DOES CLONAL FRAGMENTATION CONTRIBUTE TO RECRUITMENT IN FESTUCA-NOVAE-ZELANDIAE

The fragmentation of large tussocks into several independent plants ha s been suggested as being important to recruitment in F. novae-zelandi ae populations. This study investigated this suggestion using isozyme electrophoresis to determine the identity of mapped tussocks. Of the p lants electrophoretically surveyed, 58% shared their isozyme profile w ith at least one other plant. The maximum distance observed (2.68 m) b etween pairs of isozymically identical plants was consistent with die age of the grassland and observed rates of radial spread of adjacent t ussocks. While complicating factors in methodology mean that these res ults overestimate the importance of clonal fragmentation, this process does occur in Festuca novae-zelandiae and contributes to the recruitm ent of new individuals. However, in light of the large number of plant s with unique isozyme profiles, establishment from seed appears to be a more important source of recruits than clonal fragmentation in Festu ca novae-zelandiae.