Can the Riparian Invader, Arundo Donax, Benefit
DOI: 10.1111/wre.12036 Can the riparian invader, Arundo donax, benefit from clonal integration? L KUI*†, F LI*, G MOORE* & J WEST* *Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA, and †College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY, USA Received 30 April 2013 Revised version accepted 3 June 2013 Subject Editor: Francesco Tei, Perugia, Italy objective was to determine whether clonal integration Summary enhanced growth and survival of A. donax ramets. We Resource sharing through rhizomes of clonal plants compared growth-related responses in paired 1 m2 supplements locally available nutrients to enhance plots with severed and intact rhizomes. In the first recruitment and growth in resource-limited environ- 19 days, rhizome severing nearly doubled ramet ments. We investigated whether Arundo donax,an density, while by 77 days, the intact rhizomes pro- invasive clonal plant, can benefit from clonal integra- duced 67% taller stems with 49% greater diameter tion. Sharing resources between ramets can facilitate and showed higher survival rate after flooding. This resprouting from mowing, fire and herbicide treat- study provides initial evidence that physiological inte- ments, but it is unknown whether clonal integration gration could be an important mechanism in A. donax, contributes to A. donax invasion success. Our first which can enhance its competitive abilities, accelerate objective was to determine whether A. donax rhizomes rates of encroachment and strengthen its capability to transported water between ramets. Hydrogen isotopic– recolonise disturbed areas. Our results highlight an enriched water was applied on three 1 m diameter important consideration of clonal invasive species in areas, and rhizome and soil samples were collected weed management.
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