Population dynamics response of Lupinus arcticus to fertilization, clipping, and neighbour removal in the understory of the boreal forest
Dates
Year
2000
Citation
Graham, S. A., and Turkington, R., 2000, Population dynamics response of Lupinus arcticus to fertilization, clipping, and neighbour removal in the understory of the boreal forest: Canadian Journal of Botany/Revue Canadien de Botanique, v. 78, no. 6, p. 753-758.
Summary
A demographic study was conducted on field populations of Lupinus arcticus S. Wats. [Arctic lupine] growing in the understory of a white spruce dominated forest, near Kluane Lake, Yukon. The relative effects of soil fertility level, neighbours, and herbivory were assessed using a factorial experiment of plus or minus fertilizer (N-P-K [nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium]), plus or minus neighbour removal, and plus or minus clipping. We monitored the dynamics of leaves and collected data on reproduction, survival, and size for two growing seasons. Fertilizing increased the incidence of disease on leaves and reduced reproductive efficiency. Clipping reduced leaf cohort survivorship, total leaf density, and the incidence of disease on leaves. [...]
Summary
A demographic study was conducted on field populations of Lupinus arcticus S. Wats. [Arctic lupine] growing in the understory of a white spruce dominated forest, near Kluane Lake, Yukon. The relative effects of soil fertility level, neighbours, and herbivory were assessed using a factorial experiment of plus or minus fertilizer (N-P-K [nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium]), plus or minus neighbour removal, and plus or minus clipping. We monitored the dynamics of leaves and collected data on reproduction, survival, and size for two growing seasons. Fertilizing increased the incidence of disease on leaves and reduced reproductive efficiency. Clipping reduced leaf cohort survivorship, total leaf density, and the incidence of disease on leaves. Removing neighbours increased the percent cover of L. arcticus and decreased total leaf mortality. Treatments had no effect on the survival of leaves in early cohorts. Although there were some significant responses to treatments, the overall tendency was a lack of response, especially pertaining to leaf population dynamics. This low response to the treatments imposed is consistent with the argument that plants growing in low productivity, infrequently disturbed habitats should show little response to short-term changes in local environmental conditions. The results are also consistent with suggestions that plants in moderately stressed habitats should be more adapted to withstand grazing than competition.
