Effect of local competition on resprouting of Arbutus unedo after clipping
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Abstract. To evaluate the effects of local competition on the growth and size variability of sprouts following disturbance in a natural population of Arbutus unedo in Catalonia, plants were cut at the base and a neighbor removal experiment was performed. Removal of neighbors resulted in an increase in the number and biomass of sprouts at 2 and 7.5 months after clipping. Number and biomass of sprouts was also correlated with initial plant size (stump area). Inter‐genet competition appeared to be symmetric, and acted to delay the onset of interference among sprouts within a genet. Size variability of sprouts on an individual was positively correlated with their density on the stump, supporting the hypothesis that competition among ramets (sprouts) within a genet is asymmetric. Reduced inter‐genet competition from neighbor removal resulted in an increase in the number and biomass of sprouts growing from a stump. This resulted in an increase in the asymmetry of competition among sprouts, and therefore an increase in the size variability of these sprouts. 1994 IAVS ‐ the International Association of Vegetation Science
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Vegetation Science |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 145-152 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISSN | 1100-9233 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1994 |
- Disturbance, Inter‐genet competition, Plant competition, Removal experiment, Size variability
Research areas
ID: 224649398