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Parental effects driven by resource provisioning in Alternanthera philoxeroides-A simulation case study
Lan-Hui Wang1, Jing Si1,2, Fang-Li Luo3,4
1School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|September 26, 2022
Summary
Parental nitrogen conditions significantly impact aquatic clonal plants like Alternanthera philoxeroides. These parental effects are strongest early in offspring development and depend on offspring nitrogen availability and survival.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Plant Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Parental environmental effects are crucial for clonal plants adapting to changing conditions.
- Quantitative data on parental effects in aquatic clonal plants remain limited.
- Understanding these effects is key to predicting plant population dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively assess parental nitrogen effects on Alternanthera philoxeroides offspring performance.
- To investigate the influence of offspring survival and developmental stage on parental effects.
- To develop a growth model for analyzing parental environmental influences in aquatic plants.
Main Methods:
- A two-generation (parent-offspring) growth model was employed.
- Nitrogen (N) conditions were manipulated for parent and offspring generations.
- Offspring performance (summed and mean) and survival were monitored.
- Non-linear correlations and interaction effects were statistically analyzed.
Main Results:
- Parental plant performance non-linearly correlated with offspring initial status (mass, number).
- Parental nitrogen effects on summed offspring performance were content-dependent (interaction with offspring N).
- Parental effects on mean offspring performance were independent of offspring conditions.
- Parental effects were strongest in early development and diminished later.
- Context-dependent parental effects on summed performance strengthened with higher offspring survival.
Conclusions:
- Parental nitrogen conditions exert significant, context-dependent effects on aquatic clonal plants.
- Offspring developmental stage and survival status modulate the impact of parental effects.
- Mathematical models can elucidate the ecological significance of parental environmental effects in aquatic systems.
Keywords:
Alternanthera philoxeroidesclonal plantindividual and population scalesmathematical modelingparental N effectsMore Related Videos
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