Colchicum autumnale L.

110 Pages·2014·5.01 MB·English

by  Jung, Linda S.

Regulation of Meadow Saffron
(Colchicum autumnale L.)
in non-intensively managed grasslands

Linda S. Jung

Division of Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning
Justus-Liebig-University Giessen

Division of Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning
Justus-Liebig-University Giessen

Regulation of Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale L.)
in non-intensively managed grasslands

Dissertation for the degree of
Doctor agriculturae (Dr. agr.)

submitted to the
Faculty Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences
and Environmental Management at
Justus‐Liebig‐University Giessen

submitted by
Dipl.‐Biol. Linda S. Jung

Giessen, June 2014

Dean of Faculty 09: Prof. Dr. Dr. Peter Kämpfer

Accepted on the recommendation of
Prof. Dr. Dr. Annette Otte, examiner
Prof. Dr. Bernd Honermeier, co‐examiner
List of publications

List of publications
The thesis ‘Regulation of Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale L.) in non-
intensively managed grasslands’ is based on the following three papers:

1. Jung L.S., Winter S., Eckstein R.L., Kriechbaum M., Karrer G., Welk E., Elsässer M.,
Donath T.W., Otte A. (2011). Biological flora of Central Europe: Colchicum
autumnale L. Perspectives of Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 13: 227-
244.
2. Jung L.S., Eckstein R.L., Otte A. & Donath T.W. (2012). Above- and below-ground
nutrient and alkaloid dynamics in Colchicum autumnale: optimal mowing dates for
population control or low hay toxicity. Weed Research 52: 348-357.
3. Winter S., Jung L.S., Eckstein R.L., Otte A., Donath T.W. & Kriechbaum M. (2014).
Control of the toxic plant Colchicum autumnale in semi-natural grasslands: effects
of cutting treatments on demography and diversity. Journal of Applied Ecology 51:
524–533.

Author’s contribution:
In paper 1, the first two authors contributed equally doing the main literature
collection, survey and writing of the paper and incorporated results from own field
experiments. The co-author E. Welk generated the distribution map and interpreted it.
Other co-authors helped clarifying controversial points and contributed with valuable
ideas and suggestions.
In paper 2, I did the main field work, data analysis and paper writing. The co-authors
initiated the study, planned the design and improved the paper with their criticism and
comments.
In paper 3, the first two authors contributed equally. They conducted the main part
of the field work, data analysis and writing. Co-authors provided the idea and design for
the study, helped with field work and data analysis and gave valuable comments to the
paper.

Paper 1 is reprinted with permission from Elsevier B.V., and papers 2 and 3 are
reprinted with permission from John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Contents

Contents
List of Figures v
List of Tables vii
List of Appendices viii
1. General introduction 1
2. Objectives 4
2.1. Characterization of Colchicum autumnale (chapter 5) 4
2.2. Nutrient and alkaloid dynamics of Colchicum autumnale (chapter 6) 5
2.3. Control of Colchicum autumnale in semi‐natural grasslands (chapter 7) 5
3. Study area 6
4. Methods 9
4.1. Colchicum autumnale sampling and preparation 9
4.2. Nutrient and alkaloid analyses 9
4.3. Management experiments 10
4.4. Transition matrix model and population dynamics 12
4.5. Vegetation data 13
4.6. Statistical analyses 13
5. Biological flora of Central Europe: Colchicum autumnale L. 17
5.1. Taxonomy and morphology 18
5.1.1. Taxonomy 18
5.2. Morphology 19
5.2.3. Axis 19
5.2.4. Roots 19
5.2.5. Leaves 20
5.2.6. Flowers 20
5.2.7. Ovary and seeds 21
5.3. Distribution and habitat requirements 21
5.3.1. Geographical distribution 21
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Contents

5.3.2. Distribution limits 21
5.3.3. Northward range expansion 23
5.3.4. Habitat 23
5.3.5. Communities 23
5.3.6. Response to abiotic factors 24
5.3.7. Abundance 24
5.4. Life cycle and biology 24
5.4.1. Life cycle 24
5.4.2. Spatial distribution of plants within populations 25
5.4.3. Phenology 26
5.4.4. Reproduction 26
5.4.5. Germination 27
5.4.6. Response to competition and management 28
5.4.7. Herbivores and pathogens 29
5.4.8. Mykorrhiza 29
5.4.9. Physiological data 29
5.4.10. Biochemical data 30
5.4.11. Genetic data 30
5.4.12. Hybrids 30
5.4.13. Status of species 30
5.5. Acknowledgements 31
5.6. References 31
6. Above‐ and below‐ground nutrient and alkaloid dynamics in Colchicum
autumnale: optimal mowing dates for population control or low hay toxicity 36
6.1. Introduction 37
6.2. Materials and methods 39
6.2.1. Study sites 39
6.2.2. Plant sampling and preparation 39
6.2.3. Nutrient and alkaloid analyses 40
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Contents

6.2.4. Statistical analyses 40
6.3. Results 41
6.3.1. Differences between biogeographical regions 41
6.3.1.1. Nutrient contents 41
6.3.1.2. Alkaloid content 41
6.4. Discussion 43
6.4.1. Differences between biogeographical regions 43
6.4.2. Management option 1: Reduction in population density of
Colchicum autumnale 44
6.4.3. Management option 2: Decreased alkaloid content in Colchicum
autumnale 45
6.5. Acknowledgements 45
6.6. References 45
7. Control of the toxic plant Colchicum autumnale in semi‐natural grasslands:
effects of cutting treatments on demography and diversity 47
7.1. Introduction 48
7.2. Material and methods 49
7.2.1. Study species 49
7.2.2. Study sites and management design 49
7.2.3. Transition matrix model and populations dynamics 50
7.2.4. Vegetation data 51
7.2.5. Statistical analyses 51
7.3. Results 51
7.3.1. Survival probability 51
7.3.2. Transition to generative plants 51
7.3.3. Population growth rate 51
7.3.4. Life‐table response experiments 52
7.4. Discussion 53
7.4.1. Effects of treatment regimes on Colchicum autumnale 53
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Contents

7.4.2. Effects of treatment regimes on plant species richness and
composition 54
7.4.3. Conclusions 55
7.5. Acknowledgements 55
7.6. References 56
8. General discussion 58
8.1. Characterization of Colchicum autumnale 58
8.2. Differences between biogeographical regions 59
8.3. Implications of nutrient and alkaloid dynamics for Colchicum autumnale
management 60
8.4. Effects of cutting regimes on population development of C. autumnale 61
8.5. Effects of treatment regimes on plant species richness and composition 62
8.6. Conclusions 63
9. Summary 66
10. Zusammenfassung 68
11. References 70
12. Acknowledgements 77
13. Appendix 79

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List of figures

List of Figures
Chapter 3
Fig. 1: Study area 76
Chapter 5
Fig. 1: Longitudinal section through the base of a flowering Colchicum autumnale
plant 19
Fig. 2: Longitudinal‐section through a ripe seed of Colchicum autumnale 21
Fig. 3: The geographical distribution of Colchicum autumnale 22
Fig. 4: Box and whisker plots of the altitudinal distribution of Colchicum
autumnale along latitude classes of one degree 22
Fig. 5: Life cycle graph of Colchicum autumnale 25
Fig. 6: Germinating seed of Colchicum autumnale 27
Chapter 6
Fig. 1: Mean daily temperature at 2 cm below soil surface in 2009 39
Fig. 2: Ratios of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium between aboveground and
below‐ground plant parts, and starch content in below‐ground plant parts
of Colchicum autumnale
42
Fig. 3: Alkaloid content in above‐ground parts of Colchicum autumnale 42
Fig. 4: Temporal course of mean content of nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium and alkaloids in above‐ground parts of Colchicum autumnale 43
Fig. 5: Temporal course of mean content of nutrients in storage organs of
Colchicum autumnale 44
Fig. 6: Temporal course of mean dry weight in above‐ground parts and storage
organs of Colchicum autumnale 44

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List of figures

Chapter 7
Fig. 1: Life stages of Colchicum autumnale 50
Fig. 2: Mean survival probability of Colchicum autumnale under different
treatments in Germany and Austria from 2008 – 2011 53
Fig. 3: Mean transition probability to a generative plant of Colchicum autumnale
under different treatments for 3 years of transition in Germany and
Austria
53
Fig. 4: Mean population growth rates of Colchicum autumnale for three
transitions under different treatments in Germany and Austria 54
Fig. 5: Contribution of vital rates to the difference in population growth rate
between the control and other treatments in Colchicum autumnale
populations of Germany and Austria, as determined by LTRE
55

Appendix
Fig. S1: Survival probability of Colchicum autumnale under different treatments 81
Fig. S2: Transition probability to the generative stage of Colchicum autumnale
under different treatments 82

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