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Messier J, Becker-Scarpitta A, Li Y, Violle C, Vellend M. Root and biomass allocation traits predict changes in plant species and communities over four decades of global change. Ecology 2024:e4389. [PMID: 39252476 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Global change is affecting the distribution and population dynamics of plant species across the planet, leading to trends such as shifts in distribution toward the poles and to higher elevations. Yet, we poorly understand why individual species respond differently to warming and other environmental changes, or how the trait composition of communities responds. Here we ask two questions regarding plant species and community changes over 42 years of global change in a temperate montane forest in Québec, Canada: (1) How did the trait composition, alpha diversity, and beta diversity of understory vascular plant communities change between 1970 and 2010, a period over which the region experienced 1.5°C of warming and changes in nitrogen deposition? (2) Can traits predict shifts in species elevation and abundance over this time period? For 46 understory vascular species, we locally measured six aboveground traits, and for 36 of those (not including shrubs), we also measured five belowground traits. Collectively, they capture leading dimensions of phenotypic variation that are associated with climatic and resource niches. At the community level, the trait composition of high-elevation plots shifted, primarily for two root traits: specific root length decreased and rooting depth increased. The mean trait values of high-elevation plots shifted over time toward values initially associated with low-elevation plots. These changes led to trait homogenization across elevations. The community-level shifts in traits mirrored the taxonomic shifts reported elsewhere for this site. At the species level, two of the three traits predicting changes in species elevation and abundance were belowground traits (low mycorrhizal fraction and shallow rooting). These findings highlight the importance of root traits, which, along with leaf mass fraction, were associated with shifts in distribution and abundance over four decades. Community-level trait changes were largely similar across the elevational and temporal gradients. In contrast, traits typically associated with lower elevations at the community level did not predict differences among species in their shift in abundance or distribution, indicating a decoupling between species- and community-level responses. Overall, changes were consistent with some influence of both climate warming and increased nitrogen availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Messier
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Antoine Becker-Scarpitta
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
- Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yuanzhi Li
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cyrille Violle
- CEFE, CNRS, Univ. Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Mark Vellend
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
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2
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Blowes SA, McGill B, Brambilla V, Chow CFY, Engel T, Fontrodona-Eslava A, Martins IS, McGlinn D, Moyes F, Sagouis A, Shimadzu H, van Klink R, Xu WB, Gotelli NJ, Magurran A, Dornelas M, Chase JM. Synthesis reveals approximately balanced biotic differentiation and homogenization. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj9395. [PMID: 38381832 PMCID: PMC10881054 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj9395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
It is commonly thought that the biodiversity crisis includes widespread declines in the spatial variation of species composition, called biotic homogenization. Using a typology relating homogenization and differentiation to local and regional diversity changes, we synthesize patterns across 461 metacommunities surveyed for 10 to 91 years, and 64 species checklists (13 to 500+ years). Across all datasets, we found that no change was the most common outcome, but with many instances of homogenization and differentiation. A weak homogenizing trend of a 0.3% increase in species shared among communities/year on average was driven by increased numbers of widespread (high occupancy) species and strongly associated with checklist data that have longer durations and large spatial scales. At smaller spatial and temporal scales, we show that homogenization and differentiation can be driven by changes in the number and spatial distributions of both rare and common species. The multiscale perspective introduced here can help identify scale-dependent drivers underpinning biotic differentiation and homogenization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane A. Blowes
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Brian McGill
- School of Biology and Ecology and Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Viviana Brambilla
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
- Guia Marine Lab, MARE, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cher F. Y. Chow
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Thore Engel
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ada Fontrodona-Eslava
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Inês S. Martins
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Berrick Saul Second Floor, University of York, York, UK
| | - Daniel McGlinn
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Faye Moyes
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Alban Sagouis
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Hideyasu Shimadzu
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK
- Department of Data Science, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Roel van Klink
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Wu-Bing Xu
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Anne Magurran
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
- Guia Marine Lab, MARE, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Berrick Saul Second Floor, University of York, York, UK
| | - Jonathan M. Chase
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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3
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Becker‐Scarpitta A, Auberson‐Lavoie D, Aussenac R, Vellend M. Different temporal trends in vascular plant and bryophyte communities along elevational gradients over four decades. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9102. [PMID: 36016818 PMCID: PMC9395318 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite many studies showing biodiversity responses to warming, the generality of such responses across taxonomic groups remains unclear. Very few studies have tested for evidence of bryophyte community responses to warming, even though bryophytes are major contributors to diversity and functioning in many ecosystems. Here, we report an empirical study comparing long-term change in bryophyte and vascular plant communities in two sites with contrasting long-term warming trends, using "legacy" botanical records as a baseline for comparison with contemporary resurveys. We hypothesized that ecological changes would be greater in sites with a stronger warming trend and that vascular plant communities, with narrower climatic niches, would be more sensitive than bryophyte communities to climate warming. For each taxonomic group in each site, we quantified the magnitude of changes in species' distributions along the elevation gradient, species richness, and community composition. We found contrasted temporal changes in bryophyte vs. vascular plant communities, which only partially supported the warming hypothesis. In the area with a stronger warming trend, we found a significant increase in local diversity and dissimilarity (β-diversity) for vascular plants, but not for bryophytes. Presence-absence data did not provide sufficient power to detect elevational shifts in species distributions. The patterns observed for bryophytes are in accordance with recent literature showing that local diversity can remain unchanged despite strong changes in composition. Regardless of whether one taxon is systematically more or less sensitive to environmental change than another, our results suggest that vascular plants cannot be used as a surrogate for bryophytes in terms of predicting the nature and magnitude of responses to warming. Thus, to assess overall biodiversity responses to global change, abundance data from different taxonomic groups and different community properties need to be synthesized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Becker‐Scarpitta
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des SciencesUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQuébecCanada
- Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Agricultural SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of SciencesBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Diane Auberson‐Lavoie
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des SciencesUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQuébecCanada
| | | | - Mark Vellend
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des SciencesUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQuébecCanada
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Keeler AM, Rafferty NE. Legume germination is delayed in dry soils and in sterile soils devoid of microbial mutualists: Species-specific implications for upward range expansions. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9186. [PMID: 36016820 PMCID: PMC9398887 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9186] [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: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is affecting species and their mutualists and can lead to the weakening or loss of important interspecific interactions. Through independent shifts in partner phenology and distribution, climatic stress can separate mutualists temporally or spatially, leading to alterations in partner functional traits and fitness. Here, we explored the effects of the loss of microbial mutualists on legume germination success and phenology. In particular, we assessed the effects of mutualism loss via soil sterilization, increased drought, and introduction to novel soils found beyond the current distributions of two focal legume species in subalpine environments. Through common garden experiments in controlled environments, we found evidence that soil sterilization (and consequent microbial absence) and dry soils caused species-specific phenological delays of 2-5 weeks in germination, likely as a result of interaction loss between legumes and specialized germination-promoting soil microbes, such as mutualistic rhizobia. Delays in germination caused by a mismatch between legumes and beneficial microbes could negatively affect legume fitness through increased plant-plant competition later in the season. Additionally, we found evidence of the presence of beneficial microbes beyond the current elevational range of one of our focal legumes, which may allow for expansion of the leading edge, although harsh abiotic factors in the alpine may hinder this. Alterations in the strength of soil microbe-legume mutualisms may lead to reduced fitness and altered demography for both soil microbes and legumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M. Keeler
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal BiologyUniversity of California, RiversideRiversideCaliforniaUSA
- Rocky Mountain Biological LaboratoryCrested ButteColoradoUSA
| | - Nicole E. Rafferty
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal BiologyUniversity of California, RiversideRiversideCaliforniaUSA
- Rocky Mountain Biological LaboratoryCrested ButteColoradoUSA
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5
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De Pauw K, Sanczuk P, Meeussen C, Depauw L, De Lombaerde E, Govaert S, Vanneste T, Brunet J, Cousins SAO, Gasperini C, Hedwall PO, Iacopetti G, Lenoir J, Plue J, Selvi F, Spicher F, Uria-Diez J, Verheyen K, Vangansbeke P, De Frenne P. Forest understorey communities respond strongly to light in interaction with forest structure, but not to microclimate warming. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 233:219-235. [PMID: 34664731 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Forests harbour large spatiotemporal heterogeneity in canopy structure. This variation drives the microclimate and light availability at the forest floor. So far, we do not know how light availability and sub-canopy temperature interactively mediate the impact of macroclimate warming on understorey communities. We therefore assessed the functional response of understorey plant communities to warming and light addition in a full factorial experiment installed in temperate deciduous forests across Europe along natural microclimate, light and macroclimate gradients. Furthermore, we related these functional responses to the species' life-history syndromes and thermal niches. We found no significant community responses to the warming treatment. The light treatment, however, had a stronger impact on communities, mainly due to responses by fast-colonizing generalists and not by slow-colonizing forest specialists. The forest structure strongly mediated the response to light addition and also had a clear impact on functional traits and total plant cover. The effects of short-term experimental warming were small and suggest a time-lag in the response of understorey species to climate change. Canopy disturbance, for instance due to drought, pests or logging, has a strong and immediate impact and particularly favours generalists in the understorey in structurally complex forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen De Pauw
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Pieter Sanczuk
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Camille Meeussen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Leen Depauw
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Emiel De Lombaerde
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Sanne Govaert
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Thomas Vanneste
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Jörg Brunet
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22, Lomma, Sweden
| | - Sara A O Cousins
- Landscapes, Environment and Geomatics, Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 8, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cristina Gasperini
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, P. le Cascine 28, 50144, Florence, Italy
| | - Per-Ola Hedwall
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22, Lomma, Sweden
| | - Giovanni Iacopetti
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, P. le Cascine 28, 50144, Florence, Italy
| | - Jonathan Lenoir
- UMR CNRS 7058 'Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés' (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 Rue des Louvels, 80000, Amiens, France
| | - Jan Plue
- IVL Swedish Environmental Institute, Valhallavägen 81, 114 28, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Federico Selvi
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, P. le Cascine 28, 50144, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabien Spicher
- UMR CNRS 7058 'Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés' (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 Rue des Louvels, 80000, Amiens, France
| | - Jaime Uria-Diez
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 190, 234 22, Lomma, Sweden
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Pieter Vangansbeke
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Pieter De Frenne
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
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6
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Du J, He Z, Chen L, Lin P, Zhu X, Tian Q. Impact of climate change on alpine plant community in Qilian Mountains of China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:1849-1858. [PMID: 33974125 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-021-02141-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that mountains are experiencing some of the highest rates of climate warming, but assessment of the ecological impacts of climate change is often limited due to a lack of long-term monitoring data for comparative study in many ecosystems. In this study, we present an empirical work for assessing ecological responses with botanical legacy data in the Qilian Mountains of China. Plot-scale and transect-wide survey was conducted for alpine shrub communities along an elevational gradient 20 years ago. Recently, we resampled the permanent plots to investigate how the community changes may be linked to climatic variability. We found no significant temporal shifts in species richness; but the community structure underwent substantial changes, as indicated by visible shifts in the relative density of dominant shrub species and the frequency of occurrence of understory herbaceous species. This reshuffling of plant community composition reflected a series of complex responses to climate change. Specifically, wet-demanding species have become more frequent due to the recently enhanced precipitation, while the replacement of some low-statured plants with different requirements for light was indirectly regulated by climate warming via reshaping the altitudinal patterns of dominant shrubs. Climate-mediated shifts in shrub species distribution altered the expected evolutional trajectory of alpine community, which increased the complexity and nonlinearity of the responses of the communities at different altitudes to climatic variability. Our results suggested that in-depth knowledge of indirect effects can facilitate to lessen the uncertainty in predicting future community dynamics in a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Du
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhibin He
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Longfei Chen
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Pengfei Lin
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xi Zhu
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Quanyan Tian
- Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
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7
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Vellend M, Béhé M, Carteron A, Crofts AL, Danneyrolles V, Gamhewa HT, Ni M, Rinas CL, Watts DA. Plant Responses to Climate Change and an Elevational Gradient in Mont Mégantic National Park, Québec, Canada. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2021. [DOI: 10.1656/045.028.s1102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Vellend
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Mélanie Béhé
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Alexis Carteron
- Département de Sciences Biologiques, Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Centre sur la Biodiversité, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Anna L. Crofts
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Victor Danneyrolles
- Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC G5L 3A1, Canada
| | - Hasanki T. Gamhewa
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Ming Ni
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Christina L. Rinas
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - David A. Watts
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
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8
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Li T, Luo P, Xiong Q, Yang H, Gu X, Qiu Y, Lin B, Liu Y, Lai C. Spatial heterogeneity of tree diversity response to climate warming in montane forests. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:931-941. [PMID: 33520176 PMCID: PMC7820142 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies reported biotic change along a continental warming gradient. However, the temporal and spatial change of tree diversity and their sensitivity to climate warming might differ from region to region. Understanding of the variation among studies with regard to the magnitude of such biotic changes is minimal, especially in montane ecosystems. Our aim is to better understand changes in spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of mountain tree communities under climate warming over the past four decades. In 2017, we resurveyed and recorded all tree species from 107 long-term monitoring plots that were first studied between 1974 and 1976. These plots were located in montane forests in the Giant Panda National Park (GPNP), China. Our results showed that spatial differences were found in tree species diversity changes response to mean annual temperature change over the past four decades. Tree species richness increased significantly under climate warming in Minshan (MS) and Xiaoxiangling (XXL) with higher warming rate than Qionglai (QLS) and Liangshan (LS). The trees species diversity in MS and XXL were more sensitive to climatic warming. MS and XXL should receive priority protection in the next conservation plan of the GPNP. The GPNP should avoid taking a "one-size-fits-all" approach for diversity conservation due to spatial heterogeneity in plant community dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li
- Key Laboratory of the Evaluation and Monitoring of Southwest Land Resources (Ministry of Education)Sichuan Normal UniversityChengduChina
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Peng Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Qinli Xiong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional EcologyResearch Center for Eco‐Environmental SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Hao Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Xiaodong Gu
- The Wildlife Protection Division of the Forestry Department of Sichuan ProvinceChengduChina
| | - Yuming Qiu
- Chengdu Institute of Computer ApplicationsChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesChongqingChina
| | - Bo Lin
- Sichuan Forestry and Grassland Research and Planning InstituteChengduChina
| | - Yang Liu
- Sichuan Forestry and Grassland Research and Planning InstituteChengduChina
| | - Changhong Lai
- Sichuan Forestry and Grassland Research and Planning InstituteChengduChina
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9
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Kirk DA, Brice M, Bradstreet MS, Elliott KA. Changes in beta diversity and species functional traits differ between saplings and mature trees in an old-growth forest. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:58-88. [PMID: 33437415 PMCID: PMC7790643 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasion by generalist tree species can cause biotic homogenization, and such community impoverishment is likely more important in rare forest types. We quantified changes in tree diversity within Carolinian (range in Central Hardwood Forest), central (range in Central Hardwood Forest and Northern Hardwood-Conifer Forest), and northern species [range reached Northern-Conifer-Hardwood/closed Boreal (spruce-Fir) Forest] in an old forest tract in southern Canada at points surveyed 24 years apart. We asked: How did mature tree and sapling composition and abundance change for the three species' groups? Did those changes lead to biotic homogenization? Can species' changes be explained by community traits? We tested for differences in temporal and spatial tree β-diversity, as well as forest composition and structure, using univariate/multivariate analyses and a community trait-based approach to identify drivers of change. Major increases occurred in abundance for mature Acer rubrum (northern), while other species decreased (Fraxinus americana, Populus grandidentata); declines were found in A. saccharinum (central) and Cornus florida (Carolinian). Species composition of saplings, but not mature trees, changed due to replacement; no evidence for biotic homogenization existed in either cohort. As a group, northern mature tree species increased significantly, while central species decreased; saplings of pooled Carolinian species also declined. Shade tolerance in mature trees increased, reflecting successional changes, while drought tolerance decreased, perhaps due to changing temperatures, altered precipitation or ground water levels. Saplings showed declines in all traits, probably because of compositional change. Our results demonstrated that saplings can more closely reflect change in forest dynamics than mature trees, especially over short time periods. Based on sapling trends, this remnant could ultimately transition to a mesophytic hardwood stand dominated by A. rubrum and other shade-tolerant species, creating a more homogeneous forest. While encouraging regeneration for Carolinian and central tree species could ensure high levels of diversity are conserved in the future, it is important to balance this with the primary management goal of maintaining the forest's old-growth characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie‐Hélène Brice
- Département de Sciences BiologiquesUniversité de MontréalMontréalQCCanada
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity SciencesMcGill UniversityMontréalQCCanada
| | | | - Ken A. Elliott
- Divisional Support SectionIntegration BranchOntario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryPeterboroughONCanada
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10
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Kankaanpää T, Vesterinen E, Hardwick B, Schmidt NM, Andersson T, Aspholm PE, Barrio IC, Beckers N, Bêty J, Birkemoe T, DeSiervo M, Drotos KHI, Ehrich D, Gilg O, Gilg V, Hein N, Høye TT, Jakobsen KM, Jodouin C, Jorna J, Kozlov MV, Kresse J, Leandri‐Breton D, Lecomte N, Loonen M, Marr P, Monckton SK, Olsen M, Otis J, Pyle M, Roos RE, Raundrup K, Rozhkova D, Sabard B, Sokolov A, Sokolova N, Solecki AM, Urbanowicz C, Villeneuve C, Vyguzova E, Zverev V, Roslin T. Parasitoids indicate major climate-induced shifts in arctic communities. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:6276-6295. [PMID: 32914511 PMCID: PMC7692897 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 10/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Climatic impacts are especially pronounced in the Arctic, which as a region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the globe. Here, we investigate how mean climatic conditions and rates of climatic change impact parasitoid insect communities in 16 localities across the Arctic. We focus on parasitoids in a widespread habitat, Dryas heathlands, and describe parasitoid community composition in terms of larval host use (i.e., parasitoid use of herbivorous Lepidoptera vs. pollinating Diptera) and functional groups differing in their closeness of host associations (koinobionts vs. idiobionts). Of the latter, we expect idiobionts-as being less fine-tuned to host development-to be generally less tolerant to cold temperatures, since they are confined to attacking hosts pupating and overwintering in relatively exposed locations. To further test our findings, we assess whether similar climatic variables are associated with host abundances in a 22 year time series from Northeast Greenland. We find sites which have experienced a temperature rise in summer while retaining cold winters to be dominated by parasitoids of Lepidoptera, with the reverse being true for the parasitoids of Diptera. The rate of summer temperature rise is further associated with higher levels of herbivory, suggesting higher availability of lepidopteran hosts and changes in ecosystem functioning. We also detect a matching signal over time, as higher summer temperatures, coupled with cold early winter soils, are related to high herbivory by lepidopteran larvae, and to declines in the abundance of dipteran pollinators. Collectively, our results suggest that in parts of the warming Arctic, Dryas is being simultaneously exposed to increased herbivory and reduced pollination. Our findings point to potential drastic and rapid consequences of climate change on multitrophic-level community structure and on ecosystem functioning and highlight the value of collaborative, systematic sampling effort.
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11
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Prasad A, Pedlar J, Peters M, McKenney D, Iverson L, Matthews S, Adams B. Combining US and Canadian forest inventories to assess habitat suitability and migration potential of 25 tree species under climate change. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anantha Prasad
- Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service Delaware OH USA
| | - John Pedlar
- Great Lakes Forestry Centre Canadian Forest Service Sault Ste Marie ON Canada
| | - Matt Peters
- Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service Delaware OH USA
| | - Dan McKenney
- Great Lakes Forestry Centre Canadian Forest Service Sault Ste Marie ON Canada
| | - Louis Iverson
- Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service Delaware OH USA
| | - Steve Matthews
- Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service Delaware OH USA
- School of Environment and Natural Resources Columbus OH USA
| | - Bryce Adams
- School of Environment and Natural Resources Columbus OH USA
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Homogenization of Temperate Mixed Deciduous Forests in Białowieża Forest: Similar Communities Are Becoming More Similar. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11050545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Many studies show the significant impact of direct and indirect human activity on the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, including forests. The increase in the number of invasive species, changes caused by climate change, or eutrophication of habitats resulting from air pollution can irrevocably affect biodiversity, species composition, or species interactions. Many of these effects cannot be seen in commercial forests due to the significant impact of direct human use of the forest and the high degree of transformation of forest ecosystems. In this work, we ask: how have forest communities changed over the past 70 years? What was the reason for these changes? To answer the above questions, we conducted research on repeated observations in the core area of the Białowieża National Park, which is characterized by one of the highest degrees of naturalness in Europe, where ecological processes have occurred without direct human intervention since the last glaciation. Studies have shown directional changes in species composition and biotic homogenization of three forest communities. Directional changes were found to be associated with both eutrophication of habitats as well as with changes in humidity and temperature. However, the observed changes in species composition were opposite to the hypotheses based on the observed global change. In contrast, changes in the species composition of the stand and the ability to shade and buffer the temperature and humidity under the canopy caused changes in the species composition of forest communities. In the mixed deciduous forest, homogenization occurred along with the simultaneous change of species composition of forest communities. This was caused by an increase in fertility caused by increased nitrogen deposition and changes in environmental conditions prevailing under the canopy of trees, which, however, were caused by changes in the species composition of the stand.
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13
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Harrison S. Plant community diversity will decline more than increase under climatic warming. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190106. [PMID: 31983333 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Regions and localities may lose many species to extinction under rapid climate change and may gain other species that colonize from nearby warmer environments. Here, it is argued that warming-induced species losses will generally exceed gains and there will be more net declines than net increases in plant community richness. Declines in richness are especially likely in water-limited climates where intensifying aridity will increasingly exceed plant tolerances, but also in colder temperature-limited climates where steep climatic gradients are lacking, and therefore, large pools of appropriate species are not immediately adjacent. The selectivity of warming-induced losses may lead to declines in functional and phylogenetic diversity as well as in species richness, especially in water-limited climates. Our current understanding of climate-caused diversity trends may be overly influenced by numerous studies coming from north-temperate alpine mountaintops, where conditions are unusually favourable for increases-possibly temporary-in local species richness. This article is part of the theme issue 'Climate change and ecosystems: threats, opportunities and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Harrison
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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