Persistence of habitat dominance in the annual Impatiens capensis ( Balsaminaceae).

J. Winsor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Seedling emergence in the field was earlier and occurred over a shorter period in Impatiens capensis than in the perennial species Eupatorium maculatum and Urtica dioica, both in shade and in full sunlight. The sequence of emergence was explained by differential response to temperature. Impatiens capensis had its maximum germination at temperatures as low as 5oC, but E. maculatum and U. dioica occurred only at higher temperatures. Germination of E. maculatum was greatly enhanced by temperatures cycling between 5 and 15oC. Growth rates of I. capensis were less suppressed by the low temperatures prevailing during seedling emergence than were those of E. maculatum and U. dioica. Urtica dioica grown from seed failed to become established in I. capensis stands, but previously established U. dioica plants, transplanted to I. capensis stands, grew and sometimes set seed. The mechanism for persistence of I. capensis includes development of a light-blocking canopy of even-aged individuals. -from Author

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)451-466
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Ecology
Volume71
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1983

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology
  • Plant Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Persistence of habitat dominance in the annual Impatiens capensis ( Balsaminaceae).'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this