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Cui G, Pugnaire FI, Yang L, Zhao W, Ale R, Shen W, Luo T, Liang E, Zhang L. Shrub-mediated effects on soil nitrogen determines shrub-herbaceous interactions in drylands of the Tibetan Plateau. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1137365. [PMID: 36844071 PMCID: PMC9950575 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1137365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Shrub promotes the survival, growth and reproduction of understory species by buffering the environmental extremes and improving limited resources (i.e., facilitation effect) in arid and semiarid regions. However, the importance of soil water and nutrient availability on shrub facilitation, and its trend along a drought gradient have been relatively less addressed in water-limited systems. METHODS We investigated species richness, plant size, soil total nitrogen and dominant grass leaf δ13C within and outside the dominant leguminous cushion-like shrub Caragana versicolor along a water deficit gradient in drylands of Tibetan Plateau. RESULTS We found that C. versicolor increased grass species richness but had a negative effect on annual and perennial forbs. Along the water deficit gradient, plant interaction assessed by species richness (RIIspecies) showed a unimodal pattern with shift from increase to decrease, while plant interaction assessed by plant size (RIIsize) did not vary significantly. The effect of C. versicolor on soil nitrogen, rather than water availability, determined its overall effect on understory species richness. Neither the effect of C. versicolor on soil nitrogen nor water availability affected plant size. DISCUSSION Our study suggests that the drying tendency in association with the recent warming trends observed in drylands of Tibetan Plateau, will likely hinder the facilitation effect of nurse leguminous shrub on understories if moisture availability crosses a critical minimum threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangshuai Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Almería, Spain
| | - Francisco I. Pugnaire
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Almería, Spain
| | - Liu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wanglin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rita Ale
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianxiang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Eryuan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Science and Technology Information of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, China
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Spatial pattern and association of shrub species in gravel hilly and rocky low mountain desert dominated by relict Helianthemum songaricum in China. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Rahmanian S, Ejtehadi H, Farzam M, Hejda M, Memariani F, Pyšek P. Does the intensive grazing and aridity change the relations between the dominant shrub Artemisia kopetdaghensis and plants under its canopies? Ecol Evol 2021; 11:14115-14124. [PMID: 34707844 PMCID: PMC8525166 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The interspecific plant interactions along grazing and aridity stress gradients represent a major research issue in plant ecology. However, the combined effects of these two factors on plant-plant interactions have been poorly studied in the northeast of Iran. To fill this knowledge gap, 144 plots were established in 12 study sites with different grazing intensities (high vs. low) and climatic characteristics (arid vs. semiarid) in northeastern Iran. A dominant shrub, Artemisia kopetdaghensis, was selected as the model species. Further, we studied changes in plant life strategies along the combined grazing and aridity stress gradients. In this study, we used relative interaction indices calculated for species richness, Shannon diversity, and species cover to determine plant-plant interactions using linear mixed-effect models (LMM). The indicator species analysis was used to identify the indicator species for the undercanopy of shrub and for the adjacent open areas. The combined effects of grazing and aridity affected the plant-plant interactions and plant life strategies (CSR) of indicator species. A. kopetdaghensis showed the highest facilitation effect under high stress conditions (high grazing, high aridity), which turned into competition under the low stress conditions (low grazing, low aridity). In the arid region, the canopy of the shrub protected ruderals, annual forbs, and grasses in both high and low grazing intensities. In the semiarid region and high grazing intensity (low aridity/high grazing), the shrubs protected mostly perennial forbs with C-strategy. Our findings highlight the importance of context-dependent shrub management to restore the vegetation damaged by the intensive grazing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroor Rahmanian
- Department of BiologyFaculty of SciencesFerdowsi University of MashhadMashhadIran
| | - Hamid Ejtehadi
- Department of BiologyFaculty of SciencesFerdowsi University of MashhadMashhadIran
| | - Mohammad Farzam
- Department of Range and Watershed ManagementFaculty of Natural Resources and EnvironmentFerdowsi University of MashhadMashhadIran
| | - Martin Hejda
- Institute of BotanyDepartment of Invasion EcologyThe Czech Academy of SciencesPrůhoniceCzech Republic
| | - Farshid Memariani
- Department of BotanyResearch Center for Plant SciencesFerdowsi University of MashhadMashhadIran
| | - Petr Pyšek
- Institute of BotanyDepartment of Invasion EcologyThe Czech Academy of SciencesPrůhoniceCzech Republic
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Temmink RJM, Angelini C, Fivash GS, Swart L, Nouta R, Teunis M, Lengkeek W, Didderen K, Lamers LPM, Bouma TJ, Heide T. Life cycle informed restoration: Engineering settlement substrate material characteristics and structural complexity for reef formation. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J. M. Temmink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Department Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University Den Burg The Netherlands
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Gregory S. Fivash
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Laura Swart
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Reinder Nouta
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | | | - Wouter Lengkeek
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Bureau Waardenburg Culemborg The Netherlands
| | | | - Leon P. M. Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- B‐WARE Research Centre Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd J. Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Building with Nature Group HZ University of Applied Sciences Vlissingen The Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography Faculty of Geosciences Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Tjisse Heide
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Department Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University Den Burg The Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography Faculty of Geosciences Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
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Parajuli R, O'Brien MJ, Timilsina B, Pugnaire FI, Schöb C, Ghimire SK. Facilitation by a dwarf shrub enhances plant diversity of human-valued species at high elevations in the Himalayas of Nepal. Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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van der Heide T, Angelini C, de Fouw J, Eklöf JS. Facultative mutualisms: A double-edged sword for foundation species in the face of anthropogenic global change. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:29-44. [PMID: 33437413 PMCID: PMC7790659 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecosystems worldwide depend on habitat-forming foundation species that often facilitate themselves with increasing density and patch size, while also engaging in facultative mutualisms. Anthropogenic global change (e.g., climate change, eutrophication, overharvest, land-use change), however, is causing rapid declines of foundation species-structured ecosystems, often typified by sudden collapse. Although disruption of obligate mutualisms involving foundation species is known to precipitate collapse (e.g., coral bleaching), how facultative mutualisms (i.e., context-dependent, nonbinding reciprocal interactions) affect ecosystem resilience is uncertain. Here, we synthesize recent advancements and combine these with model analyses supported by real-world examples, to propose that facultative mutualisms may pose a double-edged sword for foundation species. We suggest that by amplifying self-facilitative feedbacks by foundation species, facultative mutualisms can increase foundation species' resistance to stress from anthropogenic impact. Simultaneously, however, mutualism dependency can generate or exacerbate bistability, implying a potential for sudden collapse when the mutualism's buffering capacity is exceeded, while recovery requires conditions to improve beyond the initial collapse point (hysteresis). Thus, our work emphasizes the importance of acknowledging facultative mutualisms for conservation and restoration of foundation species-structured ecosystems, but highlights the potential risk of relying on mutualisms in the face of global change. We argue that significant caveats remain regarding the determination of these feedbacks, and suggest empirical manipulation across stress gradients as a way forward to identify related nonlinear responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjisse van der Heide
- Department of Coastal SystemsRoyal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht UniversityDen BurgThe Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology GroupGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering SciencesEngineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and the EnvironmentUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | - Jimmy de Fouw
- Department of Aquatic Ecology & Environmental BiologyInstitute for Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant SciencesStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
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Navarro‐Cano JA, Goberna M, Valiente‐Banuet A, Verdú M. Phenotypic structure of plant facilitation networks. Ecol Lett 2020; 24:509-519. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Antonio Navarro‐Cano
- Departamento de Ecología Vegetal Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CSIC‐UVEG‐GV) Carretera Moncada ‐ Náquera km 4.5 Moncada Valencia46113Spain
- Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Agronomía Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria INIA Ctra. de la Coruña, km 7.5 Madrid28040
| | - Marta Goberna
- Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Agronomía Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria INIA Ctra. de la Coruña, km 7.5 Madrid28040
| | - Alfonso Valiente‐Banuet
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México A.P. 70‐275 México D.FC.P. 04510México
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad UniversitariaMéxico D.F04510México
| | - Miguel Verdú
- Departamento de Ecología Vegetal Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CSIC‐UVEG‐GV) Carretera Moncada ‐ Náquera km 4.5 Moncada Valencia46113Spain
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Chaieb G, Wang X, Abdelly C, Michalet R. Shift from short‐term competition to facilitation with drought stress is due to a decrease in long‐term facilitation. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ghassen Chaieb
- Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Univ. of Carthage Zarzouna Tunisia
- Univ. of Bordeaux, UMR CNRS 5805 EPOC, Allée Geoffroy Saint‐Hilaire – CS 50023 FR‐33615 Pessac France
| | - Xiangtai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro‐ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou Univ., Lanzhou Gansu PR China
| | - Chedly Abdelly
- Laboratory of Extremophiles Plants, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, 2050 Tunisia
| | - Richard Michalet
- Univ. of Bordeaux, UMR CNRS 5805 EPOC, Allée Geoffroy Saint‐Hilaire – CS 50023 FR‐33615 Pessac France
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Molina‐Montenegro MA, Baldelomar M, Atala C, Torres‐Díaz C. A tradeoff between fitness‐related traits mask facilitation in a semiarid ecosystem. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco A. Molina‐Montenegro
- Inst. de Ciencias Biológicas, Univ. de Talca, Avda. Lircay s/n Talca Chile
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Universidad Católica del Norte Coquimbo Chile
- Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Univ. Católica del Maule Talca Chile
| | - Mariela Baldelomar
- Inst. de Ciencias Biológicas, Univ. de Talca, Avda. Lircay s/n Talca Chile
| | - Cristian Atala
- Inst. de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Univ. Católica de Valparaíso Valparaíso Chile
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Leemans L, Martínez I, van der Heide T, van Katwijk MM, van Tussenbroek BI. A Mutualism Between Unattached Coralline Algae and Seagrasses Prevents Overgrazing by Sea Turtles. Ecosystems 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-020-00492-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSeagrass meadows are threatened biodiversity hot spots that provide essential ecosystem services. Green sea turtles may overgraze meadows, further enhancing seagrass decline. However, we observed an unexpected, remarkable recovery of seagrasses in a previously overgrazed meadow with abundant unattached branched coralline algae, suggesting that turtle grazing had ceased. We hypothesize that this recovery is due to an effective grazing-protection mutualism, in which the spiny coralline algae structures protect the seagrass meadows from overgrazing, while the seagrasses protect the algae from removal by currents and waves. Removing coralline algae from recovered seagrass plots allowed the turtles to resume grazing, while addition of coralline algae to grazed plots caused cessation of grazing. Coralline algae that were placed on bare sand were quickly displaced by wave action, whereas those placed in grazed or ungrazed seagrass remained. Our experiments demonstrate a grazing-protection mutualism, which likely explains the witnessed recovery of an overgrazed seagrass meadow. To our knowledge, this is the first account of a plant–plant grazing-protection mutualism in an aquatic environment. Our findings show that grazing-protection mutualisms can be vital for the maintenance and recovery of ecosystems shaped by habitat-structuring foundation species, and highlight the importance of mutualisms in coastal ecosystems. As seagrasses, sea turtles and coralline algae share habitats along tropical shores worldwide, the mutualism may be a global phenomenon. Overgrazing is expected to increase, and this mutualism adds a new perspective to the conservation and restoration of these valuable ecosystems.
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A Multi-Temporal Object-Based Image Analysis to Detect Long-Lived Shrub Cover Changes in Drylands. REMOTE SENSING 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/rs11222649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Climate change and human actions condition the spatial distribution and structure of vegetation, especially in drylands. In this context, object-based image analysis (OBIA) has been used to monitor changes in vegetation, but only a few studies have related them to anthropic pressure. In this study, we assessed changes in cover, number, and shape of Ziziphus lotus shrub individuals in a coastal groundwater-dependent ecosystem in SE Spain over a period of 60 years and related them to human actions in the area. In particular, we evaluated how sand mining, groundwater extraction, and the protection of the area affect shrubs. To do this, we developed an object-based methodology that allowed us to create accurate maps (overall accuracy up to 98%) of the vegetation patches and compare the cover changes in the individuals identified in them. These changes in shrub size and shape were related to soil loss, seawater intrusion, and legal protection of the area measured by average minimum distance (AMD) and average random distance (ARD) analysis. It was found that both sand mining and seawater intrusion had a negative effect on individuals; on the contrary, the protection of the area had a positive effect on the size of the individuals’ coverage. Our findings support the use of OBIA as a successful methodology for monitoring scattered vegetation patches in drylands, key to any monitoring program aimed at vegetation preservation.
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Zhang R, Tielbörger K. Facilitation from an intraspecific perspective - stress tolerance determines facilitative effect and response in plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 221:2203-2212. [PMID: 30298569 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant-plant interactions are reciprocal and include effects on and response to neighbours. Distinct traits confer competitive effect and response ability, but how specific traits determine effect and response in facilitative interactions has not been studied experimentally. We utilized the model species Arabidopsis thaliana to test for trait dependence of facilitative interactions. Salt-sensitive (sos) mutants or salt-tolerant wild-types were exposed to an experimental salinity gradient with and without intraspecific neighbours and the intensity of plant-plant interactions was measured for three performance variables. We tested whether salt tolerance can predict facilitative effect and response and whether a tradeoff exists between competitive ability and tolerance to stress. Interactions shifted very clearly from negative to positive with increasing stress. Salt-sensitive genotypes were less negatively affected by competition but more dependent on facilitation than were wild-types, indicating a tradeoff between competitive ability and stress tolerance. Surprisingly, sensitive genotypes imposed stronger facilitative effects, despite being much smaller under stress, probably because they retrieved more salt from the soil. Stress tolerance defined facilitative effect and response via distinct mechanisms. We advocate more controlled experiments with model species to advance our understanding of the trait dependence of biotic interactions and their consequences for community organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruichang Zhang
- Plant Ecology Group, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 5, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katja Tielbörger
- Plant Ecology Group, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 5, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
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Rey PJ, Cancio I, Manzaneda AJ, González-Robles A, Valera F, Salido T, Alcántara JM. Regeneration of a keystone semiarid shrub over its range in Spain: habitat degradation overrides the positive effects of plant-animal mutualisms. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2018; 20:1083-1092. [PMID: 29933518 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Global change drivers are currently affecting semiarid ecosystems. Because these ecosystems differ from others in biotic and abiotic filters, cues for plant regeneration and management derived from elsewhere may not be applicable to semiarid ecosystems. We sought to determine the extent to which regional variation in regeneration prospects of a long-lived semiarid keystone shrub depends on anthropogenic habitat degradation, plant-animal interactions and climate determinants. We investigated the regeneration ability (via population size structure, juvenile density and juvenile/adult ratio), fruit set and seed dispersal of Ziziphus lotus in 25 localities spanning the range of its threatened habitats in Spain. We dissected the relative contribution of different regeneration determinants using multiple regression and structural equation modelling. Population regeneration was extremely poor, and size structures were biased towards large classes and low juvenile densities and juvenile/adult ratios. Poor regeneration was often coincident with seed dispersal collapse. However, the positive effect of seed dispersal on population regeneration disappeared after considering its relationship with habitat degradation. Protected areas did have juveniles. Together, these data suggest that habitat degradation directly impacts juvenile establishment. Our results provide insights into habitat and species management at the regional level. Z. lotus populations are currently driven by persistence-based dynamics through the longevity of the species. Nonetheless, collapsed seed dispersal, poor regeneration and the removal of adults from their habitats forecast extinction of Z. lotus in many remnants. The extreme longevity of Z. lotus provides opportunities for recovery of its populations and habitats through effective enforcement of regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Rey
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - I Cancio
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - A J Manzaneda
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - A González-Robles
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - F Valera
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, EEZA-CSIC, Almería, Spain
| | - T Salido
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - J M Alcántara
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
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Graff P, Aguiar MR, Almeida RJ. Females engage in stronger relationships: positive and negative effects of shrubs are more intense for Poa ligularis females than for males. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2018; 122:435-443. [PMID: 29790914 PMCID: PMC6110346 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcy085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Background and Aims Dioecious plants are of particular concern in view of global environmental changes because reproductive females are more sensitive to abiotic stresses, thus compromising population viability. Positive interactions with other plants may counteract the direct effects of any abiotic environmental stress, allowing them to thrive and maintain a viable population in suboptimal habitats, although this process has not been tested for dioecious species. Furthermore, almost no data are available on the outcome of such species interactions and their link with local spatial patterns and sex ratios. Methods We set up a field experiment with Poa ligularis, a dioecious native grass from the arid grasslands of South America. We studied the interaction of male and female plants with cushion shrubs of contrasting ecological strategies. We experimentally limited direct shrub-grass competition for soil moisture and transplanted plants to evaluate the amelioration of abiotic stress by shrub canopies (i.e. sun and wind) on grasses. We also studied the distribution of naturally established female and male plants to infer process-pattern relationships. Key Results Positive canopy effects as well as negative below-ground effects were more intense for females than for males. Deep-rooted Mulinum spinosum shrubs strongly facilitated survival, growth and reproduction of P. ligularis females. Naturally established female plants tended to distribute more closely to Mulinum than co-occurring males. Female growth suffered intensive negative root competition from the shallow-rooted Senecio filaginoides shrub. Conclusions Interactions with other plants may reduce or enhance the effect of abiotic stresses on the seemingly maladapted sex to arid environments. We found that these biased interactions are evident in the current organization of sexes in the field, confirming our experimental findings. Therefore, indirect effects of climate change on population sex ratios may be expected if benefactor species abundances are differentially affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Graff
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de lnvestigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas, Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA), Facultad de Agronomía, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martin R Aguiar
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de lnvestigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas, Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA), Facultad de Agronomía, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rocio J Almeida
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de lnvestigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas, Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA), Facultad de Agronomía, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Pistón N, Michalet R, Schöb C, Macek P, Armas C, Pugnaire FI. The balance of canopy and soil effects determines intraspecific differences in foundation species’ effects on associated plants. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Pistón
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA‐CSIC) Almería Spain
- Nuria Pistón, Departamento de EcologíaInstituto de BiologiaUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | | | - Christian Schöb
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA‐CSIC) Almería Spain
- Christian Schöb, Department of Environmental System ScienceSwiss Federal Institute of TechnologyETH Zurich Tannenstrasse 1 8092 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Petr Macek
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA‐CSIC) Almería Spain
- Petr Macek, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South Bohemia Branišovská 1760 CZ‐370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Cristina Armas
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA‐CSIC) Almería Spain
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Casalini AI, Bisigato AJ. Stress-gradient hypothesis and plant distribution along ecotonal gradients. AUSTRAL ECOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana I. Casalini
- IPEEC; CONICET; Blvd. Brown 2915 9120 Puerto Madryn Argentina
| | - Alejandro J. Bisigato
- IPEEC; CONICET; Blvd. Brown 2915 9120 Puerto Madryn Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco; Puerto Madryn Argentina
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Hortal S, Lozano YM, Bastida F, Armas C, Moreno JL, Garcia C, Pugnaire FI. Plant-plant competition outcomes are modulated by plant effects on the soil bacterial community. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17756. [PMID: 29259319 PMCID: PMC5736699 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18103-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Competition is a key process that determines plant community structure and dynamics, often mediated by nutrients and water availability. However, the role of soil microorganisms on plant competition, and the links between above- and belowground processes, are not well understood. Here we show that the effects of interspecific plant competition on plant performance are mediated by feedbacks between plants and soil bacterial communities. Each plant species selects a singular community of soil microorganisms in its rhizosphere with a specific species composition, abundance and activity. When two plant species interact, the resulting soil bacterial community matches that of the most competitive plant species, suggesting strong competitive interactions between soil bacterial communities as well. We propose a novel mechanism by which changes in belowground bacterial communities promoted by the most competitive plant species influence plant performance and competition outcome. These findings emphasise the strong links between plant and soil communities, paving the way to a better understanding of plant community dynamics and the effects of soil bacterial communities on ecosystem functioning and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hortal
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EEZA-CSIC), Carretera de Sacramento s/n, E-04120, La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain. .,Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
| | - Y M Lozano
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EEZA-CSIC), Carretera de Sacramento s/n, E-04120, La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain.,Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Biologie, Plant Ecology, D-14195, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), D-14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - F Bastida
- Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus Universitario de Espinardo, P.O. Box 164, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - C Armas
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EEZA-CSIC), Carretera de Sacramento s/n, E-04120, La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain
| | - J L Moreno
- Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus Universitario de Espinardo, P.O. Box 164, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - C Garcia
- Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus Universitario de Espinardo, P.O. Box 164, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - F I Pugnaire
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EEZA-CSIC), Carretera de Sacramento s/n, E-04120, La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain
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18
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Montesinos-Navarro A, Verdú M, Querejeta JI, Valiente-Banuet A. Nurse plants transfer more nitrogen to distantly related species. Ecology 2017; 98:1300-1310. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Montesinos-Navarro
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad; Instituto de Ecología; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; A.P. 70-275 C.P. 04510 México D.F México
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE, CSIC-UV-GV); Carretera de Moncada-Náquera Km 4.5 46113 Moncada Valencia Spain
| | - Miguel Verdú
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE, CSIC-UV-GV); Carretera de Moncada-Náquera Km 4.5 46113 Moncada Valencia Spain
| | - José Ignacio Querejeta
- Departamento de Conservación de Suelos y Aguas; Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC); Campus de Espinardo, PO Box 4195 E-30100 Murcia Spain
| | - Alfonso Valiente-Banuet
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad; Instituto de Ecología; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; A.P. 70-275 C.P. 04510 México D.F México
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Ciudad Universitaria 04510 México D.F México
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Macek P, Prieto I, Macková J, Pistón N, Pugnaire FI. Functional Plant Types Drive Plant Interactions in a Mediterranean Mountain Range. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:662. [PMID: 27242863 PMCID: PMC4876123 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Shrubs have positive (facilitation) and negative (competition) effects on understory plants, the net interaction effect being modulated by abiotic conditions. Overall shrubs influence to great extent the structure of plant communities where they have significant presence. Interactions in a plant community are quite diverse but little is known about their variability and effects at community level. Here we checked the effects of co-occurring shrub species from different functional types on a focal understory species, determining mechanisms driving interaction outcome, and tested whether effects measured on the focal species were a proxy for effects measured at the community level. Growth, physiological, and reproductive traits of Euphorbia nicaeensis, our focal species, were recorded on individuals growing in association with four dominant shrub species and in adjacent open areas. We also recorded community composition and environmental conditions in each microhabitat. Shrubs provided environmental conditions for plant growth, which contrasted with open areas, including moister soil, greater N content, higher air temperatures, and lower radiation. Shrub-associated individuals showed lower reproductive effort and greater allocation to growth, while most physiological traits remained unaffected. Euphorbia individuals were bigger and had more leaf N under N-fixing than under non-fixing species. Soil moisture was also higher under N-fixing shrubs; therefore soil conditions in the understory may counter reduced light conditions. There was a significant effect of species identity and functional types in the outcome of plant interactions with consistent effects at individual and community levels. The contrasting allocation strategies to reproduction and growth in Euphorbia plants, either associated or not with shrubs, showed high phenotypic plasticity and evidence its ability to cope with contrasting environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Macek
- Faculty of Science, University of South BohemiaČeské Budějovice, Czech Republic
- LINCGlobal, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasAlmería, Spain
| | - Iván Prieto
- LINCGlobal, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasAlmería, Spain
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175, Université de Montpellier – Université Paul Valéry – EPHEMontpellier, France
| | - Jana Macková
- LINCGlobal, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasAlmería, Spain
- Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre CASČeské Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Nuria Pistón
- LINCGlobal, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasAlmería, Spain
- Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Francisco I. Pugnaire
- LINCGlobal, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasAlmería, Spain
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