Estimates of structural complexity in clonal plant morphology: comparisons of grazed and ungrazed Acaena magellanica rhizomes

Moen, Jon; Ingvarsson, Pär K.; Walton, David W.H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7103-4043. 1999 Estimates of structural complexity in clonal plant morphology: comparisons of grazed and ungrazed Acaena magellanica rhizomes. Canadian Journal of Botany, 77 (6). 869-876. 10.1139/b99-047

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b99-047

Abstract/Summary

The aim of this study is to examine the information given by various indices of rhizome morphology that describe grazed and ungrazed rhizome systems of Acaena magellanica (Rosaceae). Internode lengths, branching probabilities, and branching angles were estimated from grazed and ungrazed rhizomes in the field. These parameter values were then used in computer simulations of rhizome growth, and the structural complexity of the simulated rhizomes were described using size, topology, and fractal dimensions. Grazed rhizomes had shorter internodes, higher probabilities of branching, and more open branching angles than ungrazed rhizomes. This resulted in a more directional growth (herring-bone pattern) in the simulated ungrazed rhizomes, whereas the grazed rhizomes had a more space-filling growth pattern. Most indices, even though they are based on different mathematical and theoretical backgrounds, were highly correlated and thus equally good at describing the structural complexity exhibited by the rhizomes. However, indices have different relationships to theories about function, and we suggest that any study of structural complexity of branching systems should use several different indices of shape depending on the questions asked.Key words: Acaena magellanica, fractal dimension, grazing, growth simulation, topology.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1139/b99-047
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	0008-4026
Additional Keywords:	Acaena magellanica, dimensions, fractales, broutage, simulation de croissance, topologie
Date made live:	22 Oct 2013 09:47 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503595

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1139/b99-047

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme

ISSN:

0008-4026

Additional Keywords:

Acaena magellanica, dimensions, fractales, broutage, simulation de croissance, topologie

Date made live:

22 Oct 2013 09:47 +0 (UTC)