Patterns of functional clonal traits and clonal growth modes in contrasting grasslands in the central Apennines, Italy

Aim: Patterns of plant functional traits related to clonality (clonal growth modes; CGM) in plant communities were studied and hypotheses on the importance of the selected traits in plant communities supported by soils differing in moisture and nutrient status were tested. Material and Methods: Sele...

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Main Authors: Halassy, M., Campetella, G., Canullo, R., Mucina, Ladislav
Format: Journal Article
Published: Opulus Press 2005
Online Access:10.1111/j.1654-1103.2005.tb02335.x
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23473
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author Halassy, M.
Campetella, G.
Canullo, R.
Mucina, Ladislav
author_facet Halassy, M.
Campetella, G.
Canullo, R.
Mucina, Ladislav
author_sort Halassy, M.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Aim: Patterns of plant functional traits related to clonality (clonal growth modes; CGM) in plant communities were studied and hypotheses on the importance of the selected traits in plant communities supported by soils differing in moisture and nutrient status were tested. Material and Methods: Selected plant functional traits, such as the position of the mother‐daughter plants connections, length of spacers, frequency of multiplication, persistency of ramets connections, presence of storage organs and bud protection were studied in two contrasting plant communities (xeric and mesic abandoned pastures) typical of central Apennines, Italy. Results and Discussion: Clonality was shown to be of great importance in both mesic and xeric grasslands. The major differences between the two communities were due to the dominant CGMs: turf graminoids (having effective protection of growth meristems in dense tussocks) dominated xeric grasslands, while rhizomatous graminoids (typical of competitive resource‐rich environments) dominated mesic grasslands. Below‐ground CGOs (clonal growth organs), shorter spacers, higher multiplication potential, permanent ramet connection, large bud bank and increased importance of bud protection were found to be of importance in water stressed xeric grassland. Contrary to our expectations, the mesic (less stressed) grasslands have the higher number of clonal plants possessing storage organs.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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last_indexed 2025-11-14T07:48:19Z
publishDate 2005
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-234732019-05-21T07:25:24Z Patterns of functional clonal traits and clonal growth modes in contrasting grasslands in the central Apennines, Italy Halassy, M. Campetella, G. Canullo, R. Mucina, Ladislav Aim: Patterns of plant functional traits related to clonality (clonal growth modes; CGM) in plant communities were studied and hypotheses on the importance of the selected traits in plant communities supported by soils differing in moisture and nutrient status were tested. Material and Methods: Selected plant functional traits, such as the position of the mother‐daughter plants connections, length of spacers, frequency of multiplication, persistency of ramets connections, presence of storage organs and bud protection were studied in two contrasting plant communities (xeric and mesic abandoned pastures) typical of central Apennines, Italy. Results and Discussion: Clonality was shown to be of great importance in both mesic and xeric grasslands. The major differences between the two communities were due to the dominant CGMs: turf graminoids (having effective protection of growth meristems in dense tussocks) dominated xeric grasslands, while rhizomatous graminoids (typical of competitive resource‐rich environments) dominated mesic grasslands. Below‐ground CGOs (clonal growth organs), shorter spacers, higher multiplication potential, permanent ramet connection, large bud bank and increased importance of bud protection were found to be of importance in water stressed xeric grassland. Contrary to our expectations, the mesic (less stressed) grasslands have the higher number of clonal plants possessing storage organs. 2005 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23473 10.1111/j.1654-1103.2005.tb02335.x Opulus Press restricted
spellingShingle Halassy, M.
Campetella, G.
Canullo, R.
Mucina, Ladislav
Patterns of functional clonal traits and clonal growth modes in contrasting grasslands in the central Apennines, Italy
title Patterns of functional clonal traits and clonal growth modes in contrasting grasslands in the central Apennines, Italy
title_full Patterns of functional clonal traits and clonal growth modes in contrasting grasslands in the central Apennines, Italy
title_fullStr Patterns of functional clonal traits and clonal growth modes in contrasting grasslands in the central Apennines, Italy
title_full_unstemmed Patterns of functional clonal traits and clonal growth modes in contrasting grasslands in the central Apennines, Italy
title_short Patterns of functional clonal traits and clonal growth modes in contrasting grasslands in the central Apennines, Italy
title_sort patterns of functional clonal traits and clonal growth modes in contrasting grasslands in the central apennines, italy
url 10.1111/j.1654-1103.2005.tb02335.x
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23473