Abstract
Seasonal fluctuations of light availability, nutrient concentrations, and moisture affect plant population traits like density, standing biomass, and flowering. We analyzed seasonal changes of density and shoot biomass of the four most frequent herb species growing in an oak–hornbeam forest community, i.e., Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Galeobdolon luteum, and Galium odoratum. In 2010 and 2011 plant biomass was harvested from 7 to 10 randomly situated square sample plots (0.36 m2) in the homogenous oak–hornbeam forest community every week in the spring and every two weeks in the summer and autumn. The highest abundance of Anemone nemorosa reached over 1000 shoots per m2, of Ficaria verna 459.5 shoots per m2, of Galium odoratum 83.6 shoots per m2, and of Galeobdolon luteum 98.4 shoots per m2 (means for 2010 and 2011, based on all sample plots). We did not observe negative correlation between density and shoot biomass. Growth rates of vegetative shoot biomass amounted to 0.857 mg day−1 for Anemone nemorosa, 0.467 mg day−1 for Ficaria verna, 0.722 mg day−1 for Galium odoratum, and 0.448 mg day−1 for Galeobdolon luteum (means for 2010 and 2011). Spring ephemerals had much higher densities of shoots than summer-greens. Summer-greens reached higher biomass of individual shoots than spring ephemerals. Flowering shoots constituted only 4, 2, and 11% of all shoots for A. nemorosa, F. verna, and G. odoratum, respectively. More resource availability resulting in high shoot biomass did not translate to higher share of flowering shoots.
Highlights
Central European oak–hornbeam forest association is a stable, self-organized, and spontaneous ecosystem which occurs in areas without human intervention and disturbances
The highest growth ratio of vegetative shoots was observed for A. nemorosa – 0.857 mg day-1, a lower value was observed for G. odoratum – 0.722 mg day-1, and growth ratios almost two-times lower were observed for F. verna – 0.467 mg day-1 and G. luteum – 0.448 mg day-1
Plant species occurring in these environments represent two general adaptations: spring ephemerals in which aboveground organs grow for a short period of the year when they can use light before canopy closure, and summergreens which grow throughout the whole growing season and are adapted to limited light under the tree canopy
Summary
Central European oak–hornbeam forest association is a stable, self-organized, and spontaneous ecosystem which occurs in areas without human intervention and disturbances This forest association is characterized by low ratio of gross primary production to standing crop, a ratio of gross primary production to respiration close to zero, and plants that have long and complex life cycles, usually representing a K-type strategy (Morin 2009). Spring ephemerals like Anemone nemorosa and Ficaria verna grow, assimilate, bloom, and bear fruits before full development of leaves and canopy closure, and all shoots die within a short period (Lapointe 2001) Aboveground shoots of these plant species have short life cycles, but belowground organs store products of assimilation for future development the spring. They resemble annuals but in contrast they have
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