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Spatial Heterogeneity in Light Supply Affects Intraspecific Competition of a Stoloniferous Clonal Plant

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  • Pu Wang
  • Jing-Pin Lei
  • Mai-He Li
  • Fei-Hai Yu

Abstract

Spatial heterogeneity in light supply is common in nature. Many studies have examined the effects of heterogeneous light supply on growth, morphology, physiology and biomass allocation of clonal plants, but few have tested those effects on intraspecific competition. In a greenhouse experiment, we grew one (no competition) or nine ramets (with intraspecific competition) of a stoloniferous clonal plant, Duchesnea indica, in three homogeneous light conditions (high, medium and low light intensity) and two heterogeneous ones differing in patch size (large and small patch treatments). The total light in the two heterogeneous treatments was the same as that in the homogeneous medium light treatment. Both decreasing light intensity and intraspecific competition significantly decreased the growth (biomass, number of ramets and total stolon length) of D. indica. As compared with the homogeneous medium light treatment, the large patch treatment significantly increased the growth of D. indica without intraspecific competition. However, the growth of D. indica with competition did not differ among the homogeneous medium light, the large and the small patch treatments. Consequently, light heterogeneity significantly increased intraspecific competition intensity, as measured by the decreased log response ratio. These results suggest that spatial heterogeneity in light supply can alter intraspecific interactions of clonal plants.

Suggested Citation

  • Pu Wang & Jing-Pin Lei & Mai-He Li & Fei-Hai Yu, 2012. "Spatial Heterogeneity in Light Supply Affects Intraspecific Competition of a Stoloniferous Clonal Plant," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(6), pages 1-6, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0039105
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039105
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhengwen Wang & Yuanheng Li & Heinjo J During & Linghao Li, 2011. "Do Clonal Plants Show Greater Division of Labour Morphologically and Physiologically at Higher Patch Contrasts?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(9), pages 1-11, September.
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    1. Jennifer Born & Stefan G Michalski, 2019. "Trait expression and signatures of adaptation in response to nitrogen addition in the common wetland plant Juncus effusus," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, January.

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