1
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Reinelt L, Whitaker J, Kazakou E, Bonnal L, Bastianelli D, Bullock J, Ostle NJ. Drought effects on root and shoot traits and their decomposability. Funct Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Reinelt
- Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University LA1 4YQ Lancaster UK
- Thünen Institute of Climate‐Smart Agriculture Bundesallee 65, 38116 Braunschweig Germany
| | - Jeanette Whitaker
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg LA1 4AP Lancaster UK
| | - Elena Kazakou
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, Institut Agro, IRD Université Paul Valery Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Laurent Bonnal
- CIRAD, UMR SELMET, Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | | | - James Bullock
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Wallingford OX10 8BB Oxfordshire UK
| | - Nicholas J. Ostle
- Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University LA1 4YQ Lancaster UK
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2
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Barneze AS, Whitaker J, McNamara NP, Ostle NJ. Interactions between climate warming and land management regulate greenhouse gas fluxes in a temperate grassland ecosystem. Sci Total Environ 2022; 833:155212. [PMID: 35421502 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from grasslands are affected by climate warming and agricultural management practices including nitrogen (N) fertiliser application and grazing. However, the interactive effects of these factors are poorly resolved in field studies. We used a factorial in situ experiment - combining warming, N-fertiliser and above-ground cutting treatments - to explore their individual and interactive effects on plant-soil properties and GHG fluxes in a temperate UK grassland over two years. Our results showed no interactive treatment effects on plant productivity despite individual effects of N-fertiliser and warming on above- and below-ground biomass. There were, however, interactive treatment effects on GHG fluxes that varied across the two years. In year 1, warming and N-fertiliser increased CO2 and reduced N2O fluxes. N-fertilised also interacted with above-ground biomass (AGB) removal increasing N2O fluxes in year one and reducing CO2 fluxes in year two. The grassland was consistently a sink of CH4; N-fertilised increased the sink by 45% (year 1), AGB removal and warming reduced CH4 consumption by 44% and 43%, respectively (year 2). The majority of the variance in CO2 fluxes was explained by above-ground metrics (grassland productivity and leaf dry matter content), with microclimate (air and soil temperature and soil moisture) and below-ground (root N content) metrics also significant. Soil chemistry (soil mineral N and net mineralisation rate), below-ground (specific root length) and microclimate (soil moisture) metrics explained 49% and 24% of the variance in N2O and CH4 fluxes, respectively. Overall, our work demonstrates the importance of interactions between climate and management as determinants of short-term grassland GHG fluxes. These results show that reduced cutting combined with lower inorganic N-fertilisers would constrain grassland C and N cycling and GHG fluxes in warmer climatic conditions. This has implications for strategic grassland management decisions to mitigate GHG fluxes in a warming world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlete S Barneze
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK; Lancaster University, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK; Wageningen University & Research, Soil Biology Group, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Jeanette Whitaker
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Niall P McNamara
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Nicholas J Ostle
- Lancaster University, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
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3
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Sun Y, Luo C, Jiang L, Song M, Zhang D, Li J, Li Y, Ostle NJ, Zhang G. Land-use changes alter soil bacterial composition and diversity in tropical forest soil in China. Sci Total Environ 2020; 712:136526. [PMID: 31945538 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Tropical forests, under pressure from human activities, are important reservoirs of biodiversity and regulators of global biogeochemical cycles. Land-use and management are influential drivers of environmental change and ecosystem sustainability. However, only limited studies have analysed the impacts of planting age and vegetation type under land-use change on soil microbial community in tropical forests simultaneously. Here, we assessed soil bacterial community composition and diversity under different land-use in Hainan Province, China, using high-throughput sequencing combined with PICRUSt analysis. Land-use included natural forest, 5-year-old cropland, young (5-year-old) rubber tree plantation, and old (30-year-old) rubber tree plantation. Land-use changes altered the soil bacterial community composition but had a non-significant influence on alpha diversity (P > .05). We found that bacterial beta-diversity significantly decreased in young rubber tree plantation soils and cropland soils compared to natural forest as a control. In contrast, soil bacterial beta-diversity increased in old rubber tree plantation soils, indicating the effects of time since planting. There was no difference in microbial beta-diversity between soils from cropland and young rubber tree plantation. Soil bulk density and moisture, not pH, were the main environmental factors explaining the variability in microbial diversity. PICRUSt analysis of soil bacterial predicted gene abundances within metabolic pathways and indicated that land-use change altered soil functional traits, e.g., amino acid-related enzymes, ribosomes, DNA repair/recombination proteins and oxidative phosphorylation. Also, vegetation type, not planting age, had significant impacts on soil functional traits. Overall, planting age had the greatest influence on soil bacterial beta-diversity, while vegetation type was more crucial for soil functional traits (P < .05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingtao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chunling Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Longfei Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Mengke Song
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Dayi Zhang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yongtao Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Nicholas J Ostle
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Gan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
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4
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De Long JR, Semchenko M, Pritchard WJ, Cordero I, Fry EL, Jackson BG, Kurnosova K, Ostle NJ, Johnson D, Baggs EM, Bardgett RD. Drought soil legacy overrides maternal effects on plant growth. Funct Ecol 2019; 33:1400-1410. [PMID: 31588158 PMCID: PMC6767434 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Maternal effects (i.e. trans-generational plasticity) and soil legacies generated by drought and plant diversity can affect plant performance and alter nutrient cycling and plant community dynamics. However, the relative importance and combined effects of these factors on plant growth dynamics remain poorly understood.We used soil and seeds from an existing plant diversity and drought manipulation field experiment in temperate grassland to test maternal, soil drought and diversity legacy effects, and their interactions, on offspring plant performance of two grassland species (Alopecurus pratensis and Holcus lanatus) under contrasting glasshouse conditions.Our results showed that drought soil legacy effects eclipsed maternal effects on plant biomass. Drought soil legacy effects were attributed to changes in both abiotic (i.e. nutrient availability) and biotic soil properties (i.e. microbial carbon and enzyme activity), as well as plant root and shoot atom 15N excess. Further, plant tissue nutrient concentrations and soil microbial C:N responses to drought legacies varied between the two plant species and soils from high and low plant diversity treatments. However, these diversity effects did not affect plant root or shoot biomass.These findings demonstrate that while maternal effects resulting from drought occur in grasslands, their impacts on plant performance are likely minor relative to drought legacy effects on soil abiotic and biotic properties. This suggests that soil drought legacy effects could become increasingly important drivers of plant community dynamics and ecosystem functioning as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense with climate change. A plain language summary is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R. De Long
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNetherlands Institute of EcologyWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Marina Semchenko
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - William J. Pritchard
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Irene Cordero
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Ellen L. Fry
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Benjamin G. Jackson
- The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesThe University of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | - Ksenia Kurnosova
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | | | - David Johnson
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Elizabeth M. Baggs
- The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesThe University of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | - Richard D. Bardgett
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
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5
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De Long JR, Jackson BG, Wilkinson A, Pritchard WJ, Oakley S, Mason KE, Stephan JG, Ostle NJ, Johnson D, Baggs EM, Bardgett RD. Relationships between plant traits, soil properties and carbon fluxes differ between monocultures and mixed communities in temperate grassland. J Ecol 2019; 107:1704-1719. [PMID: 31341333 PMCID: PMC6617750 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.13160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The use of plant traits to predict ecosystem functions has been gaining growing attention. Above-ground plant traits, such as leaf nitrogen (N) content and specific leaf area (SLA), have been shown to strongly relate to ecosystem productivity, respiration and nutrient cycling. Furthermore, increasing plant functional trait diversity has been suggested as a possible mechanism to increase ecosystem carbon (C) storage. However, it is uncertain whether below-ground plant traits can be predicted by above-ground traits, and if both above- and below-ground traits can be used to predict soil properties and ecosystem-level functions.Here, we used two adjacent field experiments in temperate grassland to investigate if above- and below-ground plant traits are related, and whether relationships between plant traits, soil properties and ecosystem C fluxes (i.e. ecosystem respiration and net ecosystem exchange) measured in potted monocultures could be detected in mixed field communities.We found that certain shoot traits (e.g. shoot N and C, and leaf dry matter content) were related to root traits (e.g. root N, root C:N and root dry matter content) in monocultures, but such relationships were either weak or not detected in mixed communities. Some relationships between plant traits (i.e. shoot N, root N and/or shoot C:N) and soil properties (i.e. inorganic N availability and microbial community structure) were similar in monocultures and mixed communities, but they were more strongly linked to shoot traits in monocultures and root traits in mixed communities. Structural equation modelling showed that above- and below-ground traits and soil properties improved predictions of ecosystem C fluxes in monocultures, but not in mixed communities on the basis of community-weighted mean traits. Synthesis. Our results from a single grassland habitat detected relationships in monocultures between above- and below-ground plant traits, and between plant traits, soil properties and ecosystem C fluxes. However, these relationships were generally weaker or different in mixed communities. Our results demonstrate that while plant traits can be used to predict certain soil properties and ecosystem functions in monocultures, they are less effective for predicting how changes in plant species composition influence ecosystem functions in mixed communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R. De Long
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNetherlands Institute of EcologyWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Benjamin G. Jackson
- The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | - Anna Wilkinson
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - William J. Pritchard
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Simon Oakley
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment CentreBailriggUK
| | - Kelly E. Mason
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment CentreBailriggUK
| | - Jörg G. Stephan
- Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | | | - David Johnson
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Elizabeth M. Baggs
- The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | - Richard D. Bardgett
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
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6
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Cole AJ, Griffiths RI, Ward SE, Whitaker J, Ostle NJ, Bardgett RD. Grassland biodiversity restoration increases resistance of carbon fluxes to drought. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Cole
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster UK
- Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University Lancaster UK
| | | | - Susan E. Ward
- Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University Lancaster UK
| | - Jeanette Whitaker
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster UK
| | | | - Richard D. Bardgett
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Manchester Manchester UK
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7
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Both S, Riutta T, Paine CET, Elias DMO, Cruz RS, Jain A, Johnson D, Kritzler UH, Kuntz M, Majalap-Lee N, Mielke N, Montoya Pillco MX, Ostle NJ, Arn Teh Y, Malhi Y, Burslem DFRP. Logging and soil nutrients independently explain plant trait expression in tropical forests. New Phytol 2019; 221:1853-1865. [PMID: 30238458 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant functional traits regulate ecosystem functions but little is known about how co-occurring gradients of land use and edaphic conditions influence their expression. We test how gradients of logging disturbance and soil properties relate to community-weighted mean traits in logged and old-growth tropical forests in Borneo. We studied 32 physical, chemical and physiological traits from 284 tree species in eight 1 ha plots and measured long-term soil nutrient supplies and plant-available nutrients. Logged plots had greater values for traits that drive carbon capture and growth, whilst old-growth forests had greater values for structural and persistence traits. Although disturbance was the primary driver of trait expression, soil nutrients explained a statistically independent axis of variation linked to leaf size and nutrient concentration. Soil characteristics influenced trait expression via nutrient availability, nutrient pools, and pH. Our finding, that traits have dissimilar responses to land use and soil resource availability, provides robust evidence for the need to consider the abiotic context of logging when predicting plant functional diversity across human-modified tropical forests. The detection of two independent axes was facilitated by the measurement of many more functional traits than have been examined in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Both
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
- Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, 2351, NSW, Australia
| | - Terhi Riutta
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - C E Timothy Paine
- Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, 2351, NSW, Australia
| | - Dafydd M O Elias
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - R S Cruz
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Territorio y Energías Renovables, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Perú
| | - Annuar Jain
- The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP), Danum Valley Field Centre, PO Box 60282, 91112, Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - David Johnson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Ully H Kritzler
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Marianne Kuntz
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - Noreen Majalap-Lee
- Forest Research Centre, Peti Surat 1407, 90715, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Nora Mielke
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - Milenka X Montoya Pillco
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - Nicholas J Ostle
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Yit Arn Teh
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - Yadvinder Malhi
- Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, 2351, NSW, Australia
| | - David F R P Burslem
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
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8
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Walker TWN, Weckwerth W, Bragazza L, Fragner L, Forde BG, Ostle NJ, Signarbieux C, Sun X, Ward SE, Bardgett RD. Plastic and genetic responses of a common sedge to warming have contrasting effects on carbon cycle processes. Ecol Lett 2018; 22:159-169. [PMID: 30556313 PMCID: PMC6334510 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Climate warming affects plant physiology through genetic adaptation and phenotypic plasticity, but little is known about how these mechanisms influence ecosystem processes. We used three elevation gradients and a reciprocal transplant experiment to show that temperature causes genetic change in the sedge Eriophorum vaginatum. We demonstrate that plants originating from warmer climate produce fewer secondary compounds, grow faster and accelerate carbon dioxide (CO2) release to the atmosphere. However, warmer climate also caused plasticity in E. vaginatum, inhibiting nitrogen metabolism, photosynthesis and growth and slowing CO2 release into the atmosphere. Genetic differentiation and plasticity in E. vaginatum thus had opposing effects on CO2 fluxes, suggesting that warming over many generations may buffer, or reverse, the short‐term influence of this species over carbon cycle processes. Our findings demonstrate the capacity for plant evolution to impact ecosystem processes, and reveal a further mechanism through which plants will shape ecosystem responses to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom W N Walker
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.,Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK.,Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ, Lancaster, UK
| | - Wolfram Weckwerth
- Department of Ecogenomics & Systems Biology, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Metabolomics Centre (VIME), University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Luca Bragazza
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Life Science and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, 44100, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lena Fragner
- Department of Ecogenomics & Systems Biology, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Metabolomics Centre (VIME), University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Brian G Forde
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ, Lancaster, UK
| | - Nicholas J Ostle
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK.,Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ, Lancaster, UK
| | - Constant Signarbieux
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Xiaoliang Sun
- Department of Ecogenomics & Systems Biology, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Metabolomics Centre (VIME), University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Susan E Ward
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ, Lancaster, UK
| | - Richard D Bardgett
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
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9
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Semchenko M, Leff JW, Lozano YM, Saar S, Davison J, Wilkinson A, Jackson BG, Pritchard WJ, De Long JR, Oakley S, Mason KE, Ostle NJ, Baggs EM, Johnson D, Fierer N, Bardgett RD. Fungal diversity regulates plant-soil feedbacks in temperate grassland. Sci Adv 2018; 4:eaau4578. [PMID: 30498781 PMCID: PMC6261650 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau4578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Feedbacks between plants and soil microbial communities play an important role in vegetation dynamics, but the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. Here, we show that the diversity of putative pathogenic, mycorrhizal, and saprotrophic fungi is a primary regulator of plant-soil feedbacks across a broad range of temperate grassland plant species. We show that plant species with resource-acquisitive traits, such as high shoot nitrogen concentrations and thin roots, attract diverse communities of putative fungal pathogens and specialist saprotrophs, and a lower diversity of mycorrhizal fungi, resulting in strong plant growth suppression on soil occupied by the same species. Moreover, soil properties modulate feedbacks with fertile soils, promoting antagonistic relationships between soil fungi and plants. This study advances our capacity to predict plant-soil feedbacks and vegetation dynamics by revealing fundamental links between soil properties, plant resource acquisition strategies, and the diversity of fungal guilds in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Semchenko
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
- Corresponding author.
| | - Jonathan W. Leff
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Yudi M. Lozano
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Biologie, Plant Ecology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sirgi Saar
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, The University of Tartu, Lai 40, 51005 Tartu, Estonia
| | - John Davison
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, The University of Tartu, Lai 40, 51005 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anna Wilkinson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Benjamin G. Jackson
- The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - William J. Pritchard
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Jonathan R. De Long
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Simon Oakley
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Kelly E. Mason
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Nicholas J. Ostle
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Elizabeth M. Baggs
- The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - David Johnson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Noah Fierer
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Richard D. Bardgett
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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10
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Fry EL, Savage J, Hall AL, Oakley S, Pritchard WJ, Ostle NJ, Pywell RF, Bullock JM, Bardgett RD. Soil multifunctionality and drought resistance are determined by plant structural traits in restoring grassland. Ecology 2018; 99:2260-2271. [PMID: 30129182 PMCID: PMC6849565 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
It is increasingly recognized that belowground responses to vegetation change are closely linked to plant functional traits. However, our understanding is limited concerning the relative importance of different plant traits for soil functions and of the mechanisms by which traits influence soil properties in the real world. Here we test the hypothesis that taller species, or those with complex rooting structures, are associated with high rates of nutrient and carbon (C) cycling in grassland. We further hypothesized that communities dominated by species with deeper roots may be more resilient to drought. These hypotheses were tested in a 3‐yr grassland restoration experiment on degraded ex‐arable land in southern England. We sowed three trait‐based plant functional groups, assembled using database derived values of plant traits, and their combinations into bare soil. This formed a range of plant trait syndromes onto which we superimposed a simulated drought 2 yr after initial establishment. We found strong evidence that community weighted mean (CWM) of plant height is negatively associated with soil nitrogen cycling and availability and soil multifunctionality. We propose that this was due to an exploitative resource capture strategy that was inappropriate in shallow chalk soils. Further, complexity of root architecture was positively related to soil multifunctionality throughout the season, with fine fibrous roots being associated with greater rates of nutrient cycling. Drought resistance of soil functions including ecosystem respiration, mineralization, and nitrification were positively related to functional divergence of rooting depth, indicating that, in shallow chalk soils, a range of water capture strategies is necessary to maintain functions. Finally, after 3 yr of the experiment, we did not detect any links between the plant traits and microbial communities, supporting the finding that traits based on plant structure and resource foraging capacity are the main variables driving soil function in the early years of grassland conversion. We suggest that screening recently restored grassland communities for potential soil multifunctionality and drought resilience may be possible based on rooting architecture and plant height. These results indicate that informed assembly of plant communities based on plant traits could aid in the restoration of functioning in degraded soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen L Fry
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Savage
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - Amy L Hall
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Oakley
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - W J Pritchard
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Ostle
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom.,Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, United Kingdom
| | - Richard F Pywell
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - James M Bullock
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - Richard D Bardgett
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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11
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Leff JW, Bardgett RD, Wilkinson A, Jackson BG, Pritchard WJ, De Long JR, Oakley S, Mason KE, Ostle NJ, Johnson D, Baggs EM, Fierer N. Predicting the structure of soil communities from plant community taxonomy, phylogeny, and traits. ISME J 2018; 12:1794-1805. [PMID: 29523892 PMCID: PMC6004312 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-018-0089-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Revised: 01/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
There are numerous ways in which plants can influence the composition of soil communities. However, it remains unclear whether information on plant community attributes, including taxonomic, phylogenetic, or trait-based composition, can be used to predict the structure of soil communities. We tested, in both monocultures and field-grown mixed temperate grassland communities, whether plant attributes predict soil communities including taxonomic groups from across the tree of life (fungi, bacteria, protists, and metazoa). The composition of all soil community groups was affected by plant species identity, both in monocultures and in mixed communities. Moreover, plant community composition predicted additional variation in soil community composition beyond what could be predicted from soil abiotic characteristics. In addition, analysis of the field aboveground plant community composition and the composition of plant roots suggests that plant community attributes are better predictors of soil communities than root distributions. However, neither plant phylogeny nor plant traits were strong predictors of soil communities in either experiment. Our results demonstrate that grassland plant species form specific associations with soil community members and that information on plant species distributions can improve predictions of soil community composition. These results indicate that specific associations between plant species and complex soil communities are key determinants of biodiversity patterns in grassland soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W Leff
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Richard D Bardgett
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Anna Wilkinson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Benjamin G Jackson
- School of Geosciences, Grant Institute, The King's Buildings, James Hutton Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FE, UK
| | - William J Pritchard
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Jonathan R De Long
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Simon Oakley
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Kelly E Mason
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Nicholas J Ostle
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - David Johnson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Baggs
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus Buildings, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Noah Fierer
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
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12
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Broadbent AAD, Stevens CJ, Ostle NJ, Orwin KH. Biogeographic differences in soil biota promote invasive grass response to nutrient addition relative to co-occurring species despite lack of belowground enemy release. Oecologia 2018; 186:611-620. [PMID: 29399738 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4081-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Multiple plant species invasions and increases in nutrient availability are pervasive drivers of global environmental change that often co-occur. Many plant invasion studies, however, focus on single-species or single-mechanism invasions, risking an oversimplification of a multifaceted process. Here, we test how biogeographic differences in soil biota, such as belowground enemy release, interact with increases in nutrient availability to influence invasive plant growth. We conducted a greenhouse experiment using three co-occurring invasive grasses and one native grass. We grew species in live and sterilized soil from the invader's native (United Kingdom) and introduced (New Zealand) ranges with a nutrient addition treatment. We found no evidence for belowground enemy release. However, species' responses to nutrients varied, and this depended on soil origin and sterilization. In live soil from the introduced range, the invasive species Lolium perenne L. responded more positively to nutrient addition than co-occurring invasive and native species. In contrast, in live soil from the native range and in sterilized soils, there were no differences in species' responses to nutrients. This suggests that the presence of soil biota from the introduced range allowed L. perenne to capture additional nutrients better than co-occurring species. Considering the globally widespread nature of anthropogenic nutrient additions to ecosystems, this effect could be contributing to a global homogenization of flora and the associated losses in native species diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carly J Stevens
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK
| | - Nicholas J Ostle
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK
| | - Kate H Orwin
- Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand
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13
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Broadbent A, Stevens CJ, Peltzer DA, Ostle NJ, Orwin KH. Belowground competition drives invasive plant impact on native species regardless of nitrogen availability. Oecologia 2017; 186:577-587. [PMID: 29218538 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-4039-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Plant invasions and eutrophication are pervasive drivers of global change that cause biodiversity loss. Yet, how invasive plant impacts on native species, and the mechanisms underpinning these impacts, vary in relation to increasing nitrogen (N) availability remains unclear. Competition is often invoked as a likely mechanism, but the relative importance of the above and belowground components of this is poorly understood, particularly under differing levels of N availability. To help resolve these issues, we quantified the impact of a globally invasive grass species, Agrostis capillaris, on two co-occurring native New Zealand grasses, and vice versa. We explicitly separated above- and belowground interactions amongst these species experimentally and incorporated an N addition treatment. We found that competition with the invader had large negative impacts on native species growth (biomass decreased by half), resource capture (total N content decreased by up to 75%) and even nutrient stoichiometry (native species tissue C:N ratios increased). Surprisingly, these impacts were driven directly and indirectly by belowground competition, regardless of N availability. Higher root biomass likely enhanced the invasive grass's competitive superiority belowground, indicating that root traits may be useful tools for understanding invasive plant impacts. Our study shows that belowground competition can be more important in driving invasive plant impacts than aboveground competition in both low and high fertility ecosystems, including those experiencing N enrichment due to global change. This can help to improve predictions of how two key drivers of global change, plant species invasions and eutrophication, impact native species diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Broadbent
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK.
| | - Carly J Stevens
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK
| | | | - Nicholas J Ostle
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK
| | - Kate H Orwin
- Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand
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14
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Broadbent AAD, Orwin KH, Peltzer DA, Dickie IA, Mason NWH, Ostle NJ, Stevens CJ. Invasive N-fixer Impacts on Litter Decomposition Driven by Changes to Soil Properties Not Litter Quality. Ecosystems 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-016-0099-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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15
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Walker TN, Garnett MH, Ward SE, Oakley S, Bardgett RD, Ostle NJ. Vascular plants promote ancient peatland carbon loss with climate warming. Glob Chang Biol 2016; 22:1880-9. [PMID: 26730448 PMCID: PMC4999049 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Revised: 11/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Northern peatlands have accumulated one third of the Earth's soil carbon stock since the last Ice Age. Rapid warming across northern biomes threatens to accelerate rates of peatland ecosystem respiration. Despite compensatory increases in net primary production, greater ecosystem respiration could signal the release of ancient, century- to millennia-old carbon from the peatland organic matter stock. Warming has already been shown to promote ancient peatland carbon release, but, despite the key role of vegetation in carbon dynamics, little is known about how plants influence the source of peatland ecosystem respiration. Here, we address this issue using in situ (14)C measurements of ecosystem respiration on an established peatland warming and vegetation manipulation experiment. Results show that warming of approximately 1 °C promotes respiration of ancient peatland carbon (up to 2100 years old) when dwarf-shrubs or graminoids are present, an effect not observed when only bryophytes are present. We demonstrate that warming likely promotes ancient peatland carbon release via its control over organic inputs from vascular plants. Our findings suggest that dwarf-shrubs and graminoids prime microbial decomposition of previously 'locked-up' organic matter from potentially deep in the peat profile, facilitating liberation of ancient carbon as CO2. Furthermore, such plant-induced peat respiration could contribute up to 40% of ecosystem CO2 emissions. If consistent across other subarctic and arctic ecosystems, this represents a considerable fraction of ecosystem respiration that is currently not acknowledged by global carbon cycle models. Ultimately, greater contribution of ancient carbon to ecosystem respiration may signal the loss of a previously stable peatland carbon pool, creating potential feedbacks to future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom N. Walker
- Faculty of Life SciencesThe University of ManchesterMichael Smith BuildingOxford RoadManchesterM13 9PTUK
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityBailriggLancasterLA1 4YQUK
- Centre for Ecology and HydrologyLancaster Environment CentreLibrary AvenueBailriggLancasterLA1 4APUK
| | - Mark H. Garnett
- NERC Radiocarbon FacilityScottish Enterprise Technology ParkRankine AvenueEast KilbrideGlasgowG75 0QFUK
| | - Susan E. Ward
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityBailriggLancasterLA1 4YQUK
| | - Simon Oakley
- Centre for Ecology and HydrologyLancaster Environment CentreLibrary AvenueBailriggLancasterLA1 4APUK
| | - Richard D. Bardgett
- Faculty of Life SciencesThe University of ManchesterMichael Smith BuildingOxford RoadManchesterM13 9PTUK
| | - Nicholas J. Ostle
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityBailriggLancasterLA1 4YQUK
- Centre for Ecology and HydrologyLancaster Environment CentreLibrary AvenueBailriggLancasterLA1 4APUK
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16
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Ward SE, Orwin KH, Ostle NJ, Briones JI, Thomson BC, Griffiths RI, Oakley S, Quirk H, Bardget RD. Vegetation exerts a greater control on litter decomposition than climate warming in peatlands. Ecology 2015; 96:113-23. [PMID: 26236896 DOI: 10.1890/14-0292.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Historically, slow decomposition rates have resulted in the accumulation of large amounts of carbon in northern peatlands. Both climate warming and vegetation change can alter rates of decomposition, and hence affect rates of atmospheric CO2 exchange, with consequences for climate change feedbacks. Although warming and vegetation change are happening concurrently, little is known about their relative and interactive effects on decomposition processes. To test the effects of warming and vegetation change on decomposition rates, we placed litter of three dominant species (Calluna vulgaris, Eriophorum vaginatum, Hypnum jutlandicum) into a peatland field experiment that combined warming.with plant functional group removals, and measured mass loss over two years. To identify potential mechanisms behind effects, we also measured nutrient cycling and soil biota. We found that plant functional group removals exerted a stronger control over short-term litter decomposition than did approximately 1 degrees C warming, and that the plant removal effect depended on litter species identity. Specifically, rates of litter decomposition were faster when shrubs were removed from the plant community, and these effects were strongest for graminoid and bryophyte litter. Plant functional group removals also had strong effects on soil biota and nutrient cycling associated with decomposition, whereby shrub removal had cascading effects on soil fungal community composition, increased enchytraeid abundance, and increased rates of N mineralization. Our findings demonstrate that, in addition to litter quality, changes in vegetation composition play a significant role in regulating short-term litter decomposition and belowground communities in peatland, and that these impacts can be greater than moderate warming effects. Our findings, albeit from a relatively short-term study, highlight the need to consider both vegetation change and its impacts below ground alongside climatic effects when predicting future decomposition rates and carbon storage in peatlands.
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17
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Briones MJI, McNamara NP, Poskitt J, Crow SE, Ostle NJ. Interactive biotic and abiotic regulators of soil carbon cycling: evidence from controlled climate experiments on peatland and boreal soils. Glob Chang Biol 2014; 20:2971-2982. [PMID: 24687903 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Revised: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Partially decomposed plant and animal remains have been accumulating in organic soils (i.e. >40% C content) for millennia, making them the largest terrestrial carbon store. There is growing concern that, in a warming world, soil biotic processing will accelerate and release greenhouse gases that further exacerbate climate change. However, the magnitude of this response remains uncertain as the constraints are abiotic, biotic and interactive. Here, we examined the influence of resource quality and biological activity on the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration under different soil moisture regimes. Organic soils were sampled from 13 boreal and peatland ecosystems located in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Finland and Sweden, representing a natural resource quality range of C, N and P. They were incubated at four temperatures (4, 10, 15 and 20 °C) at either 60% or 100% water holding capacity (WHC). Our results showed that chemical and biological properties play an important role in determining soil respiration responses to temperature and moisture changes. High soil C : P and C : N ratios were symptomatic of slow C turnover and long-term C accumulation. In boreal soils, low bacterial to fungal ratios were related to greater temperature sensitivity of respiration, which was amplified in drier conditions. This contrasted with peatland soils which were dominated by bacterial communities and enchytraeid grazing, resulting in a more rapid C turnover under warmer and wetter conditions. The unexpected acceleration of C mineralization under high moisture contents was possibly linked to the primarily role of fermented organic matter, instead of oxygen, in mediating microbial decomposition. We conclude that to improve C model simulations of soil respiration, a better resolution of the interactions occurring between climate, resource quality and the decomposer community will be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Jesús I Briones
- Departamento de Ecología y Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, 36310, Spain; Lancaster Environment Centre, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
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18
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Armstrong A, Waldron S, Whitaker J, Ostle NJ. Wind farm and solar park effects on plant-soil carbon cycling: uncertain impacts of changes in ground-level microclimate. Glob Chang Biol 2014; 20:1699-706. [PMID: 24132939 PMCID: PMC4255238 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Global energy demand is increasing as greenhouse gas driven climate change progresses, making renewable energy sources critical to future sustainable power provision. Land-based wind and solar electricity generation technologies are rapidly expanding, yet our understanding of their operational effects on biological carbon cycling in hosting ecosystems is limited. Wind turbines and photovoltaic panels can significantly change local ground-level climate by a magnitude that could affect the fundamental plant-soil processes that govern carbon dynamics. We believe that understanding the possible effects of changes in ground-level microclimates on these phenomena is crucial to reducing uncertainty of the true renewable energy carbon cost and to maximize beneficial effects. In this Opinions article, we examine the potential for the microclimatic effects of these land-based renewable energy sources to alter plant-soil carbon cycling, hypothesize likely effects and identify critical knowledge gaps for future carbon research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alona Armstrong
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of GlasgowGlasgow, UK
| | - Susan Waldron
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of GlasgowGlasgow, UK
| | - Jeanette Whitaker
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster UniversityLancaster, UK
| | - Nicholas J Ostle
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster UniversityLancaster, UK
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Ward SE, Ostle NJ, Oakley S, Quirk H, Henrys PA, Bardgett RD. Warming effects on greenhouse gas fluxes in peatlands are modulated by vegetation composition. Ecol Lett 2013; 16:1285-93. [PMID: 23953244 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Revised: 05/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of warming on greenhouse gas feedbacks to climate change represents a major global challenge. Most research has focused on direct effects of warming, without considering how concurrent changes in plant communities may alter such effects. Here, we combined vegetation manipulations with warming to investigate their interactive effects on greenhouse gas emissions from peatland. We found that although warming consistently increased respiration, the effect on net ecosystem CO2 exchange depended on vegetation composition. The greatest increase in CO2 sink strength after warming was when shrubs were present, and the greatest decrease when graminoids were present. CH4 was more strongly controlled by vegetation composition than by warming, with largest emissions from graminoid communities. Our results show that plant community composition is a significant modulator of greenhouse gas emissions and their response to warming, and suggest that vegetation change could alter peatland carbon sink strength under future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Ward
- Soil and Ecosystem Ecology Laboratory, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK; Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
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20
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21
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Hardie SML, Garnett MH, Fallick AE, Stott AW, Rowland AP, Ostle NJ. Testing the use of septum-capped vials for 13C-isotope abundance analysis of carbon dioxide. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2010; 24:1805-1809. [PMID: 20499326 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.4575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Studying ecosystem processes in the context of carbon cycling and climate change has never been more important. Stable carbon isotope studies of gas exchange within terrestrial ecosystems are commonly undertaken to determine sources and rates of carbon cycling. To this end, septum-capped vials ('Exetainers') are often used to store samples of CO(2) prior to mass spectrometric analysis. To evaluate the performance of such vials for preserving the isotopic integrity (delta(13)C) and concentration of stored CO(2) we performed a rigorous suite of tests. Septum-capped vials were filled with standard gases of varying CO(2) concentrations (approximately 700 to 4000 ppm), delta(13)C values (approx. -26.5 to +1.8 per thousand(V-PDB)) and pressures (33 and 67% above ambient), and analysed after a storage period of between 7 and 28 days. The vials performed well, with the vast majority of both isotope and CO(2) concentration results falling within the analytical uncertainty of chamber standard gas values. Although the study supports the use of septum-capped vials for storing samples prior to mass spectrometric analysis, it does highlight the need to ensure that sampling chamber construction is robust (air-tight).
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Affiliation(s)
- S M L Hardie
- Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Rankine Avenue, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride G75 0QF, UK.
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Abstract
There is considerable interest in understanding the biological mechanisms that regulate carbon exchanges between the land and atmosphere, and how these exchanges respond to climate change. An understanding of soil microbial ecology is central to our ability to assess terrestrial carbon cycle-climate feedbacks, but the complexity of the soil microbial community and the many ways that it can be affected by climate and other global changes hampers our ability to draw firm conclusions on this topic. In this paper, we argue that to understand the potential negative and positive contributions of soil microbes to land-atmosphere carbon exchange and global warming requires explicit consideration of both direct and indirect impacts of climate change on microorganisms. Moreover, we argue that this requires consideration of complex interactions and feedbacks that occur between microbes, plants and their physical environment in the context of climate change, and the influence of other global changes which have the capacity to amplify climate-driven effects on soil microbes. Overall, we emphasize the urgent need for greater understanding of how soil microbial ecology contributes to land-atmosphere carbon exchange in the context of climate change, and identify some challenges for the future. In particular, we highlight the need for a multifactor experimental approach to understand how soil microbes and their activities respond to climate change and consequences for carbon cycle feedbacks.
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Freeman C, Fenner N, Ostle NJ, Kang H, Dowrick DJ, Reynolds B, Lock MA, Sleep D, Hughes S, Hudson J. Export of dissolved organic carbon from peatlands under elevated carbon dioxide levels. Nature 2004; 430:195-8. [PMID: 15241411 DOI: 10.1038/nature02707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 475] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2003] [Accepted: 06/02/2004] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Peatlands represent a vast store of global carbon. Observations of rapidly rising dissolved organic carbon concentrations in rivers draining peatlands have created concerns that those stores are beginning to destabilize. Three main factors have been put forward as potential causal mechanisms, but it appears that two alternatives--warming and increased river discharge--cannot offer satisfactory explanations. Here we show that the third proposed mechanism, namely shifting trends in the proportion of annual rainfall arriving in summer, is similarly unable to account for the trend. Instead we infer that a previously unrecognized mechanism--carbon dioxide mediated stimulation of primary productivity--is responsible. Under elevated carbon dioxide levels, the proportion of dissolved organic carbon derived from recently assimilated carbon dioxide was ten times higher than that of the control cases. Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon appear far more sensitive to environmental drivers that affect net primary productivity than those affecting decomposition alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Freeman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK.
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24
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Bol R, Ostle NJ, Friedrich C, Amelung W, Sanders I. The Influence of Dung Amendments on Dissolved Organic Matter in Grassland Soil Leachates - Preliminary Results from a Lysimeter Study. Isotopes Environ Health Stud 1999; 35:97-109. [PMID: 29016217 DOI: 10.1080/10256019908234082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the carbon (C) cycle in grassland pasture systems requires more information about the fate of decomposing dung material within the soil. In this soil lysimeter study we successfully applied the natural 13C abundance labelling technique to trace dung-C within a temperate grassland soil. Dung was collected from beef steers fed on either maize (a C4 plant) or perennial ryegrass (a C3 plant) silages, and applied to a freely draining (C3) grassland soil. Leachates were collected from soil lysimeters (0-2.5) and (0-10 cm soil depth) to determine the organic carbon and 13C content of < 0.7 μm filtered solution. Leachates were taken from (i) control, no dung added, (ii) C3 dung and (iii) C4 dung amended soil. Results showed that, (i) the addition of dung resulted in a tenfold increase in C lost from the lysimeters in drainage waters, (ii) up to 50% of the C present in the leachates was 'native' soil C and (iii) the application of dung produced a 'priming' effect. Further work is required to verify; (i) whether increased leaching of native C following dung application is a 'true priming' phenomenon, or merely the result of 'displacement' or 'pool substitution' of soil C, and (ii) the precise conditions and mechanisms under which organic amendments induce a true 'priming' effect in grassland and other agricultural soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Bol
- a Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research , North Wyke , Devon , U.K
| | - N J Ostle
- a Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research , North Wyke , Devon , U.K
| | - C Friedrich
- b Institute of Soil Science and Soil Geography, University of Bayreuth , Bayreuth , Germany
| | - W Amelung
- b Institute of Soil Science and Soil Geography, University of Bayreuth , Bayreuth , Germany
| | - I Sanders
- a Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research , North Wyke , Devon , U.K
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Bol R, Ostle NJ, Petzke KJ, Watson A, Cockburn J. Amino Acid (15)n/(14)n analysis at natural abundances: a new tool for soil organic matter studies in agricultural systems. Isotopes Environ Health Stud 1997; 33:87-93. [PMID: 22087486 DOI: 10.1080/10256019708036336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Abstract The effects of landuse, fertilizer history and soil type on the quantity and isotopic quality of hydrolysable soil amino acids were examined in 3 grassland and 2 arable soils. Results showed, (i) that overall concentrations of individual amino acids were highest in the grassland soils, (ii) that ‰δ(15)N values of the individual amino acids differed considerably between the five soils, and (iii) that the combination of amino acid ‰δ(15)N values and concentrations could be used to distinguish between landuse, crop type and fertilizer history. This preliminary study indicates that the pathways of transformation of soil amino acid N are influenced by long term N inputs and that associated biological processes are reflected in differences in concentrations and ‰δ(15)N values of individual soil amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Bol
- a Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research , North Wyke , Devon , U.K
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