Despite the substantial knowledge of the variation in cytotypes at large spatial scales for many plants, little is known about the rates at which novel cytotypes arise or the frequencies and distributions of cytotypes at local spatial scales. The frequency distribution, local spatial structure, and role of habitat differentiation of tetra-, penta- and hexaploid cytotypes of the bulbous geophyte Allium oleraceum were assessed in 21 populations sampled in the Czech Republic. The ploidy levels determined by flow cytometry confirmed that there was a mixture consisting of two or three cytotypes (i.e. 4x+5x, 4x+6x, 5x+6x, 4x+5x+6x). In addition, mixtures of cytotypes were found at sites previously considered to be cytotype-homogeneous. At all sites previously found to contain a mixture of two cytotypes, no plants with the third ploidy level were found. Although the relative frequencies of cytotypes varied considerably both among and within populations, mixed populations consisting of tetra- and hexaploids were usually dominated by tetraploids. This suggests that there are secondary contacts among cytotypes but there is little gene flow among them except for the rare formation of hexaploids in tetraploid populations. Cytotypes were not randomly distributed over the study area but were spatially segregated at either 47.6% or 61.9% of the sites investigated, depending on the statistical test (Mantel test or average distance test) used. When the composition of habitats at each of the sites is taken into account, cytotypes were more frequently spatially segregated at sites with a heterogeneous environment than a homogeneous environment. This implies that the cytotypes are ecologically differentiated. The frequent co-occurrence of cytotypes, with or without significant spatial segregation, at many sites with heterogeneous or homogeneous environments, however, suggests that niche differentiation alone is probably ineffective in determining co-occurrence. It is supposed that the prevailing vegetative reproduction associated with local dispersal, a high population density of the species in a landscape, and non-equilibrial processes influencing the establishment and extinction of A. oleraceum populations can also support the local co-occurrence of cytotypes.
Genet life span is a key demographic trait for understanding life history of plants. However, the longevity of clonal plants is hard to determine, especially when inter-ramet connections are short-lived and plants subsequently move independently of one another in space by means of an expansive growth strategy. In this study we estimated genet life span in the clonal pioneer species Geum reptans, living on glacier forelands, by using a projection matrix model based on demographic field data of ramets collected at two sites and in three subsequent years. We then calculated genet age structure at different population ages using multiple simulations, including a maximum carrying capacity and density-dependent mortality. Additionally, we estimated the age of the two field populations by comparing results from simulations with population structure recorded in the field. According to our simulations, more than half of the genets die within the first three decades. However, a considerable proportion survived more than 50 years and some genets even became immortal as they produced so many ramets that the risk of the entire genet becoming extinct was zero. Simulated genet age structures were strongly left skewed with many young and a few very old genets. The rather low carrying capacity was reached only after 350 years, after which density-dependent mortality started to influence genet age structure considerably. The age of the two field populations was estimated to be 250 and 450 years, respectively. Results indicate that in clonal plants, genet immortality can potentially lead to unlimited persistence of established populations. In the case of G. reptans, old populations may experience competition and increased mortality due to the ongoing succession in older parts of the glacier foreland that will prevent populations reaching their maximum carrying capacity. But due to the ability of this plant to colonize new sites and follow retreating ice on glacier forelands, populations of G. reptans can be very old as recorded here for the two field populations in the Swiss Alps.