Hierarchical reproductive allocation and allometry within a perennial bunchgrass after 11 years of nutrient addition.

ABSTRACT: Bunchgrasses are one of the most important plant functional groups in grassland ecosystems. Reproductive allocation (RA) for a bunchgrass is a hierarchical process; however, how bunchgrasses adjust their RAs along hierarchical levels in response to nutrient addition has never been addressed. Here, utilizing an 11-year nutrient addition experiment, we examined the patterns and variations in RA of Agropyron cristatum at the individual, tiller and spike levels. We evaluated the reproductive allometric relationship at each level by type II regression analysis to determine size-dependent and size-independent effects on plant RA variations. Our results indicate that the proportion of reproductive individuals in A. cristatum increased significantly after 11 years of nutrient addition. Adjustments

SUBMITTER: Tian D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3439474 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature