Comparative studies were conducted to evaluate intraspecific variation
in leaf elongation and biomass partitioning in response to flooding s
tress in populations of Spartina alterniflora a, S. patens, and Panicu
m hemitomon. These populations were collected along the Louisiana and
Texas coasts and grown for four to six vegetative propagations in the
greenhouse. Plants were flooded to a maximum water level of 39 cm abov
e the soil surface for approximately 2 months and leaf elongation rate
s, soil redox potentials, and final biomass of each population were me
asured. Tests of flooding response between the populations indicated s
ignificant ecotypic differentiation in biomass partitioning. Using a r
otated principal components analysis, we identified the three most flo
od tolerant and the three least flood tolerant populations for each sp
ecies, with greater below-ground and below-water biomass or total biom
ass production characterizing greater flood tolerance. The ability to
select more flood tolerant populations has direct application in wetla
nd creation and restoration. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.