The dynamics of five grasses and white clover in a simulated mosaic sward

Using Lolium perenne, Agrostis capillaris, Holcus lanatus, Poa trivialis, Cynosurus cristatus and Trifolium repens, neighbour effects were studied in mosaic swards consisting of hexagonal patches. Trifolium was by the most mobile species. Only 20% of its biomass was in native hexagons, ie in which it had been sown. The stoloniferous Agrostis and Poa divided their biomass about equally between native hexagons and those in which they were not sown. The stoloniferous species were most effective in colonizing empty space. Cynosurus was the least mobile species with almost 90% of its biomass in native hexagons. The hypothesis that the spread of species into adjacent hexagons is independent of the specific identity of neighbours was falsified. Each species was invaded to the same relative extent by all the others. The decreasing order of preference of neighbours was established as: Trifolium>Poa>Lolium>Cynosurus>Holcus>Agrostis. Pattern in plant communities cannot be viewed on a single spatial or temporal scale. -from Author