Schematic representation of the experimental design.

<p>Clonal fragments of the invasive plant <i>A. philoxeroides</i> or native plant <i>J. repens</i>, each consisting of three basal ramets (dark grey circles) and two apical ramets (light gray circles) with a stolon apex (horizontal arrow), were grown either with (competition) or without (control) competitive vegetation (<i>J. repens</i> or <i>A. philoxeroides</i>, spot-shadow) and with stolon connections between basal and apical ramets were either intact or severed (fork). Three integration treatments were used as follows: severed (stolon connections severed by the scissors), intact (stolon connections kept intact) and nutrient (stolon connections kept intact and with basal ramets in fertilized habitats).</p

Summary of MANOVA and univariate ANOVA for effects of integration treatments and competition on biomass allocation of the two clonal plants in the apical sections.

<p>Significant <i>P</i>-values are presented in bold.</p><p>LMR: leaf mass ratio, SMR: stolon mass ratio, RMR: root mass ratio.</p><p>Values give <i>F</i>; symbols give <i>P</i>: * P<0.05; ** P<0.01; *** P<0.001.</p

Effects of integration treatments and competition on photosynthetic performance of the two clonal plants.

<p>The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (<i>F</i>_v/<i>F</i>_m) and the effective quantum yield of PSII (Yield) of the invasive plant <i>A. philoxeroides</i> (left: A, B) or native plant <i>J. repens</i> (right: C, D) in the apical sections, grown either with or without competitive vegetation (<i>J. repens</i> or <i>A. philoxeroides</i>) in three integration treatments. Data indicate the means ± SE.</p

Effects of integration treatments and competition on biomass allocation of the two clonal plants.

<p>Biomass allocation (LMR, leaf mass ratio; SMR, stolon mass ratio; RMR, root mass ratio) of the invasive plant <i>A. philoxeroides</i> (left: A, B, C) or native plant <i>J. repens</i> (right: E, F, G) in the apical sections, grown either with or without competitive vegetation (<i>J. repens</i> or <i>A. philoxeroides</i>) in three integration treatments. Data indicate the means ± SE.</p

Effects of integration treatments on the relative neighbour effect (RNE) of the two clonal plants.

<p>The relative neighbour effect (RNE) of the invasive plant <i>A. philoxeroides</i> and native plant <i>J. repens</i> in the apical sections in three integration treatments. Data indicate the means ± SE. Bars sharing the same letter are not significantly different at <i>P</i> = 0.05.</p

Summary of MANOVA and univariate ANOVA for effects of integration treatments and competition on growth measures of the two clonal plants in the apical sections.

<p>Significant <i>P</i>-values are presented in bold.</p><p>Values give <i>F</i>; symbols give <i>P</i>: * P<0.05; ** P<0.01; *** P<0.001.</p