title: Heterogeneous water supply affects growth and benefits of clonal integration between co-existing invasive and native Hydrocotyle species.
abstract: Spatial patchiness and temporal variability in water availability are common in nature under global climate change, which can remarkably influence adaptive responses of clonal plants, i.e. clonal integration (translocating resources between connected ramets). However, little is known about the effects of spatial patchiness and temporal heterogeneity in water on growth and clonal integration between congeneric invasive and native Hydrocotyle species. In a greenhouse experiment, we subjected severed or no severed (intact) fragments of Hydrocotyle vulgaris, a highly invasive species in China, and its co-existing, native congener H. sibthorpioides to different spatial patchiness (homogeneous and patchy) and temporal interval (low and high interval) in water supply. Clonal integration had significant positive effects on growth of both species. In the homogeneous water conditions, clonal integration greatly improved the growth in fragments of both species under low interval in water. However, in the patchy water conditions, clonal integration significantly increased growth in both ramets and fragments of H. vulgaris under high interval in water. Therefore, spatial patchiness and temporal interval in water altered the effects of clonal integration of both species, especially for H. vulgaris. The adaptation of H. vulgaris might lead to invasive growth and potential spread under the global water variability.
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture &Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science &Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Yun-Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science &Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Qi
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science &Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science &Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Fang-Li
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D028041:Centella / Q000254:growth & development*; D002681:China; D057231:Climate Change; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D005843:Geography; D058865:Introduced Species; D010788:Photosynthesis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014867:Water