Abstract
Two populations of <em>Iris sibirica</em>, a clonal species protected by law in Poland, occurring in patches of <em>Molinietum caeruleae</em>, of similar floristic composition although with different dominant species, were studied. In the Stanisławice locality, species with a high competitive potential prevailed, contrary to the Opatkowice locality, where the species of low competitive potential dominated. It was established that vegetative propagation ensures the continued presence of populations in both localities, although the proximity of plants with high competitive potential limits the vegetative propagation of ramet clusters of <em>Iris sibirica</em>. Despite the high level of seed production, the recruitment of seedlings in both patches is possible only in artificially created gaps. The field observations support the conclusion that creating gaps allowing for germination of seeds and development of seedlings, as well as eliminating expansive neighbours allowing proliferation of ramet clusters of <em>Iris sibirica</em>, is an affective way of protecting populations of this species.
Highlights
The occurrence of different species within a small space involves their interactions, including the competition for light, water and mineral compounds
The main objectives of this study were to learn: (1) how the individual development of genets in Iris sibirica occur (2) how important is the vegetative reproduction to the preservation of this rare species, (3) whether generative reproduction is possible, and if so, under what conditions it occurs, (4) what are the effects of these two manners of propagation on the population number and structure, and (5) how to protect the populations of this taxon
According to Klime (1997) and Klime and Klimeova (1999) Iris sibirica has a similar pattern of vegetative reproduction as Iris pseudacorus, I. pumila, Filipendula ulmaria and F. rubra, involving slow proliferation and fragmentation of genets
Summary
The occurrence of different species within a small space involves their interactions, including the competition for light, water and mineral compounds. As a result of such competition, the populations of the same species occurring in different communities may be characterised by different patterns of population dynamics. These patterns were first noted for aclonal plants, which represented a more convenient subject for studies, because of their unitary growth pattern, short life span, and solely generative manner of reproduction (e.g. Wilkoñ-Michalska 1976; Watkinson and Harper 1978; Symonides 1979a, 1979b, 1979c; Law 1981, Faliñska and Piro¿nikow 1983; Watkinson and Davy 1985). Much less known is the population number dynamics in clonal species, with a multi-shoot architecture of individuals, longevity, as well as propagation of both generative and vegetative ways (cf. Faliñska 1986, 1995; Czarnecka 1989; Cain and Damman 1997; Brzosko 2001)
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