Environmental and genetic effects on the early survival and growth of the invasive grass Phalaris arundinacea

2000 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 1447-1453
Author(s):  
Shannon L Morrison ◽  
Jane Molofsky
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Phalaris Arundinacea ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Reed Canary Grass ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Invasive Grass ◽  
Canary Grass

Both genetic and environmental factors can determine whether an invasive plant species will establish. To determine how these factors influence the establishment of the invasive grass Phalaris arundinacea L. (reed canary grass), we grew three genotypes in 10 artificial environments and asked how a genotype's growth and survivorship was affected by environmental conditions. We found that genotype strongly influenced survivorship, but there was no significant effect of environment on survivorship. However, environmental conditions did significantly affect growth. Individual plants produced more aboveground and belowground biomass when grown singly than they did when grown with competitors. The identity of neighboring competitors had no effect. Although genotype had no significant efffect, there was a significant genotype × environment interaction. Clone 1 produced more root biomass than either clone 2 or clone 3 when there was no or little competition, but in competitive neighborhoods, clone 3 allocated relatively more biomass to roots than to shoots. Under ideal conditions in the greenhouse, clone 2 produced more tillers than the other two clones. Based on these results, it appears that clone 1 may have an advantage under sparse vegetative cover, but clone 3 may have a competitive advantage in highly competitive neighborhoods because it could preferentially allocate more biomass to roots. The presence of three growth patterns from such a small, localized sample suggests that different growth strategies are probably common within populations of reed canary grass and may be important for allowing reed canary grass to successfully invade new habitats.

Effects of genotypes, soil moisture, and competition on the growth of an invasive grass, Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (11) ◽  
pp. 1939-1946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon L Morrison ◽  
Jane Molofsky
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Phalaris Arundinacea ◽  
Reed Canary Grass ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Invasive Grass ◽  
Canary Grass

The successful establishment of an invasive plant species in a new environment depends upon the interplay between the plant's genetic diversity and morphological plasticity and the physical and biotic environment it encounters. To determine the relative importance of these factors in influencing the spread of the invasive grass, Phalaris arundinacea L. (reed canary grass), we transplanted three genotypes into a pasture that contained variable soil moisture, species composition, and vegetative cover. We found that P. arundinacea produced more above- and below-ground biomass in sparsely vegetated plots than in densely vegetated plots, but biomass production was not affected by soil moisture. There was also a significant clone beta vegetative cover interaction. Genotypes differed in how strongly their growth was inhibited by dense vegetative cover. Vegetative cover also influenced biomass allocation patterns. As vegetative cover increased, P. arundinacea allocated more biomass to roots, a strategy that gives transplants a competitive advantage during the following spring. Our results suggest that, because it grows poorly in high vegetative cover, P. arundinacea is most likely to become a pest in disturbed or low-density plant communities. Furthermore, differences among genotypes in their response to vegetative cover suggest that continual introductions of new genotypes of reed canary grass substantially increase the chance that a particular genotype will flourish and spread.Key words: biomass allocation, competition, invasive species, morphological plasticity, plant invasions, Phalaris arundinacea, reed canary grass.

Genetic composition and morphological variation among populations of the invasive grass, Phalaris arundinacea

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (7) ◽  
pp. 779-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy LS Gifford ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Ferdy ◽  
Jane Molofsky
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Phalaris Arundinacea ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Reed Canary Grass ◽  
Genetic Composition ◽  
Invasive Grass ◽  
Forage Crop ◽  
Canary Grass ◽  
Genetic Bottlenecks

Species that become invasive after being introduced into a new range often experience genetic bottlenecks and strong selection to adapt to their new environment. We looked for evidence of such processes in unmanaged populations of invasive reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.). This grass species is planted as a forage crop in North America but has also invaded wetland areas. We compared isozyme variation in pasture and wetland populations of this species. We did not find any indication of a genetic bottleneck: wetland populations comprised as much diversity as pasture populations and both had as much diversity as the two cultivated varieties of reed canary grass that we sampled. We also cultivated plants from wetland and pasture populations and estimated genetic variance for several morphological traits. We did not find any significant differentiation to suggest differential selection between populations from the two habitats. In fact, we found the highest amount of genetic diversity, both isozymic and quantitative, within populations. We also found strong evidence that reed canary grass reproduces primarily clonally. The implications of these observations in terms of the origin of invasive populations of reed canary grass are discussed.Key words: invasive species, Phalaris arundinacea, reed canary grass.

scholarly journals Clonal growth strategies of Reynoutria japonica in response to light, shade, and mowing, and perspectives for management

NeoBiota ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 89-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
François-Marie Martin ◽  
Fanny Dommanget ◽  
François Lavallée ◽  
André Evette
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Clonal Growth ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Light Stress ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Japanese Knotweed ◽  
Reynoutria Japonica ◽  
Habitat Patches

Many of the most invasive plant species in the world can propagate clonally, suggesting clonality offers advantages that facilitate invasion. Gaining insights into the clonal growth dynamics of invasive plants should thus improve understanding of the mechanisms of their dominance, resilience and expansion. Belonging to the shortlist of the most problematic terrestrial invaders, Reynoutria japonica var. japonica Houtt. (Japanese knotweed) has colonized all five continents, likely facilitated by its impressive ability to propagate vegetatively. However, its clonal growth patterns are surprisingly understudied; we still do not know how individuals respond to key environmental conditions, including light availability and disturbance. To contribute to filling this knowledge gap, we designed a mesocosm experiment to observe the morphological variation in R. japonica growth in homogeneous or heterogeneous conditions of light stress (shade) and disturbance (mowing). Rhizome fragments were planted in the middle of large pots between two habitat patches that consisted of either one or a combination of the following three environmental conditions: full light without mowing, full light with frequent mowing, or shade without mowing. At the end of the experiment, biomass and traits related to clonal growth (spacer and rhizome lengths, number of rhizome branches, and number of ramets) were measured. After 14 months, all individuals had survived, even those frequently mowed or growing under heavy shade. We showed that R. japonica adopts a ‘phalanx’ growth form when growing in full light and a ‘guerrilla’ form when entirely shaded. The former is characteristic of a space-occupancy strategy while the latter is more associated with a foraging strategy. In heterogeneous conditions, we also showed that clones seemed to invest preferentially more in favorable habitat patches rather than in unfavorable ones (mowed or shaded), possibly exhibiting an escape strategy. These observations could improve the management of this species, specifically by illustrating how aggressive early control measures must be, by highlighting the importance of repeated mowing of entire stands, as this plant appears to compensate readily to partial mowing, and by informing on its potential responses towards the restoration of a cover of competitive native plants.

Breeding bird territory placement in riparian wet meadows in relation to invasive reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea

Wetlands ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 644-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen M. Kirsch ◽  
Brian R. Gray ◽  
Timothy J. Fox ◽  
Wayne E. Thogmartin
Keyword(s):  
Phalaris Arundinacea ◽  
Reed Canary Grass ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Wet Meadows ◽  
Canary Grass

IDENTIFICATION OF LOW ALKALOID GENOTYPES OF REED CANARY GRASS

1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 837-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. COULMAN ◽  
D. L. WOODS ◽  
K. W. CLARK
Keyword(s):  
Gene Pool ◽  
Phalaris Arundinacea ◽  
Broad Sense ◽  
Broad Sense Heritability ◽  
Reed Canary Grass ◽  
Improved Method ◽  
Canary Grass ◽  
Highly Correlated

Fifty-two strains of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) were screened for the presence of tryptamines and carbolines and for concentrations of gramine. Most strains contained genotypes free of tryptamines and carbolines and showed wide interplant variation in gramine levels. Gramine data between years were highly correlated, indicating high broad sense heritability. It was concluded that there exists a diverse gene pool from which to select tryptamine–carboline-free, low-gramine strains of reed canary grass. An improved method for the determination of gramine concentration is described.

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