The growth and survival of three closely related Myosotis species in a 3-year transplant experiment

Abstract

We studied the growth and survival of three closely related species (Myosotis caespitosa C.F. Schultz, Myosotis palustris (L.) L. subsp. laxiflora (Reichenb.) Schubler et Martens, and Myosotis nemorosa Besser) in a 3-year reciprocal transplant experiment. Plants from two populations of each species were transplanted into five experimental localities where one of the three Myosotis species was resident. Young plants were planted into three types of competitive microsites as follows: gap, sparse vegetation, and dense vegetation. The experiment demonstrated differences among the species. It also showed large differences among populations within a species. The relative success of the species differed among individual localities and among different microsites, and the favorableness of microsites differed among localities. The Myosotis species typically had an advantage in localities where the species was resident. Myosotis caespitosa exhibited the highest mortality of its clones, particularly under competition, which corresponds well to its habitat preferences (disturbed and short-term sites), but it also exhibited the ability to spread in gaps by secondary rosettes. Myosotis palustris subsp. laxiflora spreads best clonally, but its clonal spread was most suppressed by competition. This was consistent with its ability to colonize quickly vegetation-free sites along water, but with weak competitiveness in later stages of succession. Myosotis nemorosa exhibited the highest survival rate, which fits with its preference for permanent wet grasslands.