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Kn&uuml;sting, J.; Brinkmann, M.C.; Silva, B.; Schorsch, M.; Bendix, J.; Beck, E. &amp; Scheibe, R. (2018): <b>Who will win where and why? An ecophysiological dissection of the competition between a tropical pasture grass and the invasive weed Bracken over an elevation range of 1000m in the tropical Andes</b>. <i>PlosOne</i> <b>13</b>, 1-24.

Resource Description

Title: Who will win where and why? An ecophysiological dissection of the competition between a tropical pasture grass and the invasive weed Bracken over an elevation range of 1000m in the tropical Andes
FOR816dw ID: 1716
Publication Date: 2018-08-15
License and Usage Rights:
Resource Owner(s):
Individual: Johannes Knüsting
Contact:
Individual: Marie Clara Brinkmann
Contact:
Individual: Brenner Silva
Contact:
Individual: Michael Schorsch
Contact:
Individual: Jörg Bendix
Contact:
Individual: Erwin Beck
Contact:
Individual: Renate Scheibe
Contact:
Abstract:
In tropical agriculture, the vigorously growing Bracken fern causes severe problems by<br/> invading pastures and out-competing the common pasture grasses. Due to infestation by<br/> that weed, pastures are abandoned after a few years, and as a fatal consequence, the biodi-<br/> versity-rich tropical forest is progressively cleared for new grazing areas. Here we present a<br/> broad physiological comparison of the two plant species that are the main competitors on<br/> the pastures in the tropical Ecuadorian Andes, the planted forage grass Setaria sphacelata<br/> and the weed Bracken (Pteridium arachnoideum).With increasing elevation, the competitive<br/> power of Bracken increases as shown by satellite data of the study region. Using data<br/> obtained from field measurements, the annual biomass production of both plant species, as<br/> a measure of their competitive strength, was modeled over an elevational gradient from<br/> 1800 to 2800 m. The model shows that with increasing elevation, biomass production of the<br/> two species shifts in favor of Bracken which, above 1800 m, is capable of outgrowing the<br/> grass. In greenhouse experiments, the effects on plant growth of the presumed key vari-<br/> ables of the elevational gradient, temperature and UV radiation, were separately analyzed.<br/> Low temperature, as well as UV irradiation, inhibited carbon uptake of the C4-grass more<br/> than that of the C3-plant Bracken. The less temperature-sensitive photosynthesis of<br/> Bracken and its effective protection from UV radiation contribute to the success of the weed<br/> on the highland pastures. In field samples of Bracken but not of Setaria, the content of flavo-<br/> noids as UV-scavengers increased with the elevation. Combining modeling with measure-<br/> ments in greenhouse and field allowed to explain the invasive growth of a common weed in<br/> upland pastures. The performance of Setaria decreases with elevation due to suboptimal<br/> photosynthesis at lower temperatures and the inability to adapt its cellular UV screen.
Keywords:
| South Ecuador | Bracken fern | competition |
Literature type specific fields:
ARTICLE
Journal: PlosOne
Volume: 13
Page Range: 1-24
Metadata Provider:
Individual: Jörg Bendix
Contact:
Online Distribution:
Download File: http://www.tropicalmountainforest.org/publications.do?citid=1716


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