INVESTIGADORES
BALDI Ricardo
artículos
Título:
Sex-related patterns of Poa ligularis in relation to shrub patch occurence in northern Patagonia
Autor/es:
BERTILLER M.B.; ARES J.O.; GRAFF P.; BALDI R.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE
Editorial:
Opulus Press
Referencias:
Lugar: Uppsala; Año: 2000 vol. 11 p. 9 - 14
ISSN:
1100-9233
Resumen:
Poa ligularis is a forage dioecious species  and a valuable plant widespread in the arid steppe of northern Patagonia (Argentina). The vegetation in these areas consists of a system of perennial plant patches alternating with bare soil areas defining contrasting microenvironments. We hypothesized that (1) male and female individuals  of P. ligularis are spatially segregated in different microenvironments, (2) the intensity of  spatial segregation of sexes depends on plant structure and (3) spatial segregation of sexes is enhanced by competitive interactions between the sexes within the vegetation patches. We analyzed the spatial distribution of female and male individuals in  relation with the spatial pattern of vegetation in two areas differing in their vegetation structure. Also, the location of P. ligularis within patches where either male, female or both sexes occurred was analyzed. The results indicate that different patterns of spatial distribution of sexes of P. ligularis  may be found at  the community level depending on the dominant life-forms and  geometric structure of  plant patches. Where patches are of a lower height, with a high internal patch cover, individuals of both sexes  are concentrated  within patch canopies. In sites characterized by large and tall patches with  less internal patch cover suitable microsites for female and male P. ligularis occur both within and outside the patch with males located at higher distances to the  patch edge. Where the patch is large and tall enough to allow the establishment of males and females at relative high numbers, males occupy the patch periphery or even colonize the inter-patch bare soil . These  spatial pattern is consistent with selective traits along which females better tolerate intraspecific competition than males, while males tolerate wider fluctuations in the physical environment (soil moisture,  nitrogen availability, wind intensity, etc.).