Page 73 - Knighted_2018

Samples of dune and backdune were collected from transect 2 on May 24, 2017. Plants were kept
in coolers on ice throughout transport to the laboratory. Upon arrival at laboratory, bags were
stored in a refrigerator.

In the laboratory, whole genets were removed from bags and measured with a Stanley™
tape measure. Total length, distance between nodes and length of all lateral ramets were
measured in cm and recorded. Number of leaves were noted and recorded for each main and
lateral ramet. Leaves were removed after counting and donated to a sister research project.
Inflorescences on the genet were counted and number of inflorescences per lateral ramet were
noted. Total number of nodes was also counted for each main and lateral ramet.

Analysis: Average length of main ramet, average number of nodes per main ramet,
average number of lateral ramets per main ramet, average number of inflorescences per genet,
average length of lateral ramets, average number of nodes per lateral ramet, average internode
distance on main ramets, average number of leaves per main ramet, average number of leaves
per lateral ramet, and number of leaves to ramet length for both main and lateral ramets was
calculated. ANOVA and Tukey post hoc comparisons were performed on all data sets.
Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redman, WA) was utilized to process data and graphs.
JASP statistical software (JASP, Amsterdam, Netherlands) was used to perform statistical
analysis.
Results

Four plants were excavated from the foredune, nine from the dune, 15 from the swale, ten
from the shellhash, and twelve from the backdune. No ramets sampled spanned habitats. Samples
were observed intertwined with other dune associates’ roots.

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