title: Reproductive effort in clonal plants: constant allocation ratios among ramets?
abstract: Armstrong (1982, 1983) predicted that all ramets within a clone should have the same ratio of biomass allocation to sexual reproduction versus vegetative growth. He presented data (1984) that he interpreted as showing that Solidago altissima ramets in a clone do have the predicted constant allocation ratio. Reanalysis of his methods shows that this conclusion was an artifact of his analysis. A simulation using random numbers and Armstrong's analysis showed the same pattern as his data. Data from S. altissima ramets of a single clone grown in a greenhouse experiment, using a different analysis, illustrated that the allocation ratios within a clone can be highly variable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Bucknell University, 17837, Lewisburg, PA, USA.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: McCrea
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Bucknell University, 17837, Lewisburg, PA, USA.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Abrahamson
keywords: Carbon allocation; Clonal herbaceous plants; Reproductive effort; Solidago altissima; Statistical analysis