The Intensity of Simulated Grazing Modifies Costs and Benefits of Physiological Integration in a Rhizomatous Clonal Plant

Jushan Liu, Chen Chen, Yao Pan, Yang Zhang and Ying Gao
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Jushan Liu: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Chen Chen: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Yao Pan: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Yang Zhang: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Ying Gao: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: Clonal plants in grasslands are special species with physiological integration which can enhance their ability to tolerate herbivory stress especially in heterogeneous environments. However, little is known about how grazing intensity affects the trade-off between the benefits and costs of physiological integration, and the mechanism by which physiological integration improves compensatory growth in response to herbivory stress. We examined the effects of simulated grazing intensity on compensatory growth and physiological integration in a clonal species Leymus chinensis with a greenhouse experiment. This experiment was conducted in a factorial design involving nutrient heterogeneity (high-high, high-low, low-high, low-low), simulated grazing by clipping (0%, 25%, 50% or 75% shoot removal) and rhizome connection (intact versus severed) treatments. Compensatory indexes at 25% and 50% clipping levels were higher than that at 75% clipping level except in low-low nutrient treatments. Physiological integration decreased and increased compensatory indexes when the target-ramets worked as exporter and importer, respectively. Generally, clipping increased both benefits and costs of physiological integration, but its net benefits (benefits minus costs) changed with clipping intensity. Physiological integration optimized compensatory growth at light and moderate clipping intensity, and its net benefits determined the high capacity of compensatory growth. Grassland managements such as grazing or mowing at light and moderate intensity would maximize the profit of physiological integration and improve grassland sustainability.

Keywords: Leymus chinensis; physiological integration; compensation growth; cost–benefit; trade-off; clipping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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