Clonal plasticity of aquatic plant species submitted to mechanical stress: Escape versus resistance strategy

Sara Puijalon*, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Jan Van Groenendael, Gudrun Bornette

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

• Background and Aims: The plastic alterations of clonal architecture are likely to have functional consequences, as they affect the spatial distribution of ramets over patchy environments. However, little is known about the effect of mechanical stresses on the clonal growth. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clonal plasticity induced by mechanical stress consisting of continuous water current encountered by aquatic plants. More particularly, the aim was to test the capacity of the plants to escape this stress through clonal plastic responses. • Methods: The transplantation of ramets of the same clone in two contrasting flow velocity conditions was carried out for two species (Potamogeton coloratus and Mentha aquatica) which have contrasting clonal growth forms. Relative allocation to clonal growth, to creeping stems in the clonal biomass, number and total length of creeping stems, spacer length and main creeping stem direction were measured. • Key Results: For P. coloratus, plants exposed to water current displayed increased total length of creeping stems, increased relative allocation to creeping stems within the clonal dry mass and increased spacer length. For M. aquatica, plants exposed to current displayed increased number and total length of creeping stems. Exposure to current induced for both species a significant increase of the proportion of creeping stems in the downstream direction to the detriment of creeping stems perpendicular to flow. • Conclusions: This study demonstrates that mechanical stress from current flow induced plastic variation in clonal traits for both species. The responses of P. coloratus could lead to an escape strategy, with low benefits with respect to sheltering and anchorage. The responses of M. aquatica that may result in a denser canopy and enhancement of anchorage efficiency could lead to a resistance strategy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)989-996
Number of pages8
JournalAnnals of Botany
Volume102
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2008
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank P. Robinot (Poissons Sauvages Production) for providing the experimental canal and D. Reynaud and E. Malet for technical assistance. This study was partly funded by the ‘Cluster Environnement’ of the Rhône-Alpes Region and was carried out under the aegis of the long-term ecological

Funding

We thank P. Robinot (Poissons Sauvages Production) for providing the experimental canal and D. Reynaud and E. Malet for technical assistance. This study was partly funded by the ‘Cluster Environnement’ of the Rhône-Alpes Region and was carried out under the aegis of the long-term ecological

Keywords

  • Clonal architecture
  • Clonality
  • Escape
  • Mechanical stress
  • Mentha aquatica
  • Morphology
  • Phenotypic plasticity
  • Potamogeton coloratus
  • Resistance
  • Submerged aquatic vegetation
  • Thigmomorphogenesis

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