The Plant Invader Benefits from Clonal Integration More than Its Native Co-Genus in Response to Patch Contrast.

Different connected parts of clonal plants often grow in different patches and the resource contrast between patches has an important effect on the material transfer between the connected ramets. However, it is unclear whether the effect of clonal integration differs between the invasive clonal plant and the related native species in response to patch contrast. To explore this, we grew the clonal fragment pairs of plant invader and its co-genus native species under high contrast, low contrast, and no contrast (control) nutrient patch environments, respectively, and with stolon connections either severed or kept intact. The results showed that, at the ramet level, clonal integration (stolon connection) significantly improved the growth of apical ramets of both species, and such positive effects were significantly greater in than in . Moreover, clonal integration greatly increased the chlorophyll content index of apical ramets and the growth of basal ramets in but not in under low and high contrast. At the whole fragment level, the benefits of clonal integration increased with increasing patch contrast, and such a positive effect was more pronounced in than in . This study demonstrated that possesses a stronger ability of clonal integration than , especially in patchy environments with a higher degree of heterogeneity, suggesting that clonal integration may give some invasive clonal plants a competitive advantage over native species, thus facilitating their invasion in patchy habitats.