Title data
Schweiger, Andreas ; Otieno, Dennis Ochuodho ; Kulunge, Salum R. ; Reineking, Björn ; Tenhunen, John:
The Afro-alpine dwarf shrub Helichrysum citrispinum favours understorey plants through microclimate amelioration.
In: Plant Ecology & Diversity.
Vol. 8
(2015)
Issue 3
.
- pp. 293-303.
ISSN 1755-0874
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2015.1014207
Abstract in another language
Background: Positive plant – plant interactions similar to specialised plant growth forms are potential strategies to overcome the environmental harshness of Afro-alpine ecosystems. However, knowledge about plant – plant interactions is limited for African alpine regions.Aims: We investigated the ameliorative effect of the densely leaved dwarf shrub Helichrysum citrispinum on two frequently co-occurring herbaceous plant species in the alpine zone of Mt. Kilimanjaro.Methods: We recorded microclimatic conditions, plant water potentials and gross primary production (GPP) for plants of the low-growing perennial Alchemilla johnstonii and the tussock grass Festuca abyssinica and compared these parameters between open sites and under H. citrispinum shrubs between July and August 2012.Results: Shrubs significantly buffered daily variation and extreme values of irradiation, air-, plant surface- and soil-temperatures as well as vapour pressure de fi cit. We found enhanced plant water potentials and gross primary production for shaded plants of both species investigated; ameliorative effects were higher for A. johnstonii than for F. abyssinica.Conclusions: Habitat amelioration of H. citrispinum significantly improves the productivity of plant species that grow under the shrub, although the net outcome may be affected by interspecific growth form differences. Future studies on positive plant – plant interactions should more strongly focus on the ecophysiological consequences of habitat amelioration.Link
Further data
Item Type: | Article in a journal |
---|---|
Refereed: | Yes |
Additional notes: | BAYCEER128612 |
Institutions of the University: | Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Chair Biogeography Research Institutions Research Institutions > Research Centres Research Institutions > Research Centres > Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research- BayCEER Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences |
Result of work at the UBT: | Yes |
DDC Subjects: | 500 Science |
Date Deposited: | 04 Aug 2016 06:46 |
Last Modified: | 31 Aug 2022 12:51 |
URI: | https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/33814 |