Differences in plant-size structure and biomass allocation in plants between exposed and shaded Plantago asiatica populations at a mid-elevated habitat in the cool-temperate region of Japan

Plantago asiatica L. (Plantaginaceae) is a perennial herb that is distributed over a wide range of habitats from exposed to shaded sites in lowlands to the subalpine zone in Japan. We investigated the patterns of biomass allocation and population structures based on the frequency distribution of ind...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant species biology 2005-04, Vol.20 (1), p.47-56
Main Authors: Yashi, T.K, Okamoto, K, Kanazawa, Y, Hori, Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
altitude
dry matter accumulation
habitats
herbaceous plants
leaves
life history
plant architecture
Plantaginaceae
Plantago asiatica
population dynamics
regeneration
reproduction
resource allocation
rhizomes
seed productivity
seedlings
shade
storage
tolerance
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Summary:Plantago asiatica L. (Plantaginaceae) is a perennial herb that is distributed over a wide range of habitats from exposed to shaded sites in lowlands to the subalpine zone in Japan. We investigated the patterns of biomass allocation and population structures based on the frequency distribution of individual plants in order to clarify the extent of plasticity in significant life‐history traits and also population dynamics of this plantain species, which occurs under two contrasting light regimes—in exposed and shaded habitats—at Numappara, 1230 m a.s.l., Tochigi Prefecture, central Honshu. The plants at the shaded site allocated more biomass to leaves, but less to rhizomes than those at the exposed site. Increasing the biomass of the reproductive organs resulted in a reduction of the leaf and rhizome fractions. This trend is clearer in the shaded plants than in the exposed plants. In both exposed and shaded populations, the number of seedlings was greater in the first year, but the population structure was skewed more negatively in the second year during two consecutive study years. The possible effects of allocation traits of individuals on the population structures and regeneration mechanisms of P. asiatica at elevated habitats are discussed in terms of cyclic changes in population structure with the fluctuations of seeding activity over some years.
ISSN:0913-557X
1442-1984
DOI:10.1111/j.1442-1984.2005.00123.x