Advances in clonal plant habitat selection research

In natural ecosystems, the essential resources usually exhibit heterogeneous distribution pattern. Clonal plants can effectively utilize the patchy distribution of resources by selectively placing their new offspring ramets to occupy new habitats, thereby enhancing the adaptability of the entire clone and consequently increasing its competitiveness. Additionally, clonal plants are crucial in maintaining community productivity and stability. Therefore, in recent years, researchers have paid a lot of attention to studies on habitat selection by clonal plants in heterogeneous resource environments. This review, building upon the fundamentals of habitat selection and foraging behavior, elaborates on the performance and patterns of clonal plant habitat selection from three perspectives: The selective placement of nutrient-absorbing structures, growth patterns, and biomass allocation. The review encompasses recent studies in the field, addressing how clonal plants perceive environmental information, the mechanisms through which clonal integration influences plant habitat selection, and the regulation of habitat selection behavior by epigenetic memory. Also, explores and suggests promising directions for further research in clonal plant habitat selection, aiming to provide a new perspective for a comprehensive understanding of plant habitat selection behavior.