Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Couteron Pierre, Anthelme Fabien, Clerc M., Escaff D., Fernandez-Oto C., Tlidi M. (2014). Plant clonal morphologies and spatial patterns as self-organized responses to resource-limited environments. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A : Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences, 372 (2027), art. 20140102 [17 p.]. ISSN 1364-503X.

Titre du document
Plant clonal morphologies and spatial patterns as self-organized responses to resource-limited environments
Année de publication
2014
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000342745400019
Auteurs
Couteron Pierre, Anthelme Fabien, Clerc M., Escaff D., Fernandez-Oto C., Tlidi M.
Source
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A : Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences, 2014, 372 (2027), art. 20140102 [17 p.] ISSN 1364-503X
We propose here to interpret and model peculiar plant morphologies (cushions and tussocks) observed in the Andean Altiplano as localized structures. Such structures resulting in a patchy, aperiodic aspect of the vegetation cover are hypothesized to self-organize thanks to the interplay between facilitation and competition processes occurring at the scale of basic plant components biologically referred to as 'ramets'. (Ramets are often of clonal origin.) To verify this interpretation, we applied a simple, fairly generic model (one integro-differential equation) emphasizing via Gaussian kernels non-local facilitative and competitive feedbacks of the vegetation biomass density on its own dynamics. We show that under realistic assumptions and parameter values relating to ramet scale, the model can reproduce some macroscopic features of the observed systems of patches and predict values for the inter-patch distance that match the distances encountered in the reference area (Sajama National Park in Bolivia). Prediction of the model can be confronted in the future with data on vegetation patterns along environmental gradients so as to anticipate the possible effect of global change on those vegetation systems experiencing constraining environmental conditions.
Plan de classement
Sciences fondamentales / Techniques d'analyse et de recherche [020] ; Sciences du monde végétal [076] ; Etudes, transformation, conservation du milieu naturel [082]
Description Géographique
ANDES ; BOLIVIE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010062599]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010062599
Contact