Experimental ecology and habitat specificity of the endangered plant Apium repens (Jacq.) Lag. at the northern edge of its range

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2009

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Background: Successful conservation of endangered species such as Apium repens requires sound information about their ecology and habitat demands. Currently, knowledge about this species is very limited. Aims: Our objectives were to analyse the ecology and habitat demands of A. repens to achieve a better understanding of the factors relevant for its conservation. Methods: We set up a transplantation trial and conducted experiments on competitive ability and inundation tolerance of A. repens; these were complemented by an analysis of 85 vegetation relevés and land use and soil analyses of 24 north German populations. Results: Both intra-and interspecific competition had negative impacts on the growth of A. repens. Disturbance alleviated the impact of competition. Apium repens tolerated fresh water inundation of up to 56 days; salt water inundation proved to be fatal. Transplantation showed that seedlings are suitable founder propagules for reintroduction schemes and that disturbance is vital for their prospering. Conclusions: Apium repens is a light-demanding weak competitor that is dependent on disturbances and well-adapted to ground-water fluctuations and inundation. We recommend that disturbance regimes and hydrological conditions of extant populations should be maintained and suggest seedling-based reintroductions as a valuable tool for conserving the species. © 2009 Botanical Society of Scotland and Taylor & Francis.

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Quelldatensatz: oai:www.edit.fis.uni-hamburg.de:publications/33aa44d8-bb42-4b0f-89dc-cc474f31f980