Spatial patterns in defoliation and the expression of clonal traits in grazed meadows
Abstract
Clonal plant species dominate meadow vegetation where grazing can generate spatial heterogeneity at different scales and can select for species that express particular sets of clonal traits. This in situ study aimed to characterize fine-grained spatial patterns of defoliation (<1 m) induced by contrasting cattle grazing intensities and to link these spatial patterns with the abundance of species-specific clonal traits. Using correlogams and synthetic spatio-temporal indices, the heterogeneity of vegetation height and leaf damage was monitored along a cattle grazing gradient. Species were identified and their clonal traits retrieved from the database CLO-PLA3. Under moderate grazing, fine-grained spatial patterns of defoliation were not stable over time. Defoliation was heterogeneous during the first months of the grazing season and then became homogeneous. Intensive grazing generated homogeneous defoliation, regardless of the date. In the study meadow, grazing gave rise to communities containing a greater abundance of annual species. However, clonal traits assumed to enable clonal fragments to benefit from heterogeneity do not seem advantageous. Increasing grazing intensity promoted species with clonal traits expected to minimize costs associated with clonality (aboveground clonal growth forms, short-distance lateral spread, and (or) short-lived connections). Ungrazed conditions favoured species with clonal traits associated with a high competitive ability.
Résumé
Les plantes clonales dominent la végétation de prairies, où le pâturage peut générer une hétérogénéité spatiale à différentes échelles et sélectionner des espèces exprimant différentes combinaisons de traits clonaux. Cette étude a pour objectifs de caractériser in situ les patrons spatiaux de la défoliation induite par différentes intensités de pâturage bovin à échelle fine (<1 m) et d’établir la relation entre ces patrons spatiaux et l’abondance des espèces et de leurs traits clonaux. Par l’utilisation de corrélogrammes et d’indices spatio-temporels synthétiques, les patrons spatiaux de la hauteur de la végétation et des traces de défoliation sur les plantes ont été évalués le long d’un gradient d’intensité de pâturage bovin. Les espèces ont été identifiées et leurs traits clonaux renseignés dans la base de données CLO-PLA3. Les patrons spatiaux de la défoliation générée par un pâturage modéré ne sont pas stables au cours du temps. La défoliation est hétérogène pendant les premiers mois de la saison de pâturage puis s’homogénéise. Quelle que soit la date, le pâturage intensif génère une défoliation homogène. Dans la prairie étudiée, le pâturage est à l’origine d’une plus grande abondance d’espèces annuelles dans les communautés. Cependant, les traits clonaux censés permettre aux plantes de bénéficier de conditions environnementales hétérogènes ne semblent pas avantageux dans la prairie étudiée. Une intensité de pâturage croissante a favorisé les espèces avec des traits clonaux censés minimiser les coûts associés à la clonalité (forme de croissance clonale aérienne, faible expansion latérale et (ou) connexions à courte durée de vie). À l’inverse, les conditions non pâturées ont favorisé les espèces pourvues de traits clonaux conférant aux plantes une aptitude compétitive élevée.
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Botany
Volume 89 • Number 1 • January 2011
Pages: 43 - 54
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Received: 27 June 2010
Accepted: 17 November 2010
Version of record online: 7 January 2011
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Marie-LiseBenotM.-L. Benot, AnneBonisA. Bonis, NicolasRossignolN. Rossignol, and CendrineMonyC. Mony. 2011. Spatial patterns in defoliation and the expression of clonal traits in grazed meadows. Botany. 89(1): 43-54. https://doi.org/10.1139/B10-082