Experimental ecology of Dryas octopetala ecotypes: relative response to competitors

• Published in: The New phytologist 1985-06, Vol.100 (2), p.233-241
• Main Author: McGraw, J.B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agroecology; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Competition; Demecology; Dryas octopetala; Ecological competition; ecotypes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Leaves; Phytotrons; Plant competition; Plant growth; Plant roots; Plants; Plants and fungi; root competition; Rosaceae; shoot competition
• ISSN: 0028-646X; 1469-8137
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1985.tb02775.x

A competition experiment was performed to determine the relative competitive abilities of fellfield and snowbed ecotypes of Dryas octopetala L. under conditions of high nutrients, high light, and high water availability. Pots were designed to allow the effects of root competition and shoot competition to be assessed separately. The large-leaved snowbed ecotype responded positively to shoot competition, producing larger leaves and higher biomass than in control pots (no competition). Root competition resulted in a decrease in leaf size and an increase in root: shoot ratio, but no significant effect on shoot number or biomass accumulation. In contrast, the fellfield ecotype responded to shoot competition with an increase in root: shoot ratio, with no effect on biomass or shoot numbers. However, root competition caused a reduction in plant growth. Under growth chamber conditions of high resource availability, the snowbed ecotype is the superior competitor, probably due to ecotypic differences in both root and shoot characteristics.