Foraging responses of clonal plants to multi-patch environmental heterogeneity: spatial preference and temporal reversibility

Changes in resource allocation among vegetative organs during the clonal growth of Polygonatum humile (Liliaceae) grown in a temperate forest gap

“…Thus, the growth of P. humile rhizome was longer at this study site than in other study. This strategy might be the means to avoid shade and is in clonal plants (Gao et al 2012). Moreover, the number of P. humile's rhizomes generated on a shoot was 1-3 in most plants, rather than 2-4 by Jang (2002).…”

“…However, photosynthesis is limited by low irradiance, and plant populations should apply proper strategies to ensure reproduction. Asexual reproduction by vegetative growth is generally used by understorey clonal herbaceous plants in temperate forests (Cook 1983, Gao et al 2012. In these plants, shoot germination consumes root system energy in the early growth season, whereas photosynthetates produced by leaves are transported to the underground part in the late growth season.…”

Plant intelligence and attention

“…Growth in homogeneous environments in the absence of competition resulted in a random rooting of the ramets of Leymus chinensis and Hierochloe glabra. 6 Under these conditions, neither of the species focused on any given patch of the soil. While information about resource density is still potentially useful, it is relegated to the context of attention and is not brought into the focus of the attending organism.…”

“…Clonal plants selectively allocate offspring ramets to the preferential patches of soil in the presence of multi-patch environmental heterogeneity. 6 In environments with homogeneous resource distribution, the presence of competition likewise solicited a stronger root proliferation response and "conferred a selective advantage to plants proliferating in the direction of the most recently acquired patch." 7 Morphological plasticity in foraging behavior explains the "different patterns of spacer production and hence different patterns in the placement of resource-acquiring structures."…”

“…Along these lines, "foraging responses are reversible over the long run" and, in some species such as H. glabara, can be reversed very quickly, in tune with the fluctuations in environmental heterogeneity. 6 The modular architecture of roots and branches, seeking optimal growth, spatially reflects the modulations in the plants' attention. 7 The interactions among at least 15 environmental factors, to which this attention can turn, and the enormous range of responses their combinations are responsible for 25 further contribute to the freedom of attention-laden behavior in plants.…”