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Influences of simulated grazing and water-depth on the growth of juvenile Bolboschoenus caldwellii, Phragmites australis and Schoenoplectus validus plants
Hayball, N.; Pearce, M. (2004). Influences of simulated grazing and water-depth on the growth of juvenile Bolboschoenus caldwellii, Phragmites australis and Schoenoplectus validus plants. Aquat. Bot. 78(3): 233-242. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2003.10.004
In: Aquatic Botany. Elsevier Science: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0304-3770; e-ISSN 1879-1522, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Behaviour > Feeding behaviour > Grazing
    Dimensions > Depth > Water depth
    Flora > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic plants
    Population characteristics > Biomass
    Population functions > Growth
    Submergence
    Bolboschoenus caldwellii; Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. [WoRMS]; Schoenoplectus validus
    Australia [Marine Regions]
    Fresh water
Author keywords
    biomass; emergent macrophytes; growth response; clipping

Authors  Top 
  • Hayball, N., correspondent
  • Pearce, M.

Abstract
    An experiment in a greenhouse was conducted over a 6-week period to investigate how simulated grazing (i.e. clipping) and submersion affects the growth of three juvenile emergent macrophytes: Bolboschoenus caldwellii (V. Cook) Sojak, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. and Schoenoplectus validus (Vahl) A. Love & D. Love. Five plant traits (total plant length, number of shoots, above-ground biomass, root and rhizome biomass, tuber biomass) were recorded in response to different treatments. Treatments included clipping frequency (i.e. clipped once or clipped every 7 days), clipping intensity (i.e. no clipping, 50% clipped and 100% clipped), and submersion treatments (water-depth of 0 and 10 cm). The general response of the three species to increased clipping frequency and intensity was a greater reduction in above-ground biomass, total plant length and the number of shoots produced. Almost no growth occurred in all three species when clipped 100% every 7 days. Clipping and water-depth treatments had no significant effect on root growth in all three species. Compared to the clipping treatments, the change in water-depth had less effect on the three species growth response. Only the number of shoots produced by P. australis was significantly reduced with increased water-depth. The removal of 50% of S. validus plant tissue grown in damp conditions (water-depth of 0 cm), however, did not reduce above-ground biomass.

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