Phenotypic plasticity of invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides in relation to different water availability, compared to its native congener

Y P Geng; X Y Pan; Cheng Yuan Xu; W J Zhang; B Li; J K Chen

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2006.07.002

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Phenotypic plasticity of invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides in relation to different water availability, compared to its native congener

Journal article

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Phenotypic plasticity of invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides in relation to different water availability, compared to its native congener

Y P Geng, X Y Pan, Cheng Yuan Xu, W J Zhang, B Li and J K Chen

Acta Oecologica, Vol.30(3), pp.380-385

2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2006.07.002

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Abstract

Ecology

phenotypic plasticity

biomass allocation

invasive species

alternanthera philoxeroides

alternanthera sessilis

Phenotypic plasticity and genetic differentiation are two possible mechanisms that plants use to cope with varying environments. Although alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) possesses very low genetic diversity, this alien weed has successfully invaded diverse habitats with considerably varying water availability (from swamps to dry lands) in China. In contrast, its native congener (Alternanthera sessilis) has a much narrower ecological breadth, and is usually found in moist habitats. To understand the mechanisms underlying the contrasting pattern, we performed a greenhouse experiment to compare the reaction norms of alligator weed with those of its native congener, in which water availability was manipulated. Our results revealed that the two congeners had similar direction of phenotypic plasticity. However, A. philoxeroides showed greater plasticity in amount than did A. sessilis in many traits examined during the switch from wet to drought treatment. Nearly all of the phenotypic variance in A. philoxeroides could be ascribed to plasticity, while A. sessilis had a much higher fraction of phenotypic variance that could be explained by genotypic variation. These interspecific differences in plastic responses to variable water availability partially explained the difference in spatial distribution of the two congeners

Details

Title: Phenotypic plasticity of invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides in relation to different water availability, compared to its native congener
Authors: Y P Geng (Author) - Fudan University, China
X Y Pan (Author) - Fudan University, China
Cheng Yuan Xu (Author) - Columbia University, United States
W J Zhang (Author) - Fudan University, China
B Li (Author) - Fudan University, China
J K Chen (Author) - Fudan University, China
Publication details: Acta Oecologica, Vol.30(3), pp.380-385
Publisher: Elsevier Masson
Date published: 2006
DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2006.07.002
ISSN: 1146-609X
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450483002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology

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