Increased spatial-genetic structure in a population of the clonal aquatic plant Sagittaria latifolia (Alismataceae) following disturbance.

摘要: The spatial genetic structure (SGS) of plant populations is determined by the outcome key ecological processes, including pollen and seed dispersal, intensity local resource competition among newly recruited plants, patterns mortality established plants. Changes in magnitude SGS over time can provide insights into operation these processes. We measured a population clonal aquatic plant, Sagittaria latifolia that had been disturbed flooding, both before after flood. Over four-year interval between measurements, we found substantial changes SGS. In first measurement (pre-flood), was weak, even short distances. By contrast, there second (post-flood), particularly This change accompanied near complete turnover genotypic composition population. richness (the number unique clones scaled sample size) halved interval. subrange-the distances shoots within clones-also shrank considerably, with more than 5% having clone-mates at >10 m flood, but fewer beyond 2 m afterwards. Clonal re-establishment are expected following extirpation recruitment. These data reveal signatures disturbance subsequent flush seedling recruitment expansion.