1. Calcium and pH co-restrict abundance of Drosera rotundifolia (Droseraceae) in a Sphagnum bog in central British Columbia
- Author
-
Jones, James M.C., Massicotte, Hugues B., and Fredeen, Arthur L.
- Subjects
Peat -- Physiological aspects ,Peat-bogs -- Environmental aspects ,Soil moisture -- Environmental aspects ,Sundew -- Environmental aspects -- Physiological aspects -- Chemical properties ,Soil acidity -- Environmental aspects ,Biological sciences - Abstract
The genus Drosera (sundews) is represented in British Columbia (BC), Canada, by Drosera rotundifolia (L.), Drosera anglica (Huds.), and their hybrid Drosera x obovata (Mert. & W.D.J. Koch). All three can be found in Sphagnum bogs of central BC, including those within the Aleza Lake Research Forest (ALRF) located 60 km east of Prince George. Vegetation patterns in bogs are known to be correlated with light, water, and nutrient gradients, and despite information being available on the influence of light and water on Drosera occurrence, little information is known about the role of nutrients. Here, we focused on a bog containing all three Drosera species, to determine whether nutrient levels are related to the abundance of the widespread species, D. rotundifolia. Univariate regression tree analysis between soil water chemistry and D. rotundifolia numbers indicates that D. rotundifolia is a calcifuge, preferring moderately acidic soil pH (>5.5) and relatively low calcium levels ( Key words: Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera anglica, calcium, Sphagnum peatlands, carnivorous plants. Le genre Drosera (<>) est represente en Colombie-Britannique (CB), au Canada, par Drosera rotundifolia (L.), Drosera anglica (Huds.) et leur hybride Drosera x obovata (Mert. & W.D.J. Koch). Tous trois peuvent se trouver dans les tourbieres du centre de la CB, incluant les tourbieres de la foret d'enseignement et de recherche d'Aleza Lake situee a 60 km a l'est de Prince George. Les patrons de vegetation des tourbieres sont connus pour etre correles avec les gradients de lumiere, d'eau et de nutriments, et malgre le fait que l'information sur l'influence de la lumiere et de l'eau sur la presence de Drosera soit disponible, le role des nutriments est peu connu. Les auteurs se concentrent ici sur une tourbiere comportant les trois especes de Drosera afin de determiner si les niveaux de nutriments sont relies a l'abondance de l'espece repandue D. rotundifolia. L'analyse d'un arbre de regression multivariable entre la chimie de l'eau du sol et le nombre d'individus indique que D. rotundifolia est un calcifuge, preferant les sols a pH moderement acides (5,5) et a niveaux de calcium relativement faibles ( Mots-cles: Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera anglica, calcium, tourbieres, plantes carnivores., Introduction Members of the sundew genus Drosera represent a number of scientifically important species. Widely known for their carnivorous habit, sundews are key models for ecological processes such as plant [...]
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF