1
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De Giorgi F, Roscher C, Durka W. Effects of species diversity on trait expression of the clonal herb Taraxacum officinale and its relation to genotype diversity and phenotypic plasticity. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11430. [PMID: 38766311 PMCID: PMC11099733 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant species respond to varying plant species diversity and associated changes in their abiotic and biotic environment with changes in their phenotype. However, it is not clear to what degree this phenotypic differentiation is due to genotype diversity within populations or phenotypic plasticity of plant individuals. We studied individuals of 16 populations of the clonal herb Taraxacum officinale grown in plant communities of different species richness in a 17-year-old grassland biodiversity experiment (Jena Experiment). We collected 12 individuals in each population to measure phenotypic traits and identify distinct genotypes using microsatellite DNA markers. Plant species richness did not influence population-level genotype and trait diversity. However, it affected the expression of several phenotypic traits, e.g. leaf and inflorescence number, maximum leaf length and seed mass, which increased with increasing plant species richness. Moreover, population-level trait diversity correlated positively with genotype richness for leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and negatively with inflorescence number. For several traits (i.e. seed mass, germination rate, LDMC, specific leaf area (SLA)), a larger portion of variance was explained by genotype identity, while variance in other traits (i.e. number of inflorescences, leaf nitrogen concentration, leaf number, leaf length) resided within genotypes and thus was mostly due to phenotypic plasticity. Overall, our findings show that plant species richness positively affected the population means of some traits related to whole-plant performance, whose variation was achieved through both phenotypic plasticity and genotype composition of a population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Giorgi
- Department of Physiological DiversityHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZLeipzigGermany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Christiane Roscher
- Department of Physiological DiversityHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZLeipzigGermany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Walter Durka
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Department of Community EcologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZHalleGermany
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2
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Wuest SE, Schulz L, Rana S, Frommelt J, Ehmig M, Pires ND, Grossniklaus U, Hardtke CS, Hammes UZ, Schmid B, Niklaus PA. Single-gene resolution of diversity-driven overyielding in plant genotype mixtures. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3379. [PMID: 37291153 PMCID: PMC10250416 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39130-z] [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: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In plant communities, diversity often increases productivity and functioning, but the specific underlying drivers are difficult to identify. Most ecological theories attribute positive diversity effects to complementary niches occupied by different species or genotypes. However, the specific nature of niche complementarity often remains unclear, including how it is expressed in terms of trait differences between plants. Here, we use a gene-centred approach to study positive diversity effects in mixtures of natural Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes. Using two orthogonal genetic mapping approaches, we find that between-plant allelic differences at the AtSUC8 locus are strongly associated with mixture overyielding. AtSUC8 encodes a proton-sucrose symporter and is expressed in root tissues. Genetic variation in AtSUC8 affects the biochemical activities of protein variants and natural variation at this locus is associated with different sensitivities of root growth to changes in substrate pH. We thus speculate that - in the particular case studied here - evolutionary divergence along an edaphic gradient resulted in the niche complementarity between genotypes that now drives overyielding in mixtures. Identifying genes important for ecosystem functioning may ultimately allow linking ecological processes to evolutionary drivers, help identify traits underlying positive diversity effects, and facilitate the development of high-performance crop variety mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E Wuest
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Geography, Remote Sensing Laboratories, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Agroscope, Group Breeding Research, Mueller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Waedenswil, Switzerland.
| | - Lukas Schulz
- Plant Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Surbhi Rana
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Ln, Norwich, NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Frommelt
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Merten Ehmig
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Nuno D Pires
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ueli Grossniklaus
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian S Hardtke
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Z Hammes
- Plant Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Geography, Remote Sensing Laboratories, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal A Niklaus
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
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3
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Zhang L, Cappelli SL, Huang M, Liu X, Xiao Y, Cardou F, Rong Y, Zhou S. Intraspecific trait variability mediates the effect of nitrogen addition and warming on aboveground productivity. OIKOS 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Shanghai Inst. of Eco-Chongming (SIEC), and School of Life Sciences, Fudan Univ. Shanghai PR China
- Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Inst., Nanjing Forestry Univ. Nanjing PR China
| | - Seraina Lisa Cappelli
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zürich Zürich
| | - Mengjiao Huang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Shanghai Inst. of Eco-Chongming (SIEC), and School of Life Sciences, Fudan Univ. Shanghai PR China
| | - Xiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro‐ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou Univ. Lanzhou PR China
| | - Yao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro‐ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou Univ. Lanzhou PR China
| | - Françoise Cardou
- Biological Sciences Dept, Univ. of Toronto Scarborough Toronto ON Canada
| | - Yizhong Rong
- School of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural Univ. Hefei PR China
| | - Shurong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Hainan Univ. Haikou PR China
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4
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Hermlin HK, Lepik M, Zobel K. The importance of shoot morphological plasticity on plant coexistence: a pot experiment. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2022; 24:791-797. [PMID: 35301789 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13409] [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: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plant morphological plasticity affects species coexistence by enhancing local coexistence. Here, we test the importance of plasticity to light availability for species coexistence. We hypothesise that high average plasticity in a species assemblage promotes coexistence and tested for the effect of differential plasticity on the competitive success of neighbouring species. Sixteen herbaceous species with known morphological plasticity were grown pairwise in 95 combinations in 285 pots. We calculated mean plasticity and difference of plasticity for each pair of species in a pot using previously estimated degree of plasticity in leaf number, leaf length, leaf area and SLA. We then related these to biomass-based evenness of abundance in a pot and to competitive success of the 16 species. Unexpectedly, average plasticity did not affect biomass production between coexisting species. Instead, large differences in plasticity among two competitive neighbours predicted low diversity (high degree of dominance) in an assemblage. Higher than neighbour plasticity generally predicted competitive superiority in an assemblage. The opposite was true for plasticity of SLA, where species with low plasticity tended to dominate. Unlike earlier field studies, our results show that phenotypic plasticity in various plant traits pose opposite effects to interspecific competition. Subsequently, these effects possibly affect species composition and richness through which plasticity has significant consequences for plant communities and, therefore, should be accounted for in relevant studies in plant ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- H K Hermlin
- Department of Botany, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - M Lepik
- Department of Botany, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - K Zobel
- Department of Botany, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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5
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Yang H, Xu H, Zhang W, Li Z, Fan H, Lambers H, Li L. Overyielding is accounted for partly by plasticity and dissimilarity of crop root traits in maize/legume intercropping systems. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Key Laboratory of Plant and Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development China Agricultural University Beijing China
| | - Hua‐Sen Xu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Key Laboratory of Plant and Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development China Agricultural University Beijing China
| | - Wei‐Ping Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Key Laboratory of Plant and Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development China Agricultural University Beijing China
| | - Zhao‐Xin Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Key Laboratory of Plant and Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development China Agricultural University Beijing China
| | - Hong‐Xia Fan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Key Laboratory of Plant and Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development China Agricultural University Beijing China
| | - Hans Lambers
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Key Laboratory of Plant and Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development China Agricultural University Beijing China
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia Crawley (Perth) WA Australia
| | - Long Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Key Laboratory of Plant and Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education; College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development China Agricultural University Beijing China
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6
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Induced plasticity alters responses to conspecific interactions in seedlings of a perennial grass. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14581. [PMID: 34272406 PMCID: PMC8285392 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93494-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants can interact with different individuals in their lifetime which may lead to plastic response that affect performance. If conspecific interactions are altered through previous plastic responses that could affect stabilizing niche mechanisms, in which conspecifics compete more intensely to promote diversity and coexistence. Here, I show interactions between Pascopyrum smithii and conspecifics resulted in largely canalized traits, whereas P. smithii with an invasive grass, Bromus tectorum resulted in plastic responses for root mass (p = 0.02), shoot mass (p < 0.0001), root mass fraction (p = 0.003) and plant height (p < 0.0001). A subset of individuals transplanted from these two interaction treatments which were moved with new, same aged conspecifics showed that previous interactions led to differing trait relationships: increases in the number of leaves for the interspecific-induced plants were related to increases in non-focal leaf production, whereas increases in the number of leaves for the intraspecific-induced plants were related to decreases in the non-focal plants (R2 = 0.52, p = 0.006). These results suggest that previous intraspecific interactions intensify conspecific competition and stabilize subsequent interactions with conspecifics by imposing greater competition, and that invasive-interspecific interactions can weaken stabilizing niche mechanisms, thus negatively influencing species coexistence.
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7
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Guiguitant J, Vile D, Marrou H. Trait Diversity of Pulse Species Predicts Agroecosystem Properties Trade-Offs. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:636915. [PMID: 33868335 PMCID: PMC8044420 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.636915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Crop diversity management in agriculture is a fundamental principle of agroecology and a powerful way to promote resilient and sustainable production systems. Pulses are especially relevant for diversification issues. Yet, the specific diversity of legumes is poorly represented in most cropping systems. We used the trait-based approach to quantify the functional diversity of 30 pulses varieties, belonging to 10 species, grown under common field conditions. Our aim was to test relationships between traits, yield, and supporting agroecosystem properties. Our experimental results highlighted trade-offs between agroecosystem properties supported by different combinations of traits. Also, results demonstrated the relevance of leaf nitrogen content (LNC), leaf area ratio (LAR), and reproductive phenology to predict most of the trade-offs observed between agroecosystem properties. A comparison with a previous analysis based on literature data collected in diverse agronomic situations suggested that some traits are more plastic than others and therefore contribute differently to frame legumes diversity depending on the conditions of observation. Present results suggested that the implementation of such trait-based approach would rapidly benefit the selection of species/varieties for specific targeted agroecosystem services provisioning under specific (environmental or management) conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Guiguitant
- SYSTEM, Montpellier SupAgro, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier, CIHEAM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- LEPSE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Denis Vile
- LEPSE, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Hélène Marrou
- African Integrated Plant and Soil Research Group (AiPlaS), AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco
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8
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Mason NWH, Orwin KH, Lambie S, Waugh D, Pronger J, Carmona CP, Mudge P. Resource-use efficiency drives overyielding via enhanced complementarity. Oecologia 2020; 193:995-1010. [PMID: 32844244 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04732-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Overyielding, the primary metric for assessing biodiversity effects on ecosystem functions, is often partitioned into "complementarity" and "selection" components, but this reveals nothing about the role of increased resource use, resource-use efficiency, or trait plasticity. We obtained multiple overyielding values by comparing productivity in a five-species mixture to expected values from its component monocultures at a) six levels of nitrogen addition (spanning 0-500 kg N ha-1 year-1) and b) across four seasons. We also measured light, water, and nitrogen use, resource-use efficiency, and three functional traits-leaf nitrogen content, specific leaf area, and leaf area ratio-n mixtures and monocultures. We found strong evidence for non-transgressive overyielding. This was strongest in spring, with mixture productivity exceeding expected values by 20 kg dry matter ha-1 day-1. Peak overyielding was driven by enhanced complementarity, with the two non-N2-fixing forb species far exceeding expected productivity in mixtures. Peak overyielding also coincided with higher water use in the mixture than for any monoculture, and enhanced mixture-resource-use efficiency. There was only weak evidence that trait plasticity influenced overyielding or resource use. Our findings suggest that when complementarity drives overyielding in grassland mixtures, and this is made possible both by increased water use and enhanced efficiency in water, nitrogen, and light use. Our results also suggest that mixtures offer a viable compromise between productivity, resource-use efficiency, and reduced environmental impacts (i.e., nitrate leaching) from intensive agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman W H Mason
- Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand.
| | - Kate H Orwin
- Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand
| | - Suzanne Lambie
- Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Deanne Waugh
- DairyNZ, Private Bag 3221, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Jack Pronger
- Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Carlos Perez Carmona
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 50407, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Paul Mudge
- Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
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9
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Bongers FJ, Schmid B, Durka W, Li S, Bruelheide H, Hahn CZ, Yan H, Ma K, Liu X. Genetic richness affects trait variation but not community productivity in a tree diversity experiment. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 227:744-756. [PMID: 32242938 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiments found that productivity generally increases with species richness, but less is known about effects of within-species genetic richness and potential interactions between the two. While functional differences between species can explain species richness effects, empirical evidence regarding functional differences between genotypes within species and potential consequences for productivity is largely lacking. We therefore measured within- and among-species variation in functional traits and growth and determined stand-level tree biomass in a large forest experiment factorially manipulating species and genetic richness in subtropical China. Within-species variation across genetic seed families, in addition to variation across species, explained a substantial amount of trait variation. Furthermore, trait responses to species and genetic richness varied significantly within and between species. Multivariate trait variation was larger among individuals from species mixtures than those from species monocultures, but similar among individuals from genetically diverse vs genetically uniform monocultures. Correspondingly, species but not genetic richness had a positive effect on stand-level tree biomass. We argue that identifying functional diversity within and among species in forest communities is necessary to separate effects of species and genetic diversity on tree growth and community productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franca J Bongers
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100093, Beijing, China
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Geography, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Walter Durka
- Department of Community Ecology, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Shan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100093, Beijing, China
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, D-06108, Halle, Germany
| | - Christoph Z Hahn
- Department of Community Ecology, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120, Halle, Germany
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Haoru Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100093, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Keping Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100093, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100093, Beijing, China
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10
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Maes SL, Perring MP, Depauw L, Bernhardt-Römermann M, Blondeel H, Brūmelis G, Brunet J, Decocq G, den Ouden J, Govaert S, Härdtle W, Hédl R, Heinken T, Heinrichs S, Hertzog L, Jaroszewicz B, Kirby K, Kopecký M, Landuyt D, Máliš F, Vanneste T, Wulf M, Verheyen K. Plant functional trait response to environmental drivers across European temperate forest understorey communities. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2020; 22:410-424. [PMID: 31840363 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Functional traits respond to environmental drivers, hence evaluating trait-environment relationships across spatial environmental gradients can help to understand how multiple drivers influence plant communities. Global-change drivers such as changes in atmospheric nitrogen deposition occur worldwide, but affect community trait distributions at the local scale, where resources (e.g. light availability) and conditions (e.g. soil pH) also influence plant communities. We investigate how multiple environmental drivers affect community trait responses related to resource acquisition (plant height, specific leaf area (SLA), woodiness, and mycorrhizal status) and regeneration (seed mass, lateral spread) of European temperate deciduous forest understoreys. We sampled understorey communities and derived trait responses across spatial gradients of global-change drivers (temperature, precipitation, nitrogen deposition, and past land use), while integrating in-situ plot measurements on resources and conditions (soil type, Olsen phosphorus (P), Ellenberg soil moisture, light, litter mass, and litter quality). Among the global-change drivers, mean annual temperature strongly influenced traits related to resource acquisition. Higher temperatures were associated with taller understoreys producing leaves with lower SLA, and a higher proportional cover of woody and obligate mycorrhizal (OM) species. Communities in plots with higher Ellenberg soil moisture content had smaller seeds and lower proportional cover of woody and OM species. Finally, plots with thicker litter layers hosted taller understoreys with larger seeds and a higher proportional cover of OM species. Our findings suggest potential community shifts in temperate forest understoreys with global warming, and highlight the importance of local resources and conditions as well as global-change drivers for community trait variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Maes
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - M P Perring
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - L Depauw
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - M Bernhardt-Römermann
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - H Blondeel
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - G Brūmelis
- Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - J Brunet
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - G Decocq
- Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés (EDYSAN, UMR 7058 CNRS), Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France
| | - J den Ouden
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - S Govaert
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - W Härdtle
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - R Hédl
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - T Heinken
- General Botany, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - S Heinrichs
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - L Hertzog
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - B Jaroszewicz
- Białowieża Geobotanical Station, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Białowieża, Poland
| | - K Kirby
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - M Kopecký
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - D Landuyt
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - F Máliš
- Faculty of Forestry, Technical University, Zvolen, Slovakia
- National Forest Centre, Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - T Vanneste
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - M Wulf
- Leibniz-ZALF e.V. Müncheberg, Müncheberg, Germany
| | - K Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
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11
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Luo S, Schmid B, Wagg C, Chen Y, Jiang B, Liang M, Liu X, Yu S. Community‐wide trait means and variations affect biomass in a biodiversity experiment with tree seedlings. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shan Luo
- Dept of Ecology, School of Life Sciences/State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat‐sen Univ. CN‐510275 Guangzhou PR China
| | | | - Cameron Wagg
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zürich Zürich Switzerland
| | - Yuxin Chen
- Dept of Ecology, School of Life Sciences/State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat‐sen Univ. CN‐510275 Guangzhou PR China
| | - Bin Jiang
- Dept of Ecology, School of Life Sciences/State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat‐sen Univ. CN‐510275 Guangzhou PR China
| | - Minxia Liang
- Dept of Ecology, School of Life Sciences/State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat‐sen Univ. CN‐510275 Guangzhou PR China
| | - Xubing Liu
- Dept of Ecology, School of Life Sciences/State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat‐sen Univ. CN‐510275 Guangzhou PR China
| | - Shixiao Yu
- Dept of Ecology, School of Life Sciences/State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat‐sen Univ. CN‐510275 Guangzhou PR China
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12
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Meilhac J, Deschamps L, Maire V, Flajoulot S, Litrico I. Both selection and plasticity drive niche differentiation in experimental grasslands. NATURE PLANTS 2020; 6:28-33. [PMID: 31873193 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-019-0569-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The way species avoid each other in a community by using resources differently across space and time is one of the main drivers of species coexistence in nature1,2. This mechanism, known as niche differentiation, has been widely examined theoretically but still lacks thorough experimental validation in plants. To shape niche differences over time, species within communities can reduce the overlap between their niches or find unexploited environmental space3. Selection and phenotypic plasticity have been advanced as two candidate processes driving niche differentiation4,5, but their respective role remains to be quantified6. Here, we tracked changes in plant height, as a candidate trait for light capture7, in 5-year multispecies sown grasslands. We found increasing among-species height differences over time. Phenotypic plasticity promotes this change, which explains the rapid setting of differentiation in our system. Through the inspection of changes in genetic structure, we also highlighted the contribution of selection. Altogether, we experimentally demonstrated the occurrence of species niche differentiation within artificial grassland communities over a short time scale through the joined action of both plasticity and selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucas Deschamps
- Département des Sciences de l'Environnement, UQTR, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Vincent Maire
- Département des Sciences de l'Environnement, UQTR, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
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13
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van Moorsel SJ, Schmid MW, Wagemaker NCAM, van Gurp T, Schmid B, Vergeer P. Evidence for rapid evolution in a grassland biodiversity experiment. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:4097-4117. [PMID: 31336411 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In long-term grassland experiments, positive biodiversity effects on plant productivity commonly increase with time. Subsequent glasshouse experiments showed that these strengthened positive biodiversity effects persist not only in the local environment but also when plants are transferred into a common environment. Thus, we hypothesized that community diversity had acted as a selective agent, resulting in the emergence of plant monoculture and mixture types with differing genetic composition. To test our hypothesis, we grew offspring from plants that were grown for eleven years in monoculture or mixture environments in a biodiversity experiment (Jena Experiment) under controlled glasshouse conditions in monocultures or two-species mixtures. We used epiGBS, a genotyping-by-sequencing approach combined with bisulphite conversion, to provide integrative genetic and epigenetic (i.e., DNA methylation) data. We observed significant divergence in genetic and DNA methylation data according to selection history in three out of five perennial grassland species, namely Galium mollugo, Prunella vulgaris and Veronica chamaedrys, with DNA methylation differences mostly reflecting the genetic differences. In addition, current diversity levels in the glasshouse had weak effects on epigenetic variation. However, given the limited genome coverage of the reference-free bisulphite method epiGBS, it remains unclear how much of the differences in DNA methylation was independent of underlying genetic differences. Our results thus suggest that selection of genetic variants, and possibly epigenetic variants, caused the rapid emergence of monoculture and mixture types within plant species in the Jena Experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia J van Moorsel
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marc W Schmid
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,MWSchmid GmbH, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Niels C A M Wagemaker
- Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Department of Geography, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Philippine Vergeer
- Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Environmental Sciences, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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14
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Chacón‐Labella J, García Palacios P, Matesanz S, Schöb C, Milla R. Plant domestication disrupts biodiversity effects across major crop types. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:1472-1482. [PMID: 31270929 PMCID: PMC7163516 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Plant diversity fosters productivity in natural ecosystems. Biodiversity effects might increase agricultural yields at no cost in additional inputs. However, the effects of diversity on crop assemblages are inconsistent, probably because crops and wild plants differ in a range of traits relevant to plant-plant interactions. We tested whether domestication has changed the potential of crop mixtures to over-yield by comparing the performance and traits of major crop species and those of their wild progenitors under varying levels of diversity. We found stronger biodiversity effects in mixtures of wild progenitors, due to larger selection effects. Variation in selection effects was partly explained by within-mixture differences in leaf size. Our results indicate that domestication might disrupt the ability of crops to benefit from diverse neighbourhoods via reduced trait variance. These results highlight potential limitations of current crop mixtures to over-yield and the potential of breeding to re-establish variance and increase mixture performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Chacón‐Labella
- Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. C/ Tulipán s/n. Móstoles C.P. 28933MadridSpain
- Department of Environmental Systems ScienceSwiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zürich8092ZürichSwitzerland
- Department of Environment and AgronomyINIA, Avda. A Coruña km 7.5, C.P. 28040MadridSpain
| | | | - Silvia Matesanz
- Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. C/ Tulipán s/n. Móstoles C.P. 28933MadridSpain
| | - Christian Schöb
- Department of Environmental Systems ScienceSwiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zürich8092ZürichSwitzerland
| | - Rubén Milla
- Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. C/ Tulipán s/n. Móstoles C.P. 28933MadridSpain
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15
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Benavides R, Scherer‐Lorenzen M, Valladares F. The functional trait space of tree species is influenced by the species richness of the canopy and the type of forest. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Benavides
- LINCGlobal, Dept of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas ES‐28006 Madrid Spain
| | | | - Fernando Valladares
- LINCGlobal, Dept of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas ES‐28006 Madrid Spain
- Biodiversity and Conservation Area, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Móstoles Madrid Spain
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16
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Diversified Forage Cropping Systems and Their Implications on Resilience and Productivity. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10113920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Plant diversity is associated with resilient ecosystems. Loss of plant biodiversity triggered by anthropogenic and climatic factors jeopardizes environmental stability and sustainable forage production. The understanding of biodiversity mechanisms and functional traits of species can help to design forage production systems to buffer against perturbations. Resilience and productivity are linked to plant species characteristics and interactions that enable them to recover from adverse conditions and compensate for the loss of susceptible species. Benefits of diversified crops including enhanced carbon assimilation, nitrogen fixation, and turnover are transferred to soil microbes which in return contribute to resilience against drought and poor soil fertility. In the absence of disturbances, these mechanisms are credited for stability and climax ecosystems. Cultivated systems are more fragile because management interferes with many functions while maintaining few. Strategies that sustain an entire range of functions can increase production regardless of climatic and management factors. This has been demonstrated in binary mixtures of cool season grasses including meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii Roem. & Schult.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), and intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey) with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Suitable combinations of perennial species and cultivars bred for compatible traits can enhance resilience and productivity in a wide range of ecosystems.
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17
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Roscher C, Schumacher J, Lipowsky A, Gubsch M, Weigelt A, Schmid B, Buchmann N, Schulze ED. Functional groups differ in trait means, but not in trait plasticity to species richness in local grassland communities. Ecology 2018; 99:2295-2307. [PMID: 29989166 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite growing interest in incorporating intraspecific variation of functional traits in community-level studies, it remains unclear whether species classified into functional groups based on interspecific trait differences are similar regarding their variation in trait expression in response to varying plant diversity and composition in local communities. In a large biodiversity experiment (Jena Experiment) designed on a trait-based a priori definition of functional groups (grasses, legumes, small herbs, tall herbs), we studied means, extent of variation (coefficient of variation across communities) and plasticity to increased plant diversity (slopes over a logarithmic species richness ranging from 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 to 60 species) for nine functional traits. Species means and extent of variation in traits related to nitrogen (N) acquisition and N use differed among functional groups and were more similar in phylogenetically closely related species than expected by chance. Species in the same functional group showed a weak phylogenetic signal and varied widely in means and extent of variation in traits related to shoot architecture and to a smaller extent in leaf traits related to carbon acquisition. This indicated that functional groups were less distinguishable in light than in nitrogen acquisition strategies. The direction and degree of trait plasticity to increasing species richness did not show a phylogenetic signal and were not different among functional groups, but varied largely among species within functional groups. Correlation structures in trait means, extent of trait variation and trait plasticity revealed functional tradeoffs in the acquisition of nitrogen and light across species. While correlations between trait means and extent of trait variation varied from trait to trait (positive, negative or unrelated), trait means and trait plasticity were mostly unrelated. Our results suggest that the concept of functional groups is viable, but context-specific trait measurements are required to improve our understanding about the functional significance of intraspecific trait variation and interspecific trait differences in local plant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Roscher
- Physiological Diversity, UFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Schumacher
- Institute of Mathematics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Ernst-Abbe-Platz 2, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Annett Lipowsky
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.,Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, P.O. Box 100164, 07701, Jena, Germany
| | - Marlén Gubsch
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitaetsstrasse 2, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Special Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21-23, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nina Buchmann
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitaetsstrasse 2, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
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18
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Roscher C, Schumacher J, Gubsch M, Lipowsky A, Weigelt A, Buchmann N, Schmid B, Schulze E. Origin context of trait data matters for predictions of community performance in a grassland biodiversity experiment. Ecology 2018; 99:1214-1226. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Roscher
- Physiological Diversity UFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Permoserstrasse 15 04318 Leipzig Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Deutscher Platz 5e 04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Jens Schumacher
- Institute of Mathematics Friedrich Schiller University Jena Ernst‐Abbe‐Platz 2 07743 Jena Germany
| | - Marlén Gubsch
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences ETH Zurich Universitätsstrasse 2 8092 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Annett Lipowsky
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies Zurich‐Basel Plant Science Center University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich Switzerland
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry P.O. Box 100164 07701 Jena Germany
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Deutscher Platz 5e 04103 Leipzig Germany
- Department of Special Botany and Functional Biodiversity Institute of Biology University of Leipzig Johannisallee 21‐23 04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Nina Buchmann
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences ETH Zurich Universitätsstrasse 2 8092 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies Zurich‐Basel Plant Science Center University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich Switzerland
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19
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Roscher C, Gubsch M, Lipowsky A, Schumacher J, Weigelt A, Buchmann N, Schulze ED, Schmid B. Trait means, trait plasticity and trait differences to other species jointly explain species performances in grasslands of varying diversity. OIKOS 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.04815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Roscher
- UFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research; Physiological Diversity; Permoserstrasse 15 DE-04318 Leipzig Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig; Leipzig Germany
| | - Marlén Gubsch
- Inst. of Agricultural Sciences; ETH Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Annett Lipowsky
- Max Planck Inst. for Biogeochemistry; Jena Germany
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center; Univ. of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Jens Schumacher
- Inst. of Mathematics; Friedrich Schiller Univ. Jena; Jena Germany
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- Dept of Special Botany and Functional Biodiversity; Inst. of Biology, Univ. of Leipzig; Leipzig Germany
| | - Nina Buchmann
- Inst. of Agricultural Sciences; ETH Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | | | - Bernhard Schmid
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center; Univ. of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
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20
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Mitchell RM, Wright JP, Ames GM. Species' traits do not converge on optimum values in preferred habitats. Oecologia 2017; 186:719-729. [PMID: 29238864 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-4041-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Plant trait expression is shaped by filters, which can alter trait means and variances, theoretically driving species toward an "optimum" trait value for a set of environmental conditions. Recent research has highlighted the ubiquity of intraspecific variation in functional traits, which can cause plants to diverge from a hypothesized "optimum". We examined whether species occurring in "core" habitats (where they occur frequently, abundantly, and consistently) express traits that are nearer to "optimum", as captured by the community-weighted mean (CWM). We also asked whether trait variance showed signs of environmental filtering. We used cluster analysis to group plots based on environmental factors along a wet-to-dry ecotone. We used indicator species analysis to identify species with strong associations within each cluster. Trait means and variances were compared, and evidence of variance filtering was tested using a null-model approach. Trait means and trait variances respond to local-scale environmental filtering and species in core habitats were not necessarily nearer to the CWM than in other habitats. Intraspecific trait variability shows a strong signal of filtering, as variability was reduced for nearly all species and all traits compared to estimates of variability generated in the absence of environmental filtering. Our results provide strong evidence that species traits are not necessarily near "optimum" trait values in core habitats, and that trait distributions within species are strongly shaped by the environment. Future analyses should account for this divergence when calculating metrics of functional diversity, and extrapolating to ecosystem function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Mitchell
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, 525 S. Beaver St, Box 5694, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA.
| | - Justin P Wright
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Greg M Ames
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
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21
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van Moorsel SJ, Hahl T, Wagg C, De Deyn GB, Flynn DFB, Zuppinger-Dingley D, Schmid B. Community evolution increases plant productivity at low diversity. Ecol Lett 2017; 21:128-137. [PMID: 29148170 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Species extinctions from local communities negatively affect ecosystem functioning. Ecological mechanisms underlying these impacts are well studied, but the role of evolutionary processes is rarely assessed. Using a long-term field experiment, we tested whether natural selection in plant communities increased biodiversity effects on productivity. We re-assembled communities with 8-year co-selection history adjacent to communities with identical species composition but no history of co-selection ('naïve communities'). Monocultures, and in particular mixtures of two to four co-selected species, were more productive than their corresponding naïve communities over 4 years in soils with or without co-selected microbial communities. At the highest diversity level of eight plant species, no such differences were observed. Our findings suggest that plant community evolution can lead to rapid increases in ecosystem functioning at low diversity but may take longer at high diversity. This effect was not modified by treatments simulating co-evolutionary processes between plants and soil organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia J van Moorsel
- URPP Global Change and Biodiversity and Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Terhi Hahl
- URPP Global Change and Biodiversity and Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Cameron Wagg
- URPP Global Change and Biodiversity and Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gerlinde B De Deyn
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708, PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dan F B Flynn
- URPP Global Change and Biodiversity and Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Debra Zuppinger-Dingley
- URPP Global Change and Biodiversity and Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- URPP Global Change and Biodiversity and Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
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22
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Guderle M, Bachmann D, Milcu A, Gockele A, Bechmann M, Fischer C, Roscher C, Landais D, Ravel O, Devidal S, Roy J, Gessler A, Buchmann N, Weigelt A, Hildebrandt A. Dynamic niche partitioning in root water uptake facilitates efficient water use in more diverse grassland plant communities. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Guderle
- Friedrich‐Schiller‐University JenaInstitute of Geosciences Jena Germany
- Department of Ecology and Ecosystem ManagementTechnische Universität München Freising Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Biogeochemical Processes Jena Germany
| | - Dörte Bachmann
- Institute of Agricultural SciencesETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Alexandru Milcu
- CNRS, Ecotron ‐ UPS 3248 Montferrier‐sur‐Lez France
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et EvolutiveCEFE‐CNRSUMR 5175Université de Montpellier – Université Paul Valéry – EPHE Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | - Annette Gockele
- Department of GeobotanyFaculty of BiologyUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Marcel Bechmann
- Friedrich‐Schiller‐University JenaInstitute of Geosciences Jena Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Biogeochemical Processes Jena Germany
| | - Christine Fischer
- Friedrich‐Schiller‐University JenaInstitute of Geosciences Jena Germany
- Department of Conservation BiologyUFZHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig Germany
| | - Christiane Roscher
- Department of Physiological DiversityUFZHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | | | | | | | - Jacques Roy
- CNRS, Ecotron ‐ UPS 3248 Montferrier‐sur‐Lez France
| | - Arthur Gessler
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL Birmensdorf Switzerland
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
| | - Nina Buchmann
- Institute of Agricultural SciencesETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
- Systematic Botany and Functional BiodiversityInstitute of BiologyUniversity of Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | - Anke Hildebrandt
- Friedrich‐Schiller‐University JenaInstitute of Geosciences Jena Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Biogeochemical Processes Jena Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
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23
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Wagg C, Ebeling A, Roscher C, Ravenek J, Bachmann D, Eisenhauer N, Mommer L, Buchmann N, Hillebrand H, Schmid B, Weisser WW. Functional trait dissimilarity drives both species complementarity and competitive disparity. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Wagg
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of Zürich Zürich Switzerland
- Institute of EcologyUniversity of Jena Jena Germany
| | - Anne Ebeling
- Institute of EcologyUniversity of Jena Jena Germany
| | - Christiane Roscher
- Department of Physiological DiversityUFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | - Janneke Ravenek
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation GroupWageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Dörte Bachmann
- Institute of Agricultural SciencesETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Nico Eisenhauer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
- Institute of BiologyLeipzig University Leipzig Germany
| | - Liesje Mommer
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation GroupWageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Nina Buchmann
- Institute of Agricultural SciencesETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Helmut Hillebrand
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine EnvironmentCarl‐von Ossietzky University Oldenburg Germany
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of Zürich Zürich Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang W. Weisser
- Terrestrial Ecology Research GroupDepartment of Ecology and Ecosystem ManagementCenter for Food and Life Sciences WeihenstephanTechnische Universität München Freising‐Weihenstephan Germany
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24
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Phenotypic Plasticity and Species Coexistence. Trends Ecol Evol 2016; 31:803-813. [PMID: 27527257 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Ecologists are increasingly interested in predicting how intraspecific variation and changing trait values impact species interactions and community composition. For many traits, much of this variation is caused by phenotypic plasticity, and thus the impact of plasticity on species coexistence deserves robust quantification. Partly due to a lack of sound theoretical expectations, empirical studies make contradictory claims regarding plasticity effects on coexistence. Our critical review of this literature, framed in modern coexistence theory, reveals that plasticity affects species interactions in ways that could impact stabilizing niche differences and competitive asymmetries. However, almost no study integrates these measures to quantify the net effect of plasticity on species coexistence. To address this challenge, we outline novel empirical approaches grounded in modern theory.
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