Physical space interacts with clonal fragmentation and nutrient availability to affect the growth of Salvinia natans

Abstract

Physical space, clonal fragmentation and nutrient availability can each affect the growth of clonal plants, but their interactive effect has been little studied. We grew un-fragmented (connected) and fragmented (disconnected) ramet pairs of the floating, clonal plant Salvinia natans in cylindrical containers with different diameters and heights (volumes) filled with solutions of two nutrient levels (high vs. low). To simulate competition environments that are commonly confronted by S. natans, we also added two ramets of another floating plants Spirodela polyrrhiza in each container. Biomass (total biomass, floating biomass and submerged biomass) and number of ramets of S. salvinia were higher in the containers with a larger diameter. Compared to the low nutrient level, the high nutrient level increased number of ramets, and altered submerged to floating mass ratio of S. salvinia. The impacts of physical space on floating mass and number of ramets were stronger under the high than under the low nutrient level. Clonal fragmentation positively affected biomass in the containers with a smaller volume (a smaller height and diameter), but had little impact in the containers with a larger volume (a larger height or diameter). Our results suggest that physical space can interact with nutrients and clonal fragmentation to affect the performance of S. salvinia under competition.

The connection between the dynamic remodeling of the mitochondrial network and the regulation of muscle mass

“…Reactivation of the autophagy and mitophagy flux with the autophagy activating peptide Tat-beclin1 is sufficient to prevent mitochondrial dysfunction and fiber denervation [ 235 ]. Boosting mitophagy by overexpressing PINK1, Parkin, DRP1, or p62 in Drosophila muscles improves the age-dependent muscle function deterioration and extends lifespan [ 214 , 236 , 237 ]. Moreover, exercise is the best non-pharmacological strategy to reactivate mitophagy, which reduces the accumulation of ROS and thus, improves mitochondrial health and delays the loss of muscle mass that accompanies various pathologies, including aging sarcopenia, heart failure and neurogenic myopathy [ 224 , 238 – 240 ].…”

Effects of fragmentation, cadmium, and nutrients on the growth of a wetland invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides

“…A possible explanation is that the fragments are floating on the water surface and have full access to the nutrient solution, and thus they can easily absorb nutrients even under low nutrient conditions. Furthermore, the positive effects of the high level of nutrient availability to specific plant species may have to be within a certain increase range (Adomako et al, 2020; Si et al, 2019). High nutrient level decreased the root mass and root mass ratio of A. philoxeroides .…”

“…In a network, the connected offspring can exchange water, mineral nutrients, photosynthesis, and signals by spacers (de Kroon & Van Groenendael, 1997; Wang et al, 2017). This growth form enables clonal plants to ecologically dominate in many communities (Meerhoff et al, 2003; Si et al, 2019; Zhang et al, 2019).…”

“…Nutrient availability is a key factor that has a high impact and relevance to wetland plant growth (Jin et al, 2021; Si et al, 2019). The concentration of nutrients in the wetland is increased by human activities such as agricultural runoff and disposal of domestic wastewater (Costa et al, 2009; Frumin & Gildeeva, 2014).…”

“…Another study reported that appropriately increased nutrients attenuated the reduction in relative growth rate of P. stratiotes due to Cr stress (Di Luca et al, 2014). However, once nutrient level gets excessive, it may be toxic to plants and exacerbate the adverse effects of environmental stress on plants (Di Luca et al, 2014; Si et al, 2019; Si, Xue et al, 2020b). Therefore, we need to evaluate the responses of growth, vegetative propagation, and biomass allocation in clonal invasive plants to nutrients and the mixed effects of nutrients and other environmental factors in order to provide a theoretical basis for the control and management of invasive plants in heavy metals‐polluted wetlands.…”