Plant clonal growth – ecological implications


Wednesday, August 9, 1:30-5 pm, 2006
Ecological Society of America 91st Annual Meeting, Memphis
Official Site

Organizers: Scott Franklin, Vladimir Douhovnikoff, Paul Gagnon

The capacity for clonal growth is widespread in the plant kingdom and predominant in many ecosystems. For example, perhaps 80% of understory flora in eastern deciduous forests have the capacity to produce independent shoots genetically identical to the parent. Numerous trees and shrubs are also recognized as clonal including aspen, coast redwood, and some of North America 's most aggressive invasive species (e.g., Ailanthus ). Aspects of clonal growth include: 1) modular and decentralized organization of the plant body; 2) architectural plasticity and plant mobility; 3) resource and information sharing between plant ramets; and 4) exceptional genotype persistence and genetic representation. Despite the profound ecological and evolutionary implications, the extent of clonality remains largely understudied, particularly in woody plants. Research in the field is thus far limited in the United States and is predominantly found in the international literature. This symposium brings together established experts (icons) and younger researchers (upstarts) with two goals: 1) to review the ecological implications of clonal growth; and 2) to compare the better-studied herbaceous clonal systems (icons) with more recently studied woody clonal systems (upstarts).

List of Speakers:

1. DOUHOVNIKOFF, V. Simmons College.

The importance of clonal growth in woody plants – insights from molecular genetics.

ABSTRACT- Despite the potential importance of clonal growth in woody plants surprisingly few clonal studies have focused on trees. In fact, most research involving woody plant population dynamics has focused exclusively on sexual reproduction.(full abstract...)

2. DONG, M. Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Clonal integration as an evolutionary strategy for surviving disturbance.

ABSTRACT- Ramets of clonal plants may be physically connected to one another, allowing matter exchange among ramets (clonal integration).(full abstract...)

3. HUTCHINGS, M. University of Sussex.

Resource sharing and foraging behavior in plants amidst spatial and temporal patchiness.

ABSTRACT-Although all natural environments are spatially and temporally patchy at scales relevant to plants, until recently, few ecologists apart from those studying clonal species have examined the responses of plants to heterogeneous growing conditions. (full abstract...)

4. WATSON, M. Indiana University.

Rhizomes as mediators of clone behavior: insights from the study of mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum.

ABSTRACT-The rhizomes and stolons of clonal plants serve as spacers between ramets and as avenues of resource transport. (full abstract...)

5. DUVAL, W. University of Georgia.

Integration in a Clonal Woody Shrub: Responding to Change.

ABSTRACT-The integration of clonal woody plants can be an important aspect of their asexual growth. (full abstract...)

6. ALPERT, P. University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The community ecology of clonal growth.

ABSTRACT-Clonal growth, the production of vegetative offspring that remain attached to the parent during establishment, confers a number of special ecological properties on plant species(full abstract...)

7. GOUGH, L. University of Texas – Arlington.

The role of clonal plant growth form in community response to environmental change.

ABSTRACT-Many of the herbaceous ecosystems in which environmental change has been well studied, such as grasslands, wetlands, and tundra, are dominated by clonal, perennial plants. (full abstract...)

8. BOND, W.J. University of Cape Town.

Strategies for woody plant survival in savannas.

ABSTRACT-Clonal woody plants include some of the oldest living organisms. (full abstract...)

9. GAGNON, P.R. Louisiana State University.

Razing cane: multiple disturbances and demographic modeling of ramet populations in a woody bamboo.

ABSTRACT-Bamboos are giant forest grasses that epitomize vigorous clonal growth in response to disturbance. (full abstract...)

10. PETERSON, C.J. University of Georgia.

Stasis and invasion in our understanding of clonal woody plant ecology: the herbs are far ahead.

ABSTRACT-This presentation is a synthesis of the preceeding contributions to the symposium "Plant Clonal Growth - Ecological Implications".(full abstract...)

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