Network size‐dependent impact on vegetative growth and sexual reproduction in clonal patches of white clover Trifolium repens

In natural habitats, clonal plants form interconnected ramet networks of varied sizes. In large and small networks, ramets may be presumed to apply distinct strategies of investing in vegetative growth and sexual reproduction. This very hypothesis was tested in the course of our experiment in the field. The study encompassed 16 patches of white clover (Trifolium repens L.), which were divided into two groups: small and large. Separate zones, i.e., central, middle and marginal, were isolated within each clonal patch. In small networks, the share of sexually reproducing ramets is prevalent compared with vegetative growth, while the opposite is the case in large ones: vegetative growth is the predominant mode of proliferation. The highest quantity of ramets which reproduced sexually was observed in the outlying regions of large networks. The findings were elucidated (1) with respect to habitat resources used by ramets in networks, and (2) by means of the model of optimal allocation of reso...在自然生境中，克隆植物会形成大小各异、彼此连通的分株（ramet）网络。无论大型还是小型克隆网络，分株在营养生长与有性生殖的资源投入策略上或存在显著差异。本研究通过野外田间实验对这一假说展开验证。实验共选取16块白三叶（Trifolium repens L.）克隆斑块，将其划分为小型与大型两组。每个克隆斑块内均被划分为中心区、中区与边缘区三个独立区域。在小型克隆网络中，进行有性生殖的分株占比高于营养生长；而大型克隆网络则恰好相反，营养生长为主要的增殖方式。大型克隆网络的边缘区域中，进行有性生殖的分株数量最多。本研究结果从两方面进行阐释：(1) 结合克隆网络中分株所利用的生境资源；(2) 借助资源最优分配模型（resou...）。