Spatial Distribution Pattern of Populations of Isoetes sinensis Palmer, an Endangered Quillwort in China

0 IntroductionItshoeet essuibsdi avi spiroin mi tLiyvceo pvsaisdcaul,a rw hpilcahnt t aclkaesssi faie dve riyni mportant positioninthe evolutionary history of thepteridophytes .Isoetes sinensisis also representativeof a li mited number of aquatic plants that displaycrassulacean acid metabolism[1], which renders thespecies especially valuable for research into thisunique metabolic pathway.Ecology attaches i mportance to the study ofpatterns of various scales[2].The spatial distributionpattern …

Spatial distribution pattern of populations ofIsoetes sinensis palmer, an endangered Quillwort in China

The distribution pattern of Isoetes sinensis populations was investigated in relation to its biological characteristics such as age structure and regeneration mode, and the microenvironment. Contagious distribution pattern was found in populations of all sizes. Under the same climatic and site conditions, the heterogeneity of mieroenvironment resulting from the different depths of water and soil erosion significantly affecred the type and scale of distribution patterns of Isoetes sinensis populations. Even at the same site, the center and the edges of the water body had different effects on the distribution pattern of the plants. As one of the co-dominants, the distribution of Isoetes sinensis in communities was affected by other dominant species, especially by the evergreen grass species. Water is the major factor determining the distribution pattern of lsoetes sinensis in various communities. The pattern of contagious distribution was observed in different size of populations of I.sinensis, however the Lloyd indices obtained for the populations of various sizes differed significantly.