Success of the clonal plant Carex arenaria under contrasting light regimes

Röttgermann M, Steinlein T, Beyschlag W. Success of the clonal plant Carex arenaria under contrasting light regimes. Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie. 1999;29:445-449

Effects of Polytrichum piliferum Hedw. on germination and establishment of phanerogamic species on inland dunes

Bechtel A, Röttgermann M, Steinlein T, Beyschlag W. Effects of Polytrichum piliferum Hedw. on germination and establishment of phanerogamic species on inland dunes. Landschaftsentwicklung und Umweltforschung. 1998;107:155-158

Linear relationships between aboveground biomass and plant cover in low open herbaceous vegetation

Rottgermann M, Steinlein T, Beyschlag W, Dietz H. Linear relationships between aboveground biomass and plant cover in low open herbaceous vegetation. JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE. 2000;11(1):145-148.Four herbaceous plant species of a sand dune area and several herb species of an open early-successional patch were investigated for the occurrence of a simple relationship between aboveground biomass and plant cover. Without exception linear regressions of aboveground biomass on plant cover were found with slope factors depending on the growth form of the species. These results suggest that (early) growth of herbaceous plants in low and (temporarily) open vegetation is not affected by possible constraints caused by a decreasing ratio of plant cover to aboveground biomass. The obtained linear relationships could be used for rapid non-destructive determination of aboveground biomass by image-analysis of cover data

Influence of water availability on competitive interactions between plant species on sandy soils

Weigelt A, Rottgermann M, Steinlein T, Beyschlag W. Influence of water availability on competitive interactions between plant species on sandy soils. FOLIA GEOBOTANICA. 2000;35(2):169-178.The gravimetric soil water content of four different successional stages of inland dune vegetation revealed pronounced seasonal changes and particularly a major drought period in the late summer. In order to analyze the effect of these seasonal water changes on the competitive interactions of two dominant species (Carex arenaria and Deschampsia flexuosa) in one of these stages root development was compared under experimentally manipulated water conditions in a minirhizotron experiment. Under well-watered conditions, the root growth of C. arenaria and D. flexuosa was not influenced by competition, but was significantly reduced for C. arenaria at low water availability. Accordingly, the relative yield based on total biomass was significantly lower under water shortage than under well-watered conditions for C. arenaria, indicating higher interspecific competition compared to intraspecific competitive interactions. These results indicate (i) that soil water status is an important factor for belowground competitive interactions and (ii) that seasonal changes in soil water content may have a pronounced effect on the outcome of competition and, in consequence, on the structure of the respective plant communities