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Wigley BJ, Coetsee C, February EC, Dobelmann S, Higgins SI. Will trees or grasses profit from changing rainfall regimes in savannas? THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:2379-2394. [PMID: 38245858 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Increasing rainfall variability is widely expected under future climate change scenarios. How will savanna trees and grasses be affected by growing season dry spells and altered seasonality and how tightly coupled are tree-grass phenologies with rainfall? We measured tree and grass responses to growing season dry spells and dry season rainfall. We also tested whether the phenologies of 17 deciduous woody species and the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index of grasses were related to rainfall between 2019 and 2023. Tree and grass growth was significantly reduced during growing season dry spells. Tree growth was strongly related to growing season soil water potentials and limited to the wet season. Grasses can rapidly recover after growing season dry spells and grass evapotranspiration was significantly related to soil water potentials in both the wet and dry seasons. Tree leaf flushing commenced before the rainfall onset date with little subsequent leaf flushing. Grasses grew when moisture became available regardless of season. Our findings suggest that increased dry spell length and frequency in the growing season may slow down tree growth in some savannas, which together with longer growing seasons may allow grasses an advantage over C3 plants that are advantaged by rising CO2 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Wigley
- Plant Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstrasse 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
- School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela University, George Campus, George, 6530, South Africa
- Savanna Node, Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
| | - Corli Coetsee
- School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela University, George Campus, George, 6530, South Africa
- Savanna Node, Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
| | - Edmund C February
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, HW Pearson Building, University Ave N, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | - Svenja Dobelmann
- Department of Remote Sensing, Institute of Geography, Julius-Maximilians-Universitaet Wuerzburg, 97074, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Steven I Higgins
- Plant Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstrasse 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
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Weides SE, Hájek T, Liancourt P, Herberich MM, Kramp RE, Tomiolo S, Pacheco-Riaño LC, Tielbörger K, Májeková M. Belowground niche partitioning is maintained under extreme drought. Ecology 2024; 105:e4198. [PMID: 37897690 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Belowground niche partitioning presents a key mechanism for maintaining species coexistence and diversity. Its importance is currently reinforced by climate change that alters soil hydrological conditions. However, experimental tests examining the magnitude of its change under climate change are scarce. We combined measurements of oxygen stable isotopes to infer plant water-uptake depths and extreme drought manipulation in grasslands. Belowground niche partitioning was evidenced by different water-uptake depths of co-occurring species under ambient and extreme drought conditions despite an increased overlap among species due to a shift to shallower soil layers under drought. A co-occurrence of contrasting strategies related to the change of species water-uptake depth distribution was likely to be key for species to maintain some extent of belowground niche partitioning and could contribute to stabilizing coexistence under drought. Our results suggest that belowground niche partitioning could mitigate negative effects on diversity imposed by extreme drought under future climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie E Weides
- Plant Ecology Group, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Ecology Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tomáš Hájek
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Pierre Liancourt
- Plant Ecology Group, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Botany Department, State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Rosa E Kramp
- Plant Ecology Group, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sara Tomiolo
- Plant Ecology Group, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Katja Tielbörger
- Plant Ecology Group, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maria Májeková
- Plant Ecology Group, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Gámez S, Harris NC. Conceptualizing the 3D niche and vertical space use. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:953-962. [PMID: 35872027 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Spatial partitioning in ecological communities has predominantly been described in two dimensions, yet habitat is complex and 3D. Complex space use mediates community structure and interaction strength by expanding spatial, temporal, and dietary dimensions. Vertical stratification of resources provides opportunities for novel specializations, creating a 3D niche. Competition and predation are mediated by 3D space use, as individuals use the vertical axis to access prey, flee predators, or avoid competitors. The 3D niche is important for long-term conservation strategies as species must navigate tradeoffs in habitat use between strata-specific threats and suboptimal habitat patches. Ultimately, elucidating the 3D niche has implications for protected area management and corridor design that directly influence species persistence and ecosystem function in a rapidly changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siria Gámez
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Nyeema C Harris
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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Veblen KE, Nehring KC, Duniway MC, Knight A, Monaco TA, Schupp EW, Boettinger JL, Villalba JJ, Fick S, Brungard C, Thacker E. Soil depth and precipitation moderate soil textural effects on seedling survival of a foundation shrub species. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kari E. Veblen
- Dept. of Wildland Resources Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan Utah 84322 USA
- Ecology Center Utah State University, 5205 Old Main Hill, Utah State University Logan Utah 84322 USA
| | - Kyle C. Nehring
- Dept. of Wildland Resources Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan Utah 84322 USA
- Ecology Center Utah State University, 5205 Old Main Hill, Utah State University Logan Utah 84322 USA
| | - Michael C. Duniway
- US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2290 SW Resource Blvd Moab Utah 84532 USA
| | - Anna Knight
- US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2290 SW Resource Blvd Moab Utah 84532 USA
| | - Thomas A. Monaco
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Forage and Range Research Laboratory Utah State University Logan Utah 84322 USA
| | - Eugene W. Schupp
- Dept. of Wildland Resources Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan Utah 84322 USA
- Ecology Center Utah State University, 5205 Old Main Hill, Utah State University Logan Utah 84322 USA
| | - Janis L. Boettinger
- Ecology Center Utah State University, 5205 Old Main Hill, Utah State University Logan Utah 84322 USA
- Dept. of Plants, Soils & Climate Department Utah State University Logan Utah 84322 USA
| | - Juan J. Villalba
- Dept. of Wildland Resources Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan Utah 84322 USA
- Ecology Center Utah State University, 5205 Old Main Hill, Utah State University Logan Utah 84322 USA
| | - Stephen Fick
- US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2290 SW Resource Blvd Moab Utah 84532 USA
- Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences New Mexico State University Las Cruces New Mexico 88003 USA
| | - Colby Brungard
- Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences New Mexico State University Las Cruces New Mexico 88003 USA
| | - Eric Thacker
- Dept. of Wildland Resources Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan Utah 84322 USA
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Langley JA, Grman E, Wilcox KR, Avolio ML, Komatsu KJ, Collins SL, Koerner SE, Smith MD, Baldwin AH, Bowman W, Chiariello N, Eskelinen A, Harmens H, Hovenden M, Klanderud K, McCulley RL, Onipchenko VG, Robinson CH, Suding KN. Do tradeoffs govern plant species responses to different global change treatments? Ecology 2021; 103:e3626. [PMID: 34967948 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Plants are subject to tradeoffs among growth strategies such that adaptations for optimal growth in one condition can preclude optimal growth in another. Thus, we predicted that a plant species that responds positively to one global change treatment would be less likely than average to respond positively to another treatment, particularly for pairs of treatments that favor distinct traits. We examined plant species abundances in 39 global change experiments manipulating two or more of the following: CO2 , nitrogen, phosphorus, water, temperature, or disturbance. Overall, the directional response of a species to one treatment was 13% more likely than expected to oppose its response to a another single-factor treatment. This tendency was detectable across the global dataset but held little predictive power for individual treatment combinations or within individual experiments. While tradeoffs in the ability to respond to different global change treatments exert discernible global effects, other forces obscure their influence in local communities. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Adam Langley
- Department of Biology, Center of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship, Villanova, PA
| | - Emily Grman
- Department of Biology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, USA
| | - Kevin R Wilcox
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
| | - Meghan L Avolio
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD
| | - Kimberly J Komatsu
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Melinda D Smith
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrew H Baldwin
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
| | - William Bowman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Nona Chiariello
- Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Stanford, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Anu Eskelinen
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, Leipzig, Germany, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research iDiv, Leipzig, Germany, Ecology and Genetics Unit, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Harry Harmens
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
| | - Mark Hovenden
- Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Kari Klanderud
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas, Norway
| | - Rebecca L McCulley
- Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | - Clare H Robinson
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Katharine N Suding
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
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