Abstract:
For succession, the establishment and turnover of plants, in terms of generative
spreading and renewal, is of crucial importance. Especially the success of seedling
establishment into the existing vegetation might be of prime importance for the further
development of plant species composition. Flowering, on the other hand, is the necessary
first step towards generative output and later seed set. In a chronosequential gradient
of a saltmarsh succession, we investigated the performance of transplants of three
common species under different conditions: Artemisia maritima, Atriplex portulacoides and Plantago maritima were transplanted as seedlings and mature plants into plots in early-, mid-, and
late-successional stages (15, 30 and 40 years) on the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog.
Natural herbivory (by hares and geese) and neighbourhood competition were excluded
in a factorial design. Flowering and survival rates of the three species were generally
greatly reduced under natural conditions, compared to competition- and herbivory-free
plots. The survival rates of Artemisia maritima and Plantago maritima reflect their position as early-successional species: early in succession, both show
their highest survival and abundance. For late-dominant Atriplex portulacoides a different explanation has to be invoked for the medium-high survival and low abundance:
probably winter grazing by hares and the importance of a high nitrogen supply rate,
rather than flowering and survival, determine its low abundance in the early and mid-phase
of this saltmarsh succession. Some long-term impacts of herbivores affecting flowering
and survival are discussed.
Key words:
Artemisia maritima
-
Atriplex portulacoides
-
Plantago maritima
- saltmarsh - Schiermonnikoog - succession
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C. F. Dormann
Department of Plant and Soil Science Cruickshank Building University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Scotland, U.K.
Section Editor: R. Aerts
Email: cfd@wpo.nerc.ac.uk