Demographic variation of dwarf birch (Betula nana) in communities dominated by Ledum palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum
Abstract The structure and demographic processes were compared in shrub communities to test the effects of vegetation succession on population growth, fecundity and abundance of the dwarf birch (Betula nana L.), which is a rare and endangered plant species in Poland and a glacial relict in Central E...
Published in: | Biologia |
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Walter de Gruyter GmbH
2010
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11756-010-0007-9 https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/biolog.2010.65.issue-2/s11756-010-0007-9/s11756-010-0007-9.pdf |
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crdegruytopen:10.2478/s11756-010-0007-9 2023-05-15T15:44:26+02:00 Demographic variation of dwarf birch (Betula nana) in communities dominated by Ledum palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum Ejankowski, Wojciech 2010 http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11756-010-0007-9 https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/biolog.2010.65.issue-2/s11756-010-0007-9/s11756-010-0007-9.pdf unknown Walter de Gruyter GmbH Biologia volume 65, issue 2 ISSN 1336-9563 0006-3088 Plant Science Animal Science and Zoology Genetics Cell Biology Biochemistry Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Molecular Biology journal-article 2010 crdegruytopen https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-010-0007-9 2018-03-07T13:27:21Z Abstract The structure and demographic processes were compared in shrub communities to test the effects of vegetation succession on population growth, fecundity and abundance of the dwarf birch (Betula nana L.), which is a rare and endangered plant species in Poland and a glacial relict in Central Europe. The effects of Ledum palustre L. and Vaccinium uliginosum L. were studied in the Linje nature reserve in Chełmińskie Lake District (northern Poland), in three permanent plots on a peat bog. Vegetative growth and reproduction of B. nana were lower in plant communities dominated by L. palustre and V. uliginosum, than in a reference site. Fecundity was also lower, despite the fact that the percentage share of potentially fertile age groups was similar in all study sites. Mortality of ramets was independent of vegetation, both for juvenile and mature stages. The results confirm that B. nana is intolerant of shade, and it is more abundant in vegetation without competitors. Light limitation can lead to its decline, primarily by a decrease in vegetative growth. Sexual reproduction may be negatively affected by shade, but it plays only small role in population growth. Butterfly larvae can destroy inflorescences, and thus contribute to low effectiveness of sexual reproduction. Increasing density of shrubs and trees in peat bogs can reduce the abundance of dwarf birch, and can lead to the extinction of its local populations. Article in Journal/Newspaper Betula nana Dwarf birch Sciendo (de Gruyter - via CrossRef) Biologia 65 2 248 253 |
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Sciendo (de Gruyter - via CrossRef) |
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Plant Science Animal Science and Zoology Genetics Cell Biology Biochemistry Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Molecular Biology |
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Plant Science Animal Science and Zoology Genetics Cell Biology Biochemistry Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Molecular Biology Ejankowski, Wojciech Demographic variation of dwarf birch (Betula nana) in communities dominated by Ledum palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum |
topic_facet |
Plant Science Animal Science and Zoology Genetics Cell Biology Biochemistry Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Molecular Biology |
description |
Abstract The structure and demographic processes were compared in shrub communities to test the effects of vegetation succession on population growth, fecundity and abundance of the dwarf birch (Betula nana L.), which is a rare and endangered plant species in Poland and a glacial relict in Central Europe. The effects of Ledum palustre L. and Vaccinium uliginosum L. were studied in the Linje nature reserve in Chełmińskie Lake District (northern Poland), in three permanent plots on a peat bog. Vegetative growth and reproduction of B. nana were lower in plant communities dominated by L. palustre and V. uliginosum, than in a reference site. Fecundity was also lower, despite the fact that the percentage share of potentially fertile age groups was similar in all study sites. Mortality of ramets was independent of vegetation, both for juvenile and mature stages. The results confirm that B. nana is intolerant of shade, and it is more abundant in vegetation without competitors. Light limitation can lead to its decline, primarily by a decrease in vegetative growth. Sexual reproduction may be negatively affected by shade, but it plays only small role in population growth. Butterfly larvae can destroy inflorescences, and thus contribute to low effectiveness of sexual reproduction. Increasing density of shrubs and trees in peat bogs can reduce the abundance of dwarf birch, and can lead to the extinction of its local populations. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ejankowski, Wojciech |
author_facet |
Ejankowski, Wojciech |
author_sort |
Ejankowski, Wojciech |
title |
Demographic variation of dwarf birch (Betula nana) in communities dominated by Ledum palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum |
title_short |
Demographic variation of dwarf birch (Betula nana) in communities dominated by Ledum palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum |
title_full |
Demographic variation of dwarf birch (Betula nana) in communities dominated by Ledum palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum |
title_fullStr |
Demographic variation of dwarf birch (Betula nana) in communities dominated by Ledum palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum |
title_full_unstemmed |
Demographic variation of dwarf birch (Betula nana) in communities dominated by Ledum palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum |
title_sort |
demographic variation of dwarf birch (betula nana) in communities dominated by ledum palustre and vaccinium uliginosum |
publisher |
Walter de Gruyter GmbH |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11756-010-0007-9 https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/biolog.2010.65.issue-2/s11756-010-0007-9/s11756-010-0007-9.pdf |
genre |
Betula nana Dwarf birch |
genre_facet |
Betula nana Dwarf birch |
op_source |
Biologia volume 65, issue 2 ISSN 1336-9563 0006-3088 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-010-0007-9 |
container_title |
Biologia |
container_volume |
65 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
248 |
op_container_end_page |
253 |
_version_ |
1766378796671303680 |