Ecology and evolutionary biology of clonal plants : proceedings of Clone-2000 : an international workshop held in Obergurgl, Austria, 20-25 August 2000

Spontaneous self-cloning or __clonality__ is a widespread phenomenon in the plant kingdom, and has a wide array of ecological and evolutionary implications. This volume is the outcome of an international workshop on clonal plant biology aimed at illustrating current progress and recent developments in the scientific study of clonality in plants. The first section of this book includes a collection of original research articles which demonstrate the wide variety of approaches and scientific challenges linked to clonality in plants. The topics covered in this section include ecological and evolutionary implications of sexual versus asexual propagation, including life-history evolution and sex-ratio dynamics, the importance of internal resource transport and remobilization of storage products for the invasiveness and competitiveness of clonal plants, a survey of clonal growth forms in grassland communities, and studies on the interactions between clonal plants and animals and fungi. The approaches used range from experimental studies on a broad variety of systems to mathematical modeling of clonal growth and its consequences. The second part features discussion and review papers on a diverse array of subjects, ranging from developmental considerations of clonality, principles of selection and evolution in clonal plants, a survey of clonality in algae, to potential implications of clonality for plant mating, and beyond. This part of the volume aims at presenting novel ideas and hypotheses, and at summarizing existing knowledge in previously under-researched areas, thereby providing directions for future research initiatives. This book captures ongoing cutting-edge research in the field of clonal plant ecology and evolution. It is directed to anyone from the undergraduate to specialist level who is interested in the biology of the intriguing phenomenon of asexual propagation in plants. Front Matter....Pages i-iv The ecology and evolutionary biology of clonal plants: an introduction to the proceedings of Clone-2000 ....Pages 1-8 Local sex-ratio dynamics: a model for the dioecious liverwort Marchantia inflexa ....Pages 9-32 Relative contributions of sexual and asexual regeneration strategies in Populus nigra and Salix alba during the first years of establishment on a braided gravel bed river....Pages 33-57 The role of vegetative spread and seed dispersal for optimal life histories of clonal plants: a simulation study....Pages 59-79 Clonal integration enhances survival and performance of Potentilla anserina , suffering from partial sand burial on Ordos plateau, China....Pages 81-96 Fragmentation of clones: how does it influence dispersal and competitive ability?....Pages 97-124 Seasonal patterns of partitioning and remobilization of 14 C in the invasive rhizomatous perennial Japanese knotweed ( Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decraene)....Pages 125-140 The effects of mowing and fertilization on carbohydrate reserves and regrowth of grasses: do they promote plant coexistence in species-rich meadows?....Pages 141-160 Classifying clonal growth forms based on vegetative mobility and ramet longevity: a whole community analysis....Pages 161-179 A simulation study of the effects of architectural constraints and resource translocation on population structure and competition in clonal plants....Pages 181-201 The developmental ecology of mycorrhizal associations in mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum , Berberidaceae....Pages 203-220 Age- and stage-based bud demography of Salix arctica under contrasting muskox grazing pressure in the High Arctic....Pages 221-240 The influence of position on genet growth: a simulation of a population of bracken ( Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) genets under grazing....Pages 241-261 Developmental processes and the evolution of plant clonality....Pages 263-278 The loss of sex in clonal plants....Pages 279-298 Consequences of clonal growth for plant mating....Pages 299-308 Clonal architecture in marine macroalgae: ecological and evolutionary perspectives....Pages 309-323 Investigating the community consequences of competition among clonal plants....Pages 325-341 On the evolution of clonal plant life histories....Pages 343-360 Fitness and evolution in clonal plants: the impact of clonal growth....Pages 361-378 Proceedings of Clone 2000, an International Workshop held in Obergurgl, Austria, 20-25 August 2000