Page 80 - Knighted_2018

the difference between swale and foredune did approach significance with a p-value of 0.070.
No statistical significance was found in the average number of lateral ramets per main ramet (p-
value of 0.659), average number of leaves on main ramet (p-value of 0.273), or average number
of leaves per lateral ramet (p-value of 0.115) with ANOVA.

ANOVA showed the number of reproductive structures on whole plants to be statistically
significant with a p-value of 0.039. Tukey’s post hoc comparison determined a p-value of 0.036
between the foredune and the swale, 0.040 between the foredune and dune, and 0.023 between
the foredune and the backdune. The average lengths of lateral ramets was also significant
through ANOVA with a p-value of 0.035. Tukey’s post hoc comparison determined a p-value of
0.038 between the dune and the foredune and 0.05 between the foredune and the backdune. The
average number of nodes per lateral ramet was determined significant with a p-value in ANOVA
of 0.043. Tukey’s post hoc comparison provided a p-value of 0.032 between the dune and the
swale, with a p-value approaching significance (0.07) between the dune and the shellhash. The
average nodal distance was significant with a p-value of 0.005 in ANOVA. Tukey’s post hoc
comparison determined a p-value of 0.005 between the foredune and the shellhash, and a p-value
of 0.011 between the foredune and the backdune.
Discussion

While no individual genets were found to forage into different habitats, there may still
exist resource sharing between main and lateral ramets in a more localized environment. Since
underground structures of Hydrocotyle bonariensis were observed to be intertwined with the root
systems of other dune flora, it may be important to consider the beach plant community as
functioning together in certain respects. Utilizing H. bonariensis with other naturally occurring
conspecifics may increase the effectiveness of natural dune building and retention. As for the

75