| Abstract Detail
Ecology Hancock, Thomas [1], Amico, Patrick [2]. Life history strategy of Hydrocotyle bonariensis growing on a southeastern (USA) barrier island. Barrier islands of the southeastern United States are considered a physically controlled, harsh environment. Only a small, select suite of plants have traditionally been able to tolerate these extreme conditions. Within this small suite, plants exhibit a variety of functional groups or forms. An interesting species that can be found in several habitats within the barrier island ecosystem is Hydrocotyle bonariensis. Hydrocotyle bonariensis is a C3 perennial that almost exclusively grows via runners although it does produce copious amounts of flowers in the summer and tiny seeds in fall. Past researchers have demonstrated that H. bonariensis seeds only germinate in the swale area of the barrier island ecoystem where water and nutrients are more plentiful. The traditional hypothesis is that from this foothold, H. bonariensis seedlings will asexually expand into harsher areas (backdune, dune and foredune) and that this represents an adaptive strategy. The present study was conducted along an eight-mile stretch of uninhabited barrier island at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area in NC (USA). The purpose of the study was to determine presence of H. bonariensis within different barrier island habitats and allocation of carbon and biomass to root, shoot, leaf and reproductive structures between habitats and across seasons. This information in conjunction with photosynthesis and water status data is used to develop a model of H. bonariensis life history strategy and to test the traditional adaptive strategy hypothesis.
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1 - Middle Georgia State University, 100 University Parkway Drive, Macon, Georgia, 31206, United States
2 - Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, 1000 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach, NC, 28449, United States
Keywords:
barrier island
Hydrocotyle bonariensis
ecology
life history strategy.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 6, Ecology Section: Population Biology
Location: 201/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 10:30 AM
Number: 6008
Abstract ID:291
Candidate for Awards:None |
