Frequency distribution of genets (genet size) for populations of <i>C</i>. <i>papyrus</i> across papyrus swamps in Lake Tana basin, Ethiopia for 2014 and 2016 pooled over two contrasting sedimentation regimes.

<p>Frequency distribution of genets (genet size) for populations of <i>C</i>. <i>papyrus</i> across papyrus swamps in Lake Tana basin, Ethiopia for 2014 and 2016 pooled over two contrasting sedimentation regimes.</p

Clonal diversity and structure measures of <i>C</i>. <i>papyrus</i> ramets sampled in three papyrus swamps in Lake Tana under two sedimentation regimes during 2014 and 2016.

<p>Clonal diversity and structure measures of <i>C</i>. <i>papyrus</i> ramets sampled in three papyrus swamps in Lake Tana under two sedimentation regimes during 2014 and 2016.</p

Genetic diversity measures and characteristics of twenty microsatellite loci from <i>C</i>. <i>papyrus</i> genets (Total N = 141, per population = 47) of three populations of Lake Tana (Ethiopia).

<p>Genetic diversity measures and characteristics of twenty microsatellite loci from <i>C</i>. <i>papyrus</i> genets (Total N = 141, per population = 47) of three populations of Lake Tana (Ethiopia).</p

Relationship between clonal growth, diversity and structure parameters for papyrus populations data collated for two sediment regimes in two years (Spearman’s correlation coefficient).

<p>Relationship between clonal growth, diversity and structure parameters for papyrus populations data collated for two sediment regimes in two years (Spearman’s correlation coefficient).</p

Map of Lake Tana with the papyrus swamps studied and the proportion of genets evolved temporally across two sediment regimes.

<p>Blue represents genets only evolved in 2014, red only in 2016, and green in both years. Where 1 = HSR and 2 = LSR The map is reprinted from Chebud and Melese [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0190810#pone.0190810.ref057" target="_blank">57</a>] under a CC BY license, with permission from [John Wiley and Sons], and with the original copyright [2009] used as a shapefile.</p

Clonal growth traits of <i>C</i>. <i>papyrus</i> across sedimentation regimes.

<p>Clonal growth traits of <i>C</i>. <i>papyrus</i> across sedimentation regimes.</p

Clonal growth strategy, diversity and structure: A spatiotemporal response to sedimentation in tropical <i>Cyperus papyrus</i> swamps

<div><p>Land degradation and soil erosion in the upper catchments of tropical lakes fringed by papyrus vegetation can result in a sediment load gradient from land to lakeward. Understanding the dynamics of clonal modules (ramets and genets) and growth strategies of plants on such a gradient in both space and time is critical for exploring a species adaptation and processes regulating population structure and differentiation. We assessed the spatial and temporal dynamics in clonal growth, diversity, and structure of an emergent macrophyte, <i>Cyperus papyrus</i> (papyrus), in response to two contrasting sedimentation regimes by combining morphological traits and genotype data using 20 microsatellite markers. A total of 636 ramets from six permanent plots (18 x 30 m) in three Ethiopian papyrus swamps, each with discrete sedimentation regimes (high vs. low) were sampled for two years. We found that ramets under the high sedimentation regime (HSR) were significantly clumped and denser than the sparse and spreading ramets under the low sedimentation regime (LSR). The HSR resulted in significantly different ramets with short culm height and girth diameter as compared to the LSR. These results indicated that <i>C</i>. <i>papyrus</i> ameliorates the effect of sedimentation by shifting clonal growth strategy from guerrilla (in LSR) to phalanx (in HSR). Clonal richness, size, dominance, and clonal subrange differed significantly between sediment regimes and studied time periods. Each swamp under HSR revealed a significantly high clonal richness (<i>R</i> = 0.80) as compared to the LSR (<i>R</i> = 0.48). Such discrepancy in clonal richness reflected the occurrence of initial and repeated seedling recruitment strategies as a response to different sedimentation regimes. Overall, our spatial and short-term temporal observations highlighted that HSR enhances clonal richness and decreases clonal subrange owing to repeated seedling recruitment and genets turnover.</p></div