1
|
Larkin DJ, Glasenhardt MC, Williams EW, Karimi N, Barak RS, Leavens E, Hipp AL. Evolutionary history shapes grassland productivity through opposing effects on complementarity and selection. Ecology 2023; 104:e4129. [PMID: 37342067 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Phylogenetic diversity (PD), the evolutionary history of the organisms comprising a community, is increasingly recognized as an important driver of ecosystem function. However, biodiversity-ecosystem function experiments have rarely included PD as an a priori treatment. Thus, PD's effects in existing experiments are often confounded by covarying differences in species richness and functional trait diversity (FD). Here we report an experimental demonstration of strong PD effects on grassland primary productivity that are independent of FD, which was separately manipulated, and species richness, which was planted uniformly high to mimic diverse natural grasslands. Partitioning diversity effects demonstrated that higher PD increased complementarity (niche partitioning and/or facilitation) but lowered selection effects (probability of sampling highly productive species). Specifically, for every 5% increase in PD, complementarity increased by 26% on average (±8% SE), while selection effects decreased more modestly (8 ± 16%). PD also shaped productivity through clade-level effects on functional traits, that is, trait values associated with particular plant families. This clade effect was most pronounced in the Asteraceae (sunflower family), which, in tallgrass prairies, generally comprises tall, high-biomass species with low phylogenetic distinctiveness. FD also reduced selection effects but did not alter complementarity. Our results show that PD, independent of richness and FD, mediates ecosystem function through contrasting effects on complementarity and selection. This adds to growing evidence that consideration of phylogenetic dimensions of biodiversity can advance ecological understanding and inform conservation and restoration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Larkin
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Evelyn W Williams
- Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois, USA
| | - Nisa Karimi
- Herbarium and Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, USA
| | - Rebecca S Barak
- Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois, USA
| | - Emma Leavens
- Herbarium and Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrew L Hipp
- Herbarium and Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Herzog SA, Latvis M. Community‐level phylogenetic diversity does not differ between rare and common lineages across tallgrass prairies in the northern Great Plains. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9453. [PMID: 36340814 PMCID: PMC9627050 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Niche differentiation has served as one explanation for species coexistence, and phylogenetic relatedness provides a means to approximate how ecologically similar species are to each other. To explore the contribution of rare species to community phylogenetic diversity, we sampled 21 plant communities across the Prairie Coteau ecoregion, an area of high conservation concern. We used breakpoint analysis through the iterative addition of less abundant species to the phylogenetic tree for each community to assess the contribution of rare species to community phylogenetic diversity. We also quantify the phylogenetic signal of abundance using Blomberg's K statistic and calculated the phylogenetic similarity between rare and common species using a phylogenetic beta‐diversity metric (Dnn). To estimate the phylogenetic structuring of these prairie communities, we calculated two common metrics that capture evolutionary relatedness at different scales (MPD and MNTD). Additionally, we examine the correlation between Faith's PD, MPD, and MNTD and species richness. We found rare species do not generally contribute higher levels of phylogenetic diversity than common species. Eight communities had significant breakpoints, with only four communities having an increasing trend for the rarest species. The phylogenetic signal for abundance was low but significant in only four communities, and communities had lower phylogenetic diversity than expected from the regional species pool. Finally, the strength of the correlation between species richness and phylogenetic diversity was mixed. Our results indicate niche differentiation does not explain the persistence of rare species in tallgrass prairies, as they were more closely related than expected from random, suggesting high functional redundancy between rare and common species. This is promising for the long‐term resilience of this ecosystem, but only insofar as enough species remain in the system. With ongoing biodiversity loss, it is essential that we understand the role rare species play in their communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Herzog
- Department of Natural Resource ManagementSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSouth DakotaUSA,C.A. Taylor HerbariumSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSouth DakotaUSA,Division of BiologyKansas State UniversityManhattanKansasUSA
| | - Maribeth Latvis
- Department of Natural Resource ManagementSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSouth DakotaUSA,C.A. Taylor HerbariumSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSouth DakotaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
De Vitis M, Havens K, Barak RS, Egerton-Warburton L, Ernst AR, Evans M, Fant JB, Foxx AJ, Hadley K, Jabcon J, O’Shaughnessey J, Ramakrishna S, Sollenberger D, Taddeo S, Urbina-Casanova R, Woolridge C, Xu L, Zeldin J, Kramer AT. Why are some plant species missing from restorations? A diagnostic tool for temperate grassland ecosystems. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.1028295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The U.N. Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aims to accelerate actions to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems, and re-establish ecosystem functioning and species diversity. The practice of ecological restoration has made great progress in recent decades, as has recognition of the importance of species diversity to maintaining the long-term stability and functioning of restored ecosystems. Restorations may also focus on specific species to fulfill needed functions, such as supporting dependent wildlife or mitigating extinction risk. Yet even in the most carefully planned and managed restoration, target species may fail to germinate, establish, or persist. To support the successful reintroduction of ecologically and culturally important plant species with an emphasis on temperate grasslands, we developed a tool to diagnose common causes of missing species, focusing on four major categories of filters, or factors: genetic, biotic, abiotic, and planning & land management. Through a review of the scientific literature, we propose a series of diagnostic tests to identify potential causes of failure to restore target species, and treatments that could improve future outcomes. This practical diagnostic tool is meant to strengthen collaboration between restoration practitioners and researchers on diagnosing and treating causes of missing species in order to effectively restore them.
Collapse
|
4
|
Holl KD, Luong JC, Brancalion PHS. Overcoming biotic homogenization in ecological restoration. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:777-788. [PMID: 35660115 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Extensive evidence shows that regional (gamma) diversity is often lower across restored landscapes than in reference landscapes, in part due to common restoration practices that favor widespread species through selection of easily-grown species with high survival and propagation practices that reduce genetic diversity. We discuss approaches to counteract biotic homogenization, such as reintroducing species that are adapted to localized habitat conditions and are unlikely to colonize naturally; periodically reintroducing propagules from remnant populations to increase genetic diversity; and reintroducing higher trophic level fauna to restore interaction networks and processes that promote habitat heterogeneity. Several policy changes would also increase regional diversity; these include regional coordination amongst restoration groups, financial incentives to organizations producing conservation-valued species, and experimental designations for rare species introductions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen D Holl
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA.
| | - Justin C Luong
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | - Pedro H S Brancalion
- Department of Forest Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Barak RS, Karimi N, Glasenhardt M, Larkin DJ, Williams EW, Hipp AL. Phylogenetically and functionally diverse species mixes beget diverse experimental prairies, whether from seeds or plugs. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S. Barak
- Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe IL 60022 United States of America
- Plant Biology and Conservation Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 United States of America
| | - Nisa Karimi
- The Morton Arboretum Lisle IL 60532 United States of America
- Department of Botany University of Wisconsin Madison WI 53706 United States of America
| | - Mary‐Claire Glasenhardt
- The Morton Arboretum Lisle IL 60532 United States of America
- Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies University of Wisconsin Madison WI 53706 United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Larkin
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology University of Minnesota St. Paul MN United States of America
| | | | - Andrew L. Hipp
- The Morton Arboretum Lisle IL 60532 United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Atkinson J, Brudvig LA, Mallen-Cooper M, Nakagawa S, Moles AT, Bonser SP. Terrestrial ecosystem restoration increases biodiversity and reduces its variability, but not to reference levels: A global meta-analysis. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1725-1737. [PMID: 35559594 PMCID: PMC9320827 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Ecological restoration projects often have variable and unpredictable outcomes, and these can limit the overall impact on biodiversity. Previous syntheses have investigated restoration effectiveness by comparing average restored conditions to average conditions in unrestored or reference systems. Here, we provide the first quantification of the extent to which restoration affects both the mean and variability of biodiversity outcomes, through a global meta-analysis of 83 terrestrial restoration studies. We found that, relative to unrestored (degraded) sites, restoration actions increased biodiversity by an average of 20%, while decreasing the variability of biodiversity (quantified by the coefficient of variation) by an average of 14%. As restorations aged, mean biodiversity increased and variability decreased relative to unrestored sites. However, restoration sites remained, on average, 13% below the biodiversity of reference (target) ecosystems, and were characterised by higher (20%) variability. The lower mean and higher variability in biodiversity at restored sites relative to reference sites remained consistent over time, suggesting that sources of variation (e.g. prior land use, restoration practices) have an enduring influence on restoration outcomes. Our results point to the need for new research confronting the causes of variability in restoration outcomes, and close variability and biodiversity gaps between restored and reference conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joe Atkinson
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lars A Brudvig
- Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Max Mallen-Cooper
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Angela T Moles
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephen P Bonser
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Barak RS, Ma Z, Brudvig LA, Havens K. Factors influencing seed mix design for prairie restoration. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S. Barak
- Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe IL 60022 U.S.A
- Program in Plant Biology and Conservation Northwestern University 633 Clark Street, Evanston IL 60208 U.S.A
| | - Zhao Ma
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University 195 Marsteller Street, West Lafayette IN 47907 U.S.A
| | - Lars A. Brudvig
- Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 U.S.A
| | - Kayri Havens
- Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe IL 60022 U.S.A
- Program in Plant Biology and Conservation Northwestern University 633 Clark Street, Evanston IL 60208 U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lane IG, Portman ZM, Herron‐Sweet CH, Pardee GL, Cariveau DP. Differences in bee community composition between restored and remnant prairies are more strongly linked to forb community differences than landscape differences. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian G. Lane
- Department of Entomology University of Minnesota St. Paul MN USA
| | | | | | - Gabriella L. Pardee
- Department of Entomology University of Minnesota St. Paul MN USA
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Texas Austin TX USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Williams EW, Zeldin J, Semski WR, Hipp AL, Larkin DJ. Phylogenetic distance and resource availability mediate direction and strength of plant interactions in a competition experiment. Oecologia 2021; 197:459-469. [PMID: 34476548 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05024-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Phylogenetic ecology uses evolutionary history to improve understanding of plant interactions. Phylogenetic distance can mediate plant interactions such as competition (e.g., via limiting similarity) and facilitation (e.g., via niche complementarity), influencing community assembly patterns. Previous research has found evidence both for and against a relationship between phylogenetic distance and the strength of plant interactions, and has found that other factors, such as trait differences, may be more influential. In addition to phylogenetic distance and species' traits, environmental conditions can also influence competition, with facilitative interactions-particularly among distantly related species-potentially becoming more pronounced under stressful, resource-limited conditions. We tested the prediction that greater phylogenetic distance is associated with decreased competition in a greenhouse experiment using plant species of the North American tallgrass prairie. We calculated the Relative Interaction Index for 81 species pairs using plant height, leaf length, and biomass as indicators of performance. We found that phylogenetic distance alone did not significantly affect competition. However, the interaction between phylogenetic distance and stressful conditions (sandier soils with low nutrient availability and water retention vs. resource-rich potting soil) altered plant traits and competition. Under stressful conditions, more distantly related species competed more strongly, leading to smaller plants. Conversely, under benign conditions more distantly related species pairs competed less and were larger. These results were contrary to our expectations that distant relatives would compete less under stressful conditions. Our experiment provides evidence that, while relatedness alone may not drive competition, phylogenetic distance can nonetheless be influential through interactions with environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn W Williams
- Plant Science and Conservation, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL, USA. .,Adaptive Restoration LLC., 8864 Offerdahl Road, Mount Horeb, WI, 53572, USA.
| | - Jacob Zeldin
- Plant Science and Conservation, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL, USA
| | - Wendy R Semski
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of WI-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Andrew L Hipp
- Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, USA
| | - Daniel J Larkin
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
McKone MJ, Hernández DL. Community‐level assisted migration for climate‐appropriate prairie restoration. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark J. McKone
- Department of Biology Carleton College 1 North College Street Northfield MN 55057 U.S.A
| | - Daniel L. Hernández
- Department of Biology Carleton College 1 North College Street Northfield MN 55057 U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Luong JC, Holl KD, Loik ME. Leaf traits and phylogeny explain plant survival and community dynamics in response to extreme drought in a restored coastal grassland. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justin C. Luong
- Department of Environmental Studies University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Karen D. Holl
- Department of Environmental Studies University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Michael E. Loik
- Department of Environmental Studies University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kaul AD, Wilsey BJ. Exotic species drive patterns of plant species diversity in 93 restored tallgrass prairies. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e2252. [PMID: 33145856 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A primary goal of restoration ecology is to understand the factors that generate variability in species diversity and composition among restorations. Plant communities may assemble deterministically toward a common community type, or they may assemble stochastically, ending differently because of weather conditions during establishment, soil legacy effects, or exotic species propagule pressure. To test these alternative hypotheses, we sampled plant communities and soil at 93 randomly selected restored prairies distributed throughout Iowa, USA. Five remnant sites were sampled as a reference. We tested our hypotheses using multiple regressions and investigated the strength of direct and indirect effects on species diversity and richness using structural equation models. The prairie restorations were highly variable in their age, size, diversity, soil characteristics, and how they were managed post-seeding. The strongest predictor of plant species richness and diversity was the degree of invasion, as measured by the abundance of exotic species. Restorations planted with species-rich seed mixes had reduced exotic species abundance, which led indirectly to higher species richness of restorations. Sites with higher organic matter and a more linear shape had a direct positive effect on exotic abundance, which in turn decreased diversity. We found little support for deterministic assembly, and diversity did not increase with the age of planting. Our results indicate that restored prairie communities tend to assemble into states of high or low diversity, driven by invasion from exotic plant species. Management of exotic species is essential for maximizing species diversity in temperate grassland restorations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Kaul
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 251 Bessey Hall, 2200 Osborn Drive, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Brian J Wilsey
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 251 Bessey Hall, 2200 Osborn Drive, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Davies TJ. Ecophylogenetics redux. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:1073-1088. [PMID: 33565697 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Species' evolutionary histories shape their present-day ecologies, but the integration of phylogenetic approaches in ecology has had a contentious history. The field of ecophylogenetics promised to reveal the process of community assembly from simple indices of phylogenetic pairwise distances - communities shaped by environmental filtering were composed of closely related species, whereas communities shaped by competition were composed of less closely related species. However, the mapping of ecology onto phylogeny proved to be not so straightforward, and the field remains mired in controversy. Nonetheless, ecophylogenetic methods provided important advances across ecology. For example the phylogenetic distances between species is a strong predictor of pest and pathogen sharing, and can thus inform models of species invasion, coexistence and the disease dilution/amplification effect of biodiversity. The phylogenetic structure of communities may also provide information on niche space occupancy, helping interpret patterns of facilitation, succession and ecosystem functioning - with relevance for conservation and restoration - and the dynamics among species within foodwebs and metacommunities. I suggest leveraging advances in our understanding of the process of evolution on phylogenetic trees would allow the field to progress further, while maintaining the essence of the original vision that proved so seductive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Jonathan Davies
- Departments of Botany, Forest & Conservation Sciences, Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.,African Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, 2092, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Nelson M, Hosler SC, Boetzl FA, Jones HP, Barber NA. Reintroduced grazers and prescribed fire effects on beetle assemblage structure and function in restored grasslands. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02217. [PMID: 32810923 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ecological restoration seeks to reestablish functioning ecosystems, but planning and evaluation often focus on taxonomic community structure and neglect consumers and their functional roles. The functional trait composition of insect assemblages, which make up the majority of animal diversity in many systems, can reveal how they are affected by restoration management and the consequences for ecosystem function. We sampled ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) assemblages in restored tallgrass prairies varying in management with prescribed fire and reintroduced American bison (Bison bison) to describe their taxonomic and functional trait structure. We also measured seed and arthropod predation to relate management, beetle assemblage characteristics, and function, and to test if function is maximized by trait diversity, dominant trait values, or beetle abundance. Beetle assemblages primarily varied with restoration age, declining over time in richness and both taxonomic and functional diversity, but bison presence also influenced taxonomic composition. Prescribed fire reduced seed predation in summer and arthropod predation in fall. Although seed predation was unrelated to beetle assemblages, arthropod predation was greater in sites with higher abundances of carnivorous ground beetles. The relatively weak impacts of fire and bison on functional assemblage structure is a promising sign that these management disturbances, aimed at supporting a diverse native plant community, are not detrimental to beetle assemblages. The significance of reduced predator function following prescribed fire will depend on the restoration context and whether seed or arthropod predation relates to management goals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Nelson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, 155 Castle Dr. DeKalb, Chicago, Illinois, 60115, USA
| | - Sheryl C Hosler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, 155 Castle Dr. DeKalb, Chicago, Illinois, 60115, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60607, USA
| | - Fabian A Boetzl
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Holly P Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, 155 Castle Dr. DeKalb, Chicago, Illinois, 60115, USA
- Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy, Northern Illinois University, 155 Castle Dr. DeKalb, Chicago, Illinois, 60115, USA
| | - Nicholas A Barber
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, 155 Castle Dr. DeKalb, Chicago, Illinois, 60115, USA
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California, 92182, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Xiao Y, Yang L, Nie X, Li C, Xiong F, Wang L, Zhou G. Examining differences in phylogenetic composition enhances understanding of the phylogenetic structure of the shrub community in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:6723-6731. [PMID: 32724545 PMCID: PMC7381756 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Periodic climatic oscillations and species dispersal during the postglacial period are two important causes of plant assemblage and distribution on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). To improve our understanding of the bio-geological histories of shrub communities on the QTP, we tested two hypotheses. First, the intensity of climatic oscillations played a filtering role during community structuring. Second, species dispersal during the postglacial period contributed to the recovery of species and phylogenetic diversity and the emergence of phylogenetic overdispersion. To test these hypotheses, we investigated and compared the shrub communities in the alpine and desert habitats of the northeastern QTP. Notably, we observed higher levels of species and phylogenetic diversity in the alpine habitat than in the desert habitat, leading to phylogenetic overdispersion in the alpine shrub communities versus phylogenetic clustering in the desert shrub communities. This phylogenetic overdispersion increased with greater climate anomalies. These results suggest that (a) although climate anomalies strongly affect shrub communities, these phenomena do not act as a filter for shrub community structuring, and (b) species dispersal increases phylogenetic diversity and overdispersion in a community. Moreover, our investigation of the phylogenetic community composition revealed a larger number of plant clades in the alpine shrub communities than in the desert shrub communities, which provided insights into plant clade-level differences in the phylogenetic structures of alpine and desert shrub communities in the northeastern QTP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanming Xiao
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Lucun Yang
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningChina
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine ResearchChinese Academy of SciencesXiningChina
- Qinghai Key Laboratory of Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau Biological ResourcesXiningChina
| | - Xiuqing Nie
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Changbin Li
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Feng Xiong
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Lingling Wang
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Guoying Zhou
- Northwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningChina
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine ResearchChinese Academy of SciencesXiningChina
- Qinghai Key Laboratory of Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau Biological ResourcesXiningChina
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Pischl PH, Burke SV, Bach EM, Duvall MR. Plastome phylogenomics and phylogenetic diversity of endangered and threatened grassland species (Poaceae) in a North American tallgrass prairie. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:7602-7615. [PMID: 32760551 PMCID: PMC7391303 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Native grasslands are one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. In this study, we examined the ecological and evolutionary roles of endangered and threatened (e/t) grasses by establishing robust evolutionary relationships with other nonthreatened native and introduced grass species of the community. We hypothesized that the phylogenomic distribution of e/t species of grasses in Illinois would be phylogenetically clustered because closely related species would be vulnerable to the same threats and have similar requirements for survival. This study presents the first time a phylogeny based on complete plastome DNA of Poaceae was analyzed by phylogenetic diversity analysis. To avoid the disturbance of e/t populations, DNA was extracted from herbarium specimens. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques were used to sequence DNA of plastid genomes (plastomes). The resulting phylogenomic tree was analyzed by phylogenetic diversity metrics. The extracted DNA successfully produced complete plastomes demonstrating that herbarium material is a practical source of DNA for genomic studies. The phylogenomic tree was strongly supported and defined Dichanthelium as a separate clade from Panicum. The phylogenetic metrics revealed phylogenetic clustering of e/t species, confirming our hypothesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis H. Pischl
- Department of Biological SciencesNorthern Illinois UniversityDeKalbIllinoisUSA
| | - Sean V. Burke
- Center for Translational Data ScienceUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | | | - Melvin R. Duvall
- Department of Biological SciencesNorthern Illinois UniversityDeKalbIllinoisUSA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Newbold C, Knapp BO, Pile LS. Are we close enough? Comparing prairie reconstruction chronosequences to remnants following two site preparation methods in Missouri, U.S.A. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Newbold
- Missouri Department of Conservation 3500 E. Gans Road, Columbia MO 65201 U.S.A
| | - Benjamin O. Knapp
- School of Natural ResourcesUniversity of Missouri—Columbia 203‐S ABNR Building, Columbia MO 65211 U.S.A
| | - Lauren S. Pile
- USDA Forest Service—Northern Research Station 202 ABNR Building, Columbia MO 65211 U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Baer SG, Adams T, Scott DA, Blair JM, Collins SL. Soil heterogeneity increases plant diversity after 20 years of manipulation during grassland restoration. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02014. [PMID: 31587410 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The "environmental heterogeneity hypothesis" predicts that variability in resources promotes species coexistence, but few experiments support this hypothesis in plant communities. A previous 15-yr test of this hypothesis in a prairie restoration experiment demonstrated a weak effect of manipulated soil resource heterogeneity on plant diversity. This response was attributed to a transient increase in richness following a post-restoration supplemental propagule addition, occasionally higher diversity under nutrient enrichment, and reduced cover of a dominant species in a subset of soil treatments. Here, we report community dynamics under continuous propagule addition in the same experiment, corresponding to 16-20 yr of restoration, in response to altered availability and heterogeneity of soil resources. We also quantified traits of newly added species to determine if heterogeneity increases the amount and variety of niches available for new species to exploit. The heterogeneous treatment contained a factorial combination of altered nutrient availability and soil depth; control plots had no manipulations. Total diversity and richness were higher in the heterogeneous treatment during this 5-yr study due to higher cover, diversity, and richness of previously established forbs, particularly in the N-enriched subplots. All new species added to the experiment exhibited unique trait spaces, but there was no evidence that heterogeneous plots contained a greater variety of new species representing a wider range of trait spaces relative to the control treatment. The richness and cover of new species was higher in N-enriched soil, but the magnitude of this response was small. Communities assembling under long-term N addition were dominated by different species among subplots receiving added N, leading to greater dispersion of communities among the heterogeneous relative to control plots. Contrary to the deterministic mechanism by which heterogeneity was expected to increase diversity (greater variability in resources for new species to exploit), higher diversity in the heterogeneous plots resulted from destabilization of formerly grass-dominated communities in N-enriched subplots. While we do not advocate increasing available soil N at large scales, we conclude that the positive effect of environmental heterogeneity on diversity can take decades to materialize and depend on development of stochastic processes in communities with strong establishment limitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara G Baer
- Kansas Biological Survey and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66047, USA
| | - Tianjiao Adams
- Department of Plant Biology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, USA
| | - Drew A Scott
- Department of Plant Biology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, USA
| | - John M Blair
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, 66506, USA
| | - Scott L Collins
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Belinchón R, Hemrová L, Münzbergová Z. Abiotic, present-day and historical effects on species, functional and phylogenetic diversity in dry grasslands of different age. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223826. [PMID: 31613919 PMCID: PMC6793948 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Many grasslands have disappeared over the last century as a result of anthropogenic land use intensification, while new patches are emerging through abandonment of arable fields. Here, we compared species (SD), functional (FD) and phylogenetic (PD) (alpha) diversity among 272 dry grassland patches of two age-classes: old and new, with the new patches being dry grasslands established on previous intensively managed fields during the last 30 years. We first compared SD, FD and PD, between patches of different age. Then, we performed generalized linear models to determine the influence of abiotic, present-day and historical landscape configuration variables on SD, FD and PD. By measuring abiotic variables, we explained the effect of environmental filtering on species diversity, whereas the present-day and historical landscape configuration variables were included to describe how the spatial and temporal configuration of the patches influence patterns of species. Finally, we applied partial regressions to explore the relative importance of abiotic, present-day and historical variables in explaining the diversity metrics and how this varies between patches of different ages. We found higher SD in the old compared to the new patches, but no changes in FD and PD. SD was mostly affected by abiotic and present-day landscape configuration variables in the new and the old patches, respectively. In the new patches, historical variables explained variation in the FD, while present-day variables explained the PD. In the old patches, historical variables accounted for most of the variation in both FD and PD. Our evidence suggests that the relative importance of assembly processes has changed over time, showing that environmental filtering and changes in the landscape configuration prevented the establishment of species in the new patches. However, the loss of species (i.e. SD) is not necessarily linked to a loss of functions and evolutionary potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Belinchón
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Zuzana Münzbergová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany CAS, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Lubin TK, Schultz P, Bever JD, Alexander HM. Are two strategies better than one? Manipulation of seed density and soil community in an experimental prairie restoration. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Terra K. Lubin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Kansas Lawrence KS 66045 U.S.A
- Kansas Biological SurveyUniversity of Kansas Lawrence KS 66045 U.S.A
| | - Peggy Schultz
- Kansas Biological SurveyUniversity of Kansas Lawrence KS 66045 U.S.A
- Environmental Studies ProgramUniversity of Kansas Lawrence KS 66045 U.S.A
| | - James D. Bever
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Kansas Lawrence KS 66045 U.S.A
- Kansas Biological SurveyUniversity of Kansas Lawrence KS 66045 U.S.A
| | - Helen M. Alexander
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Kansas Lawrence KS 66045 U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Bai J, ShangGuan T, Guo D. Multi-dimensional diversity patterns of the subalpine meadow on Heyeping peak, Luya Mountain, Shanxi province, China. COMMUNITY ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1556/168.2019.20.2.9] [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]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Bai
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Wucheng Road 92, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
| | - T. ShangGuan
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Wucheng Road 92, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
| | - D. Guo
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Wucheng Road 92, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Sperry KP, Hilfer H, Lane I, Petersen J, Dixon PM, Sullivan LL. Species diversity and dispersal traits alter biodiversity spillover in reconstructed grasslands. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katie P. Sperry
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota St Paul MN USA
| | - Hayley Hilfer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota St Paul MN USA
- Physics and Astronomy Department Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead MN USA
| | - Ian Lane
- Department of Entomology University of Minnesota St Paul MN USA
| | - Jessica Petersen
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Biological Survey St Paul MN USA
| | | | - Lauren L. Sullivan
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota St Paul MN USA
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia MO USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lishawa SC, Lawrence BA, Albert DA, Larkin DJ, Tuchman NC. Invasive species removal increases species and phylogenetic diversity of wetland plant communities. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:6231-6244. [PMID: 31236217 PMCID: PMC6580430 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant invasions result in biodiversity losses and altered ecological functions, though quantifying loss of multiple ecosystem functions presents a research challenge. Plant phylogenetic diversity correlates with a range of ecosystem functions and can be used as a proxy for ecosystem multifunctionality. Laurentian Great Lakes coastal wetlands are ideal systems for testing invasive species management effects because they support diverse biological communities, provide numerous ecosystem services, and are increasingly dominated by invasive macrophytes. Invasive cattails are among the most widespread and abundant of these taxa. We conducted a three-year study in two Great Lakes wetlands, testing the effects of a gradient of cattail removal intensities (mowing, harvest, complete biomass removal) within two vegetation zones (emergent marsh and wet meadow) on plant taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. To evaluate native plant recovery potential, we paired this with a seed bank emergence study that quantified diversity metrics in each zone under experimentally manipulated hydroperiods. Pretreatment, we found that wetland zones had distinct plant community composition. Wet meadow seed banks had greater taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity than emergent marsh seed banks, and high-water treatments tended to inhibit diversity by reducing germination. Aboveground harvesting of cattails and their litter increased phylogenetic diversity and species richness in both zones, more than doubling richness compared to unmanipulated controls. In the wet meadow, harvesting shifted the community toward an early successional state, favoring seed bank germination from early seral species, whereas emergent marsh complete removal treatments shifted the community toward an aquatic condition, favoring floating-leaved plants. Removing cattails and their litter increased taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity across water levels, a key environmental gradient, thereby potentially increasing the multifunctionality of these ecosystems. Killing invasive wetland macrophytes but leaving their biomass in situ does not address their underlying mechanism of dominance and is less effective than more intensive treatments that also remove their litter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shane C. Lishawa
- Institute of Environmental SustainabilityLoyola University ChicagoChicagoIllinois
| | - Beth A. Lawrence
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Center for Environmental Science and EngineeringUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticut
| | - Dennis A. Albert
- Department of HorticultureOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregon
| | - Daniel J. Larkin
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology and Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research CenterUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesota
| | - Nancy C. Tuchman
- Institute of Environmental SustainabilityLoyola University ChicagoChicagoIllinois
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Williams EW, Barak RS, Kramer M, Hipp AL, Larkin DJ. In tallgrass prairie restorations, relatedness influences neighborhood-scale plant invasion while resource availability influences site-scale invasion. Basic Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
25
|
Henry HAL, Murphy SD, McFarlane ML, Barna H, Dunning K, Hood A, Crosthwaite JC. Evaluating outcomes of restoration ecology projects on limited budgets: assessment of variation in sampling intensity and sampling frequency for four habitat types. Restor Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hugh A. L. Henry
- Department of Biology; University of Western Ontario; London Ontario N6A 5B7 Canada
| | - Stephen D. Murphy
- Department of Environment and Resource Studies; University of Waterloo; Waterloo Ontario N2L 3G1 Canada
| | - Mhairi L. McFarlane
- Nature Conservancy of Canada, 245 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 410; Toronto Ontario M4P 3J1 Canada
| | - Heather Barna
- Nature Conservancy of Canada, 245 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 410; Toronto Ontario M4P 3J1 Canada
| | - Katelyn Dunning
- Department of Environment and Resource Studies; University of Waterloo; Waterloo Ontario N2L 3G1 Canada
| | - Alexandra Hood
- Nature Conservancy of Canada, 245 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 410; Toronto Ontario M4P 3J1 Canada
| | - Jill C. Crosthwaite
- Nature Conservancy of Canada, 245 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 410; Toronto Ontario M4P 3J1 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Barak RS, Lichtenberger TM, Wellman‐Houde A, Kramer AT, Larkin DJ. Cracking the case: Seed traits and phylogeny predict time to germination in prairie restoration species. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:5551-5562. [PMID: 29938073 PMCID: PMC6010845 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Traits are important for understanding how plant communities assemble and function, providing a common currency for studying ecological processes across species, locations, and habitat types. However, the majority of studies relating species traits to community assembly rely upon vegetative traits of mature plants. Seed traits, which are understudied relative to whole-plant traits, are key to understanding assembly of plant communities. This is particularly true for restored communities, which are typically started de novo from seed, making seed germination a critical first step in community assembly and an early filter for plant establishment. We experimentally tested the effects of seed traits (mass, shape, and embryo to seed size ratio) and phylogeny on germination response in 32 species commonly used in prairie grassland restoration in the Midwestern USA, analyzing data using time-to-event (survival) analysis. As germination is also influenced by seed dormancy, and dormancy break treatments are commonly employed in restoration, we also tested the effects of two pretreatments (cold stratification and gibberellic acid application) on time to germination. Seed traits, phylogeny, and seed pretreatments all affected time to germination. Of all traits tested, variables related to seed shape (height and shape variance) best predicted germination response, with high-variance (i.e., pointier and narrower) seeds germinating faster. Phylogenetic position (the location of species on the phylogenetic tree relative to other tested species) was also an important predictor of germination response, that is, closely related species showed similar patterns in time to germination. This was true despite the fact that all measured seed traits showed phylogenetic signal, therefore phylogeny provided residual information that was not already captured by measured seed traits. Seed traits, phylogenetic position, and germination pretreatments were important predictors of germination response for a suite of species commonly used in grassland restoration. Shape traits were especially important, while mass, often the only seed trait used in studies of community assembly, was not a strong predictor of germination timing. These findings illustrate the ecological importance of seed traits that are rarely incorporated into functional studies of plant communities. This information can also be used to advance restoration practice by guiding restoration planning and seed mix design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S. Barak
- Plant Science and ConservationChicago Botanic GardenGlencoeIllinois
- Program in Plant Biology and ConservationNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinois
| | - Taran M. Lichtenberger
- Plant Science and ConservationChicago Botanic GardenGlencoeIllinois
- Program in Plant Biology and ConservationNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinois
| | - Alyssa Wellman‐Houde
- Program in Environmental ScienceUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
- Department of Environmental Science and TechnologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMaryland
| | - Andrea T. Kramer
- Plant Science and ConservationChicago Botanic GardenGlencoeIllinois
| | - Daniel J. Larkin
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesota
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
White A, Fant JB, Havens K, Skinner M, Kramer AT. Restoring species diversity: assessing capacity in the U.S. native plant industry. Restor Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail White
- Division of Plant Science and Conservation; Chicago Botanic Garden; Glencoe IL 60022 U.S.A
- Department of Biological Sciences; Northwestern University; Evanston IL 60201 U.S.A
| | - Jeremie B. Fant
- Division of Plant Science and Conservation; Chicago Botanic Garden; Glencoe IL 60022 U.S.A
- Department of Biological Sciences; Northwestern University; Evanston IL 60201 U.S.A
| | - Kayri Havens
- Division of Plant Science and Conservation; Chicago Botanic Garden; Glencoe IL 60022 U.S.A
- Department of Biological Sciences; Northwestern University; Evanston IL 60201 U.S.A
| | - Mark Skinner
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region Regional Office; Portland OR 97204 U.S.A
| | - Andrea T. Kramer
- Division of Plant Science and Conservation; Chicago Botanic Garden; Glencoe IL 60022 U.S.A
- Department of Biological Sciences; Northwestern University; Evanston IL 60201 U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Affiliation(s)
- Lars A. Brudvig
- Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology; Evolutionary Biology and Behavior; Michigan State University; 612 Wilson Road, Room 368 East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Brudvig LA, Barak RS, Bauer JT, Caughlin TT, Laughlin DC, Larios L, Matthews JW, Stuble KL, Turley NE, Zirbel CR. Interpreting variation to advance predictive restoration science. J Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lars A. Brudvig
- Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Michigan State University 612 Wilson Rd Room 368 East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| | - Rebecca S. Barak
- Program in Plant Biology and Conservation Northwestern University O.T. Hogan Hall Room 6‐140B 2205 Tech Drive Evanston IL 60208 USA
- Plant Science and Conservation Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe IL 60022 USA
| | | | - T. Trevor Caughlin
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL 32601 USA
| | - Daniel C. Laughlin
- Department of Botany University of Wyoming 1000 University Ave Laramie WY 82071 USA
| | - Loralee Larios
- Department of Botany & Plant Sciences University of California 2140 Bachelor Hall Riverside CA 92521 USA
| | - Jeffrey W. Matthews
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign 1102 South Goodwin Avenue Urbana IL 61801 USA
| | | | - Nash E. Turley
- Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Michigan State University 612 Wilson Rd Room 368 East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| | - Chad R. Zirbel
- Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Michigan State University 612 Wilson Rd Room 368 East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| |
Collapse
|