Interaction patterns on populations of two clonal species in restoring succession series in a degraded meadow in Northeast China

Abstract

Community succession is an orderly replacementprocess between dominant species of such community. The mutualpopulations changes of two clonal plant species, Leymus chinensis andKalimeris integrifolia, were analyzed during a process of restorationsuccession in a degraded meadow in Northeast China. It was basedon the methods of space-for-time substitution and continuous samplingin different mixed ratios of community sections. The resultsshowed that the two species populations adjusted the size of rametsto ensure a relatively stable number in the mixed community. Thefluctuation and instability were more obvious in the K. integrifoliathan in the L. chinensis population. While density/biomass of K. integrifoliashowed a linear decrease, there was a concomitant L. chinensispopulation increase from the middle to the end of the growing periods.The density and taproot biomass of the K. integrifolia populationdecreased logarithmically with increases in the biomass/cumulativerhizome length of the L. chinensis population during the late and endperiods of the growing season. With the progress of succession, K.integrifolia will be eventually replaced by L. chinensis. However, K.integrifolia would be a companion species in the community for along time.