastal dune e...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/4/724 |
| _version_ | 1797618570256973824 |
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| author | Jonathan P. Evans Shelby Meckstroth Julie Garai |
| author_facet | Jonathan P. Evans Shelby Meckstroth Julie Garai |
| author_sort | Jonathan P. Evans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rhizomatous growth and associated physiological integration can allow a clonal dune species to potentially compensate for the selective removal of leaves associated with herbivory. <i>Hydrocotyle bonariensis</i> is a rhizomatous clonal plant species that is abundant in the coastal dune environments of the southeastern United States that are inhabited by large feral horse populations. <i>H. bonariensis</i> has been shown to integrate resources among ramets within extensive clones as an adaptation to resource heterogeneity in sandy soils. In this study, we hypothesized that clonal integration is a mechanism that promotes <i>H. bonariensis</i> persistence in these communities, despite high levels of herbivory by feral horses. In a field experiment, we used exclosures to test for herbivory in <i>H. bonariensis</i> over a four-month period. We found that feral horses utilized <i>H. bonariensis</i> as a food species, and that while grazing will suppress clonal biomass, <i>H. bonariensis</i> is able to maintain populations in a high grazing regime with and without competition present. We then conducted an experiment in which portions of <i>H. bonariensis</i> clones were clipped to simulate different levels of grazing. Half of the clones were severed to eliminate the possibility of integration. We found that after 12 weeks, the mean number of leaves and ramets increased as the grazing level increased, for integrated clones. Integrated clones had significantly increased biomass production compared to the severed equivalents. Our research suggests that rhizomatous growth and physiological integration are traits that allow clonal plant species to maintain populations and to tolerate grazing in coastal dune environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:15:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0daf03c2dcdc416aaa0d809be5d1ca5d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:15:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-0daf03c2dcdc416aaa0d809be5d1ca5d2023-11-16T22:46:37ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-02-0112472410.3390/plants12040724The Amelioration of Grazing through Physiological Integration by a Clonal Dune PlantJonathan P. Evans0Shelby Meckstroth1Julie Garai2Department of Biology, University of the South, Sewanee, TN 37383, USADepartment of Biology, University of the South, Sewanee, TN 37383, USADepartment of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of the South, Sewanee, TN 37383, USARhizomatous growth and associated physiological integration can allow a clonal dune species to potentially compensate for the selective removal of leaves associated with herbivory. <i>Hydrocotyle bonariensis</i> is a rhizomatous clonal plant species that is abundant in the coastal dune environments of the southeastern United States that are inhabited by large feral horse populations. <i>H. bonariensis</i> has been shown to integrate resources among ramets within extensive clones as an adaptation to resource heterogeneity in sandy soils. In this study, we hypothesized that clonal integration is a mechanism that promotes <i>H. bonariensis</i> persistence in these communities, despite high levels of herbivory by feral horses. In a field experiment, we used exclosures to test for herbivory in <i>H. bonariensis</i> over a four-month period. We found that feral horses utilized <i>H. bonariensis</i> as a food species, and that while grazing will suppress clonal biomass, <i>H. bonariensis</i> is able to maintain populations in a high grazing regime with and without competition present. We then conducted an experiment in which portions of <i>H. bonariensis</i> clones were clipped to simulate different levels of grazing. Half of the clones were severed to eliminate the possibility of integration. We found that after 12 weeks, the mean number of leaves and ramets increased as the grazing level increased, for integrated clones. Integrated clones had significantly increased biomass production compared to the severed equivalents. Our research suggests that rhizomatous growth and physiological integration are traits that allow clonal plant species to maintain populations and to tolerate grazing in coastal dune environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/4/724<i>Hydrocotyle bonariensis</i>coastal dunesferal horsesclonal integrationrhizomedefoliation |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan P. Evans Shelby Meckstroth Julie Garai The Amelioration of Grazing through Physiological Integration by a Clonal Dune Plant Plants <i>Hydrocotyle bonariensis</i> coastal dunes feral horses clonal integration rhizome defoliation |
| title | The Amelioration of Grazing through Physiological Integration by a Clonal Dune Plant |
| title_full | The Amelioration of Grazing through Physiological Integration by a Clonal Dune Plant |
| title_fullStr | The Amelioration of Grazing through Physiological Integration by a Clonal Dune Plant |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Amelioration of Grazing through Physiological Integration by a Clonal Dune Plant |
| title_short | The Amelioration of Grazing through Physiological Integration by a Clonal Dune Plant |
| title_sort | amelioration of grazing through physiological integration by a clonal dune plant |
| topic | <i>Hydrocotyle bonariensis</i> coastal dunes feral horses clonal integration rhizome defoliation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/4/724 |
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