Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago
Aims: The sub-Antarctic cushion plant, Azorella selago, is usually hemispherical when small but frequently crescent-shaped when larger. Spatial variation in wind speed and in air-borne seed and sediment deposition is examined to determine if wind scouring and deposition patterns could contribute to...
Published in: | Plant and Soil |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Springer
2020
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Online Access: | https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/ https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04665-3 https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/17/Combrinck2020_Article_WindAndSeedAConceptualModelOfS.pdf https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/9/Combrinck2020_Article_WindAndSeedAConceptualModelOfS.pdf https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/1/Revised_manuscript.pdf |
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ftunivnorthumb:oai:nrl.northumbria.ac.uk:44073 2023-05-15T13:44:52+02:00 Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago Combrinck, Madeleine Harms, Thoman McGeoch, Melodie Schoombie, Janine Le Roux, Peter 2020-10-01 text https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/ https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04665-3 https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/17/Combrinck2020_Article_WindAndSeedAConceptualModelOfS.pdf https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/9/Combrinck2020_Article_WindAndSeedAConceptualModelOfS.pdf https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/1/Revised_manuscript.pdf en eng Springer https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/17/Combrinck2020_Article_WindAndSeedAConceptualModelOfS.pdf https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/9/Combrinck2020_Article_WindAndSeedAConceptualModelOfS.pdf https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/1/Revised_manuscript.pdf Combrinck, Madeleine, Harms, Thoman, McGeoch, Melodie, Schoombie, Janine and Le Roux, Peter (2020) Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago. Plant and Soil, 455 (1-2). pp. 339-366. ISSN 0032-079X cc_by_4_0 CC-BY C200 Botany F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences G100 Mathematics Article PeerReviewed 2020 ftunivnorthumb https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04665-3 2022-09-25T06:12:35Z Aims: The sub-Antarctic cushion plant, Azorella selago, is usually hemispherical when small but frequently crescent-shaped when larger. Spatial variation in wind speed and in air-borne seed and sediment deposition is examined to determine if wind scouring and deposition patterns could contribute to the development of non-hemispherical shapes in cushion plants. Methods: Computational fluid dynamic analyses were conducted for hemispherical and crescent-shaped cushion plants parameterizing models with data from A. selago habitats on Marion Island. Numerical data were contextualized with field observations to arrive at a conceptual model for shape development. Results: Airflow modelling showed that both wind scouring and seed deposition of the commonly co-occurring grass Agrostis magellanica are greater on the windward side of the plant. By contrast, heavier sediment particles are predominantly deposited on the leeward side of plants, leading to burial of lee-side A. selago stems. This sediment accumulation may initiate the development of the crescent-shape in hemispherical plants by increasing stem mortality on the plant’s leeward edge. Once developed, the crescent-shape is probably self-reinforcing because it generates greater air recirculation (and lower air velocities) which enhances further deposition and establishment of A. magellanica grasses in the lee of the crescent. The conceptual model consists therefore of three stages namely, (1) negligible air recirculation, (2) sediment deposition and grass establishment, and (3) differential cushion growth. Conclusion: This conceptual model of plant shape development may explain the occurrence and orientation of crescent-shaped cushion plants and highlights how predicted changes in wind patterns may affect vegetation patterns. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Marion Island Northumbria University, Newcastle: Northumbria Research Link (NRL) Antarctic Plant and Soil 455 1-2 339 366 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Northumbria University, Newcastle: Northumbria Research Link (NRL) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivnorthumb |
language |
English |
topic |
C200 Botany F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences G100 Mathematics |
spellingShingle |
C200 Botany F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences G100 Mathematics Combrinck, Madeleine Harms, Thoman McGeoch, Melodie Schoombie, Janine Le Roux, Peter Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago |
topic_facet |
C200 Botany F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences G100 Mathematics |
description |
Aims: The sub-Antarctic cushion plant, Azorella selago, is usually hemispherical when small but frequently crescent-shaped when larger. Spatial variation in wind speed and in air-borne seed and sediment deposition is examined to determine if wind scouring and deposition patterns could contribute to the development of non-hemispherical shapes in cushion plants. Methods: Computational fluid dynamic analyses were conducted for hemispherical and crescent-shaped cushion plants parameterizing models with data from A. selago habitats on Marion Island. Numerical data were contextualized with field observations to arrive at a conceptual model for shape development. Results: Airflow modelling showed that both wind scouring and seed deposition of the commonly co-occurring grass Agrostis magellanica are greater on the windward side of the plant. By contrast, heavier sediment particles are predominantly deposited on the leeward side of plants, leading to burial of lee-side A. selago stems. This sediment accumulation may initiate the development of the crescent-shape in hemispherical plants by increasing stem mortality on the plant’s leeward edge. Once developed, the crescent-shape is probably self-reinforcing because it generates greater air recirculation (and lower air velocities) which enhances further deposition and establishment of A. magellanica grasses in the lee of the crescent. The conceptual model consists therefore of three stages namely, (1) negligible air recirculation, (2) sediment deposition and grass establishment, and (3) differential cushion growth. Conclusion: This conceptual model of plant shape development may explain the occurrence and orientation of crescent-shaped cushion plants and highlights how predicted changes in wind patterns may affect vegetation patterns. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Combrinck, Madeleine Harms, Thoman McGeoch, Melodie Schoombie, Janine Le Roux, Peter |
author_facet |
Combrinck, Madeleine Harms, Thoman McGeoch, Melodie Schoombie, Janine Le Roux, Peter |
author_sort |
Combrinck, Madeleine |
title |
Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago |
title_short |
Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago |
title_full |
Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago |
title_fullStr |
Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago |
title_full_unstemmed |
Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago |
title_sort |
wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant azorella selago |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/ https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04665-3 https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/17/Combrinck2020_Article_WindAndSeedAConceptualModelOfS.pdf https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/9/Combrinck2020_Article_WindAndSeedAConceptualModelOfS.pdf https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/1/Revised_manuscript.pdf |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Marion Island |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Marion Island |
op_relation |
https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/17/Combrinck2020_Article_WindAndSeedAConceptualModelOfS.pdf https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/9/Combrinck2020_Article_WindAndSeedAConceptualModelOfS.pdf https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44073/1/Revised_manuscript.pdf Combrinck, Madeleine, Harms, Thoman, McGeoch, Melodie, Schoombie, Janine and Le Roux, Peter (2020) Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago. Plant and Soil, 455 (1-2). pp. 339-366. ISSN 0032-079X |
op_rights |
cc_by_4_0 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04665-3 |
container_title |
Plant and Soil |
container_volume |
455 |
container_issue |
1-2 |
container_start_page |
339 |
op_container_end_page |
366 |
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1766207831414931456 |