Abstract
BackgroundTo understand shade and wind effects on seedling traits of common reed (Phragmites australis), we conducted a mesocosm experiment manipulating day length (10 h daytime a day as open canopy conditions or 6 h daytime a day as partially closed canopy conditions) and wind speed (0 m/s as windless conditions or 4 m/s as windy conditions).ResultsMost values of functional traits of leaf blades, culms, and biomass production of P. australis were higher under long day length. In particular, we found sole positive effects of long day length in several functional traits such as internode and leaf blade lengths and the values of above-ground dry weight (DW), rhizome DW, and total DW. Wind-induced effects on functional traits were different depending on functional traits. Wind contributed to relatively low values of chlorophyll contents, angles between leaf blades, mean culm height, and maximum culm height. In contrast, wind contributed to relatively high values of culm density and below-ground DW.ConclusionsAlthough wind appeared to inhibit the vertical growth of P. australis through physiological and morphological changes in leaf blades, it seemed that P. australis might compensate the inhibited vertical growth with increased horizontal growth such as more numerous culms, indicating a highly adaptive characteristic of P. australis in terms of phenotypic plasticity under windy environments.
Highlights
To understand shade and wind effects on seedling traits of common reed (Phragmites australis), we conducted a mesocosm experiment manipulating day length (10 h daytime a day as open canopy conditions or 6 h daytime a day as partially closed canopy conditions) and wind speed (0 m/s as windless conditions or 4 m/s as windy conditions)
Effects of different day length and wind speed on functional traits of P. australis Based on the result from two-way ANOVA, different day length made significant differences in most functional traits of leaf blades, culms, and biomass production (aboveground dry weight (AGDW), below ground dry weight (BGDW), rhizome DW, and total dry weight (TDW)) (Table 1)
We found some interactive effects between day length and wind speed on leaf blade length (p < .05) and root dry weight (p < .1)
Summary
To understand shade and wind effects on seedling traits of common reed (Phragmites australis), we conducted a mesocosm experiment manipulating day length (10 h daytime a day as open canopy conditions or 6 h daytime a day as partially closed canopy conditions) and wind speed (0 m/s as windless conditions or 4 m/s as windy conditions). Hong et al Journal of Ecology and Environment (2021) 45:9 traits of P. australis in responses to nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus and disturbance regimes such as flood (including wind-induced wave) and salinity (Armstrong et al 1999; Engloner 2009; Vymazal 2011). In addition to such major environmental determinants of functional traits, day length and wind speed may be environmentally important factors for P. australis as microclimates (Baldi 1999; Asaeda and Karunaratne 2000). Wind speed may affect P. australis directly (e.g., evapotranspiration, phenotypic plasticity, pollination, and seed dispersal) as well as indirectly (e.g., convective gas-flow, fire event, litter breakdown, and propagule drift) (Thompson and Shay 1985; Armstrong and Armstrong 1991; Nilsson et al 1991; Baldi 1999; Brisson et al 2008)
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