The foraging tactics of plants

Authors: Sutherland, W.J. and Stillman, R.A.

Journal: Oikos

Volume: 52

Issue: 3

Pages: 239-244

ISSN: 0030-1299

DOI: 10.2307/3565196

Abstract:

The growth pattern of stoloniferous and rhizomatous plants may be considered analagous to the search path of a foraging animal. Plants often grow in patchy environments and modifications of the growth pattern in response to patch quality may alter the distribution of ramets. The predictions of simulation models are 1) branching probability should be higher in better patches; 2) branching angle should not be modified by patch quality, 3) internode length should decrease with patch quality. Predictions 1) and 2) were consistently supported by the literature review. Prediction 3) was supported in some studies but not others. -from Authors

Source: Scopus

Preferred by: Richard Stillman