1
|
Zou HX, Yan X, Rudolf VHW. Time-dependent interaction modification generated from plant-soil feedback. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14432. [PMID: 38698727 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Pairwise interactions between species can be modified by other community members, leading to emergent dynamics contingent on community composition. Despite the prevalence of such higher-order interactions, little is known about how they are linked to the timing and order of species' arrival. We generate population dynamics from a mechanistic plant-soil feedback model, then apply a general theoretical framework to show that the modification of a pairwise interaction by a third plant depends on its germination phenology. These time-dependent interaction modifications emerge from concurrent changes in plant and microbe populations and are strengthened by higher overlap between plants' associated microbiomes. The interaction between this overlap and the specificity of microbiomes further determines plant coexistence. Our framework is widely applicable to mechanisms in other systems from which similar time-dependent interaction modifications can emerge, highlighting the need to integrate temporal shifts of species interactions to predict the emergent dynamics of natural communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Xing Zou
- Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Xinyi Yan
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Volker H W Rudolf
- Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Levine JI, Pacala SW, Levine JM. Competition for time: Evidence for an overlooked, diversity-maintaining competitive mechanism. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14422. [PMID: 38549235 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how diversity is maintained in plant communities requires that we first understand the mechanisms of competition for limiting resources. In ecology, there is an underappreciated but fundamental distinction between systems in which the depletion of limiting resources reduces the growth rates of competitors and systems in which resource depletion reduces the time available for competitors to grow, a mechanism we call 'competition for time'. Importantly, modern community ecology and our framing of the coexistence problem are built on the implicit assumption that competition reduces the growth rate. However, recent theoretical work suggests competition for time may be the predominant competitive mechanism in a broad array of natural communities, a significant advance given that when species compete for time, diversity-maintaining trade-offs emerge organically. In this study, we first introduce competition for time conceptually using a simple model of interacting species. Then, we perform an experiment in a Mediterranean annual grassland to determine whether competition for time is an important competitive mechanism in a field system. Indeed, we find that species respond to increased competition through reductions in their lifespan rather than their rate of growth. In total, our study suggests competition for time may be overlooked as a mechanism of biodiversity maintenance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob I Levine
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Stephen W Pacala
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jonathan M Levine
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Luo H, Jia W, Zhang F, Zhang M, Zhang Y, Lan X, Yu Z. The competitive relationship of scrub plants for water use in the subalpine zone of the Qilian Mountains in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:21326-21340. [PMID: 38386162 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32519-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Samples of scrub plants and soil were collected from May to October 2019 in the subalpine scrub zone of the Qilian Mountains. Based on measured oxygen isotope values (δ18O) in plant xylem water and soil water, the multivariate linear mixed model (IsoSource) and the proportional similarity index (PS index) were used to analyze the using proportion for each potential water source and the competition relationship for water use of scrub plants in different growing periods and habitats. The results showed that the soil water content gradually decreased with increasing depth of the soil layer, with the maximum value in the soil layer of 0-10 cm. Most of the scrub plants mainly used soil water in the soil layer of 0-30 cm during the different periods of growing season, but Salix sclerophylla Anderss. and Salix oritrepha Schneid. on the semi-sunny slope habitat mainly used soil water in the soil layer of 40-80 cm during the middle period of growing season (July-August), with the proportion of 59.5% and 52.1%, respectively; and Potentilla fruticosa Linn. and Salix cupularis Rehd. on the semi-shady slope habitat mainly used soil water in the soil layer of 30-60 cm during the early period of growing season (May-June), with the proportion of 61.1% and 49.7%, respectively. The competition relationships of scrub plants for water use varied during different periods of growing season (P < 0.05). On the semi-sunny slope habitat, they were fiercest for Salix cupularis Rehd. and Rhododendron thymifolium Maxim., Potentilla fruticosa Linn., and Salix sclerophylla Anderss. during the early period of growing season; Salix cupularis Rehd. and Rhododendron thymifolium Maxim. during the middle period of growing season, and Salix sclerophylla Anderss. and Salix oritrepha Schneid. during the end period of growing season (September-October). On the semi-shady slope habitat, they were fiercest for Salix oritrepha Schneid. and Caragana jubata (Pall.) Poir. during the early period of growing season; Rhododendron przewalskii Maxim. and Rhododendron thymifolium Maxim. during the middle period of growing season; and Salix cupularis Rehd. and Salix oritrepha Schneid. during the end period of growing season. This study reveals the competitive relationship of scrub plants for water use in the subalpine zone and their response to environmental changes, so as to provide theoretical references for the ecological conservation in the ecologically fragile areas of the Qilian Mountains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huifang Luo
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Wenxiong Jia
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
- Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
| | - Fuhua Zhang
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Xin Lan
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Zhijie Yu
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Smith-Martin CM, Muscarella R, Hammond WM, Jansen S, Brodribb TJ, Choat B, Johnson DM, Vargas-G G, Uriarte M. Hydraulic variability of tropical forests is largely independent of water availability. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:1829-1839. [PMID: 37807917 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Tropical rainforest woody plants have been thought to have uniformly low resistance to hydraulic failure and to function near the edge of their hydraulic safety margin (HSM), making these ecosystems vulnerable to drought; however, this may not be the case. Using data collected at 30 tropical forest sites for three key traits associated with drought tolerance, we show that site-level hydraulic diversity of leaf turgor loss point, resistance to embolism (P50 ), and HSMs is high across tropical forests and largely independent of water availability. Species with high HSMs (>1 MPa) and low P50 values (< -2 MPa) are common across the wet and dry tropics. This high site-level hydraulic diversity, largely decoupled from water stress, could influence which species are favoured and become dominant under a drying climate. High hydraulic diversity could also make these ecosystems more resilient to variable rainfall regimes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris M Smith-Martin
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Robert Muscarella
- Plant Ecology and Evolution, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - William M Hammond
- Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Steven Jansen
- Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Timothy J Brodribb
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Brendan Choat
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel M Johnson
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - German Vargas-G
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - María Uriarte
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Van Dyke MN, Levine JM, Kraft NJB. Small rainfall changes drive substantial changes in plant coexistence. Nature 2022; 611:507-511. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05391-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
6
|
Hu Y, Wang H, Jia H, Pen M, Liu N, Wei J, Zhou B. Ecological Niche and Interspecific Association of Plant Communities in Alpine Desertification Grasslands: A Case Study of Qinghai Lake Basin. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:2724. [PMID: 36297752 PMCID: PMC9609917 DOI: 10.3390/plants11202724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The study of niche and interspecific relationships is one of the classical ecological theories. We set up four desertification gradients. The "Levins" and "Pianka" method were used to calculate the species' niche breadth and niche overlap. Interspecies associations were analyzed by the ratio of variance (VR), Chi-square test, association coefficient (AC) and Ochiai index (OI). The results showed that in grasslands with different degrees of desertification, Stellera chromosome (3.90), Thermopsis lanceolate (3.52) and Aster almanacs (3.99) had larger niche widths, which were wide-area species of plant communities in the desertification area. The ecological niches of the same species in different habitats or different species in the same habitat were multi-dimensional. Niche differentiation measured by niche overlap can occur at any community succession stage. Niche width and niche overlap were not always consistent with environmental changes. Moreover, there was no linear relationship between them. The interspecific connection coefficient fluctuated greatly with the environment. The results can provide a reference for the study of plant community competition mechanism and desertification control in desertification land of the study area. We still do not know the mechanism of how the plants were preserved and how the retained plants adapted to the new environment during the desertification process. We can further study these questions in the next step.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
| | - Huichun Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
- Key Laboratory of Tibet Plateau Biodiversity Formation Mechanism and Comprehensive Utilization, Xining 810008, China
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Animal and Plant Resources on the Quinghai–Tibet Plateau, Xining 810008, China
| | - Huiping Jia
- College of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
| | - Maodeji Pen
- College of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
| | - Nian Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
- Key Laboratory of Tibet Plateau Biodiversity Formation Mechanism and Comprehensive Utilization, Xining 810008, China
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Animal and Plant Resources on the Quinghai–Tibet Plateau, Xining 810008, China
| | - Jingjing Wei
- College of Geographical Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
| | - Biyao Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
| |
Collapse
|