Survival traits of Crofton weed (Eupatorium adenophorum) seedlings in different habitats

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1003.2008.08035

Abstract

Abstract:

Crofton weed (Eupatorium adenophorum) is a highly invasive species. To provide information for controlling or preventing its spread and invasion, we examined recruitment, survival and flowering characteristics of Crofton weed seedlings through container and field experiments in different habitats between Aug. 2005 and Aug. 2006. The results showed that the probability of a seed developing into a mature plant was only 1.16×10^-13 to 2.43×10^-11. The highest emergence rate (13.93%) and seedling survival rate (79.50%) in the first 10 weeks after seed planting occurred in shady and wet habitats, indicating that these two habitats are favorable for seedling emergence and survival. In addition, seedlings grew better in sunny habitat than in shady habitat when soil water was sufficient. One year after emergence, 3.92% to 5.05% of seedlings flowered. Density of seeds produced by these flowering individuals ranged from 23,000-52,000 ind/m². Although survival rate of individual Crofton weed was low, enormous seed production ensured the successful colonization and development of sustainable populations, especially in humid and shady habitat.

Key words: Eupatorium adenophorum, water, sunshine, exotic species invasion

Jinfang Wang, Xianming Gao, Weiguang Dang. Survival traits of Crofton weed (Eupatorium adenophorum) seedlings in different habitats[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2008, 16(4): 346-352.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1003.2008.08035

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2008/V16/I4/346

Figures/Tables 8

Table 1 Daily precipitation in Panzhihua City during the experiment period (2006)

日期 Date	降水量(mm) Precipitation	日期 Date	降水量(mm) Precipitation	日期 Date	降水量(mm) Precipitation
June 7	1.8	July 4	1.6	July 24	30.4
June 8	7.7	July 5	6.6	July 25	0.1
June 9	13.3	July 7	34.5	July 29	0.7
June 10	11.0	July 8	16.6	July 30	3.3
June 18	20.0	July 9	2.5	July 31	18.0
June 23	63.9	July 11	16.4	Aug. 1	0.9
June 27	49.8	July 12	17.0	Aug. 12	6.8
June 29	0.1	July 16	33.1	Aug. 13	61.0
June 30	22.5	July 18	31.4	Aug. 16	1.0
July 1	76.8	July 19	19.8

Table 2 Emergence rate and livability of Crofton weed during different growing period

	干旱偏阳 Dry and sunny	湿润偏阳 Humid and sunny	干旱偏阴 Dry and shady	湿润偏阴 Humid and shady
盆栽实验 Experiment in pots
种子萌发出现率 Emergence rate of seeds (%)	5.13^a	6.43^a	7.94^a	13.93^b
10周幼苗存活率 Livability in 10 weeks (%)	1.08^a	63.50^b	31.30^c	79.50^b
样方调查 Survey in field
1年生幼苗存活率 Livability in one year (%)	41.47^a	41.09^a	49.47^a	48.84^a
1年生幼苗开花率 Flowering rate of one-year seedlings (%)	5.05^a	3.92^a	4.24^a	4.49^a
从种子到开花个体的概率 Probability of seeds developing into flowering seedlings	1.16×10^-13	6.58×10^-12	5.21×10^-12	2.43×10^-11

Fig. 1 Changes of seedling density in different shady and water treatments. DSu, Dry and sunny; HSu, Humid and sunny; DSh, Dry and shady; HSh, Humid and shady.

Fig. 2 Seasonal changes in seedling density in different habitats. DSu, Dry and sunny; HSu, Humid and sunny; DSh, Dry and shady; HSh, Humid and shady.

Fig. 3 Total biomass of seedlings in pot during 10 weeks. The bars that share the same letter are not significantly different from each other (P< 0.05). DSu, Dry and sunny; HSu, Humid and sunny; DSh, Dry and shady; HSh, Humid and shady.

Fig. 5 Seedling height in different habitats one year after emergence. The bars that share the same letter are not significantly different from each other (P < 0.05). DSu, Dry and sunny; HSu, Humid and sunny; DSh, Dry and shady; HSh, Humid and shady.

Fig. 4 Average biomass of seedling in pot during 10 weeks. The bars that share the same letter are not significantly different from each other (P< 0.05). DSu, Dry and sunny; HSu, Humid and sunny; DSh, Dry and shady; HSh, Humid and shady.

Fig. 6 Density of flowering and total plants in different habitats. The bars that share the same letter are not significantly different from each other (P< 0.05). DSu, Dry and sunny; HSu, Humid and sunny; DSh, Dry and shady; HSh, Humid and shady.

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