Observations on the colonization of a young polder area in the Netherlands with special reference to the clonal expansion of Phragmites australis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Observations on the colonization of a young polder area in the Netherlands with special reference to the clonal expansion of Phragmites australis

AU - Clevering, O.A.

AU - Van der Toorn, J.

N1 - Reporting year: 2000 Metis note: 2698; CTE; PVP; file:///L:/Endnotedatabases/NIOOPUB/pdfs/Pdfs2000/Clevering_ea_2698.pdf

PY - 2000

Y1 - 2000

N2 - In 1968, the polder Zuidelijk Flevoland was reclaimed in the Netherlands. Observations on species succession were made during a period of seven years in an area later known as the nature reserve Oostvaardersplassen. Directly after reclamation, a large number of plant species were recruited. Here, only the dynamics of the three dominant species will be discussed, i.e. the annual mudflat species Senecio congestus, and the long- lived emergent macrophytes Typha latifolia and Phragmites australia. Small differences in elevation had a large impact on seedling recruitment. Overall, S. congestus dominated in the first year after reclamation, and T. latifolia prevailed during the second and third year. Thereafter, P. australis became dominant, despite fewer seedlings. In the first three years after reclamation, clones of P. australis grew very slowly. afterwards they showed a constant expansion rate of ca. 4 m/yr. However, close to pools waterfowl grazing slowed down the expansion of clones. The observed spatial and temporal variation in the colonization of this young polder area can be explained by species differences in life history traits, resource capture, as well as in the susceptibility to stem- boring insects and waterfowl grazing. [KEYWORDS: herbivory; recruitment; Senecio congestus; succession; Typha latifolia Scirpus-lacustris; seedling growth; typha-latifolia; water-level; succession; submergence; vegetation; drawdown; availability; populations]

AB - In 1968, the polder Zuidelijk Flevoland was reclaimed in the Netherlands. Observations on species succession were made during a period of seven years in an area later known as the nature reserve Oostvaardersplassen. Directly after reclamation, a large number of plant species were recruited. Here, only the dynamics of the three dominant species will be discussed, i.e. the annual mudflat species Senecio congestus, and the long- lived emergent macrophytes Typha latifolia and Phragmites australia. Small differences in elevation had a large impact on seedling recruitment. Overall, S. congestus dominated in the first year after reclamation, and T. latifolia prevailed during the second and third year. Thereafter, P. australis became dominant, despite fewer seedlings. In the first three years after reclamation, clones of P. australis grew very slowly. afterwards they showed a constant expansion rate of ca. 4 m/yr. However, close to pools waterfowl grazing slowed down the expansion of clones. The observed spatial and temporal variation in the colonization of this young polder area can be explained by species differences in life history traits, resource capture, as well as in the susceptibility to stem- boring insects and waterfowl grazing. [KEYWORDS: herbivory; recruitment; Senecio congestus; succession; Typha latifolia Scirpus-lacustris; seedling growth; typha-latifolia; water-level; succession; submergence; vegetation; drawdown; availability; populations]

U2 - 10.1007/BF02803550

DO - 10.1007/BF02803550

M3 - Article

SN - 1211-9520

VL - 35

SP - 375

EP - 387

JO - Folia Geobotanica

JF - Folia Geobotanica

IS - 4

ER -