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Yang Z, Li J, Xiao R, Zhang C, Ma X, Du G, Li G, Jiang L. Losses of low-germinating, slow-growing species prevent grassland composition recovery from nutrient amendment. Glob Chang Biol 2024; 30:e17264. [PMID: 38556774 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Nutrient enrichment often alters the biomass and species composition of plant communities, but the extent to which these changes are reversible after the cessation of nutrient addition is not well-understood. Our 22-year experiment (15 years for nutrient addition and 7 years for recovery), conducted in an alpine meadow, showed that soil nitrogen concentration and pH recovered rapidly after cessation of nutrient addition. However, this was not accompanied by a full recovery of plant community composition. An incomplete recovery in plant diversity and a directional shift in species composition from grass dominance to forb dominance were observed 7 years after the nutrient addition ended. Strikingy, the historically dominant sedges with low germination rate and slow growth rate and nitrogen-fixing legumes with low germination rate were unable to re-establish after nutrient addition ceased. By contrast, rapid recovery of aboveground biomass was observed after nutrient cessation as the increase in forb biomass only partially compensated for the decline in grass biomass. These results indicate that anthropogenic nutrient input can have long-lasting effects on the structure, but not the soil chemistry and plant biomass, of grassland communities, and that the recovery of soil chemical properties and plant biomass does not necessarily guarantee the restoration of plant community structure. These findings have important implications for the management and recovery of grassland communities, many of which are experiencing alterations in resource input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongling Yang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Junyong Li
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- Dabieshan National Observation and Research Field Station of Forest Ecosystem, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Rui Xiao
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Chunhui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Xiaojun Ma
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guozhen Du
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guoyong Li
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- Dabieshan National Observation and Research Field Station of Forest Ecosystem, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Fan L, Xue Y, Wu D, Xu M, Li A, Zhang B, Mo J, Zheng M. Long-term nitrogen and phosphorus addition have stronger negative effects on microbial residual carbon in subsoils than topsoils in subtropical forests. Glob Chang Biol 2024; 30:e17210. [PMID: 38407426 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Highly weathered lowland (sub)tropical forests are widely recognized as nitrogen (N)-rich and phosphorus (P)-poor, and the input of N and P affects soil carbon (C) cycling and storage in these ecosystems. Microbial residual C (MRC) plays a crucial role in regulating soil organic C (SOC) stability in forest soils. However, the effects of long-term N and P addition on soil MRC across different soil layers remain unclear. This study conducted a 12-year N and P addition experiment in two typical subtropical plantation forests dominated by Acacia auriculiformis and Eucalyptus urophylla trees, respectively. We measured plant C input (fine root biomass, fine root C, and litter C), microbial community structure, enzyme activity (C/N/P-cycling enzymes), mineral properties, and MRC. Our results showed that continuous P addition reduced MRC in the subsoil (20-40 cm) of both plantations (A. auriculiformis: 28.44% and E. urophylla: 28.29%), whereas no significant changes occurred in the topsoil (0-20 cm). N addition decreased MRC in the subsoil of E. urophylla (25.44%), but had no significant effects on A. auriculiformis. Combined N and P addition reduced MRC (34.63%) in the subsoil of A. auriculiformis but not in that of E. urophylla. The factors regulating MRC varied across soil layers. In the topsoil (0-10 cm), plant C input (the relative contributions to the total variance was 20%, hereafter) and mineral protection (47.2%) were dominant factors. In the soil layer of 10-20 cm, both microbial characteristics (41.3%) and mineral protection (32.3%) had substantial effects, whereas the deeper layer (20-40 cm) was predominantly regulated by microbial characteristics (37.9%) and mineral protection (18.8%). Understanding differential drivers of MRC across soil depth, particularly in deeper soil layers, is crucial for accurately predicting the stability and storage of SOC and its responses to chronic N enrichment and/or increased P limitation in (sub)tropical forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjie Fan
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuewei Xue
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Donghai Wu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meichen Xu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Andi Li
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baixin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiangming Mo
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mianhai Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, Guangzhou, China
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Mekhrovar O, Li YM, Abdullo M, Sino Y, Fan L. Nutrient addition alters plant community productivity but not the species diversity of a mountain meadow in Tajikistan. Front Plant Sci 2024; 14:1235388. [PMID: 38288411 PMCID: PMC10822985 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1235388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Tajikistan is a typical mountainous country covered by different mountain grasslands that are important pasture resources. Recently, grassland degradation has become widespread due to climate change and human activities and fertilization has been used to improve grassland production. However, fertilizer inputs can substantially alter species diversity, but it is uncl\ear how productivity and species diversity respond to nutrient enrichment in the mountain meadows of Tajikistan. Methods Therefore, a 5-year (2018-2022) continuous in-situ mineral fertilizer experiment was conducted to examine the effects of three nitrogen (N) levels (0, 30, and 90 kg N ha-1 year-1), two phosphorus (P) levels (0 and 30 kg P ha-1 year-1), and their combinations on above-ground biomass (AGB) and species diversity in a mountain meadow grassland in Ziddi, Varzob region, Tajikistan. Five species diversity metrics-Margalef's species richness (Dma), the Shannon-Wiener index (H), the Simpson index (C), Pielou's equitability index (Epi), and the Evar Species Evenness index (Evar)-were used to measure species diversity. Results and discussions The results indicated that the addition of different N and P amounts and their various combinations considerably increased both total and dominant species AGB, with the highest increase occurring in the N90P30 (90 kg N ha-1 year-1 combined with 30 kg P ha-1 year-1) treatment in 2022; during the experiment, the importance value of Prangos pabularia (dominant species) first decreased and then increased, but its dominant status did not change or fluctuate among the years. Furthermore, N, P, and their different combinations had no significant effect on species diversity (Dma, H, C, Epi, and Evar). All the species diversity indexes fluctuated among years, but there was no interaction with mineral fertilizer addition. Total AGB had a negative relationship with species diversity and low concentration N fertilizer addition (N30; P30) strengthened this negative trend. However, this trend decreased under the high N fertilizer condition (N90P30). Overall, nutrient addition to the natural mountain grassland of the Varzob region improved AGB, which meant that there was more forage for local animals. Mineral fertilizers had no significant effect on species diversity, but may enhance P. pabularia dominance in the future, which will help maintain the stability of the plant community and improve the quality of the forage because P. pabularia is an excellent and important winter fodder. Our study suggests that scientific nutrient management could effectively promote grassland production, conserve plant variety, and regenerate degraded grassland, which will counteract the desertification process in northwest Tajikistan mountain meadows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Okhonniyozov Mekhrovar
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yao-ming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Madaminov Abdullo
- Institute of Botany, Physiology and Plant Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
| | - Yusupov Sino
- Institute of Botany, Physiology and Plant Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
| | - Lianlian Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Xu Y, Guo Y, Bai Y, Liu Y, Wang Y. Soil nutrient limitation and natural enemies promote the establishment of alien species in native communities. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10853. [PMID: 38259957 PMCID: PMC10803180 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The invasion of alien plant species threatens the composition and diversity of native communities. However, the invasiveness of alien plants and the resilience of native communities are dependent on the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors, such as natural enemies and nutrient availability. In our study, we simulated the invasion of nine invasive plant species into native plant communities using two levels of nutrient availability and suppression of natural enemies. We evaluated the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the response of alien target species and the resistance of native communities to invasion. The results showed that the presence of enemies (enemy release) increased the biomass proportion of alien plants while decreasing that of native communities in the absence of nutrient addition. Furthermore, we also found that the negative effect of enemy suppression on the evenness of the native community and the root-to-shoot ratio of alien target species was greatest under nutrient addition. Therefore, nutrient-poor and natural enemies might promote the invasive success of alien species in native communities, whereas nutrient addition and enemy suppression can better enhance the resistance of native plant communities to invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu‐Han Xu
- College of Horticulture and Forestry SciencesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yu‐Jian Guo
- College of Horticulture and Forestry SciencesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yan‐Feng Bai
- Research Institute of ForestryChinese Academy of ForestryBeijingChina
| | - Yuan‐Yuan Liu
- College of Horticulture and Forestry SciencesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yong‐Jian Wang
- College of Horticulture and Forestry SciencesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
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Mahal HF, Barber-Cross T, Brown C, Spaner D, Cahill JF. Changes in the Amount and Distribution of Soil Nutrients and Neighbours Have Differential Impacts on Root and Shoot Architecture in Wheat ( Triticum aestivum). Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:2527. [PMID: 37447087 DOI: 10.3390/plants12132527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Plants exhibit differential behaviours through changes in biomass development and distribution in response to environmental cues, which may impact crops uniquely. We conducted a mesocosm experiment in pots to determine the root and shoot behavioural responses of wheat, T. aestivum. Plants were grown in homogeneous or heterogeneous and heavily or lightly fertilized soil, and alone or with a neighbour of the same or different genetic identity (cultivars: CDC Titanium, Carberry, Glenn, Go Early, and Lillian). Contrary to predictions, wheat did not alter relative reproductive effort in the presence of neighbours, more nutrients, or homogenous soil. Above and below ground, the plants' tendency to use potentially shared space exhibited high levels of plasticity. Above ground, they generally avoided shared, central aerial space when grown with neighbours. Unexpectedly, nutrient amount and distribution also impacted shoots; plants that grew in fertile or homogenous environments increased shared space use. Below ground, plants grown with related neighbours indicated no difference in neighbour avoidance. Those in homogenous soil produced relatively even roots, and plants in heterogeneous treatments produced more roots in nutrient patches. Additionally, less fertile soil resulted in pot-level decreases in root foraging precision. Our findings illustrate that explicit coordination between above- and belowground biomass in wheat may not exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habba F Mahal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Tianna Barber-Cross
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Charlotte Brown
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Dean Spaner
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - James F Cahill
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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Hu J, Du M, Chen J, Tie L, Zhou S, Buckeridge KM, Cornelissen JHC, Huang C, Kuzyakov Y. Microbial necromass under global change and implications for soil organic matter. Glob Chang Biol 2023; 29:3503-3515. [PMID: 36934319 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Microbial necromass is an important source and component of soil organic matter (SOM), especially within the most stable pools. Global change factors such as anthropogenic nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) inputs, climate warming, elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2 ), and periodic precipitation reduction (drought) strongly affect soil microorganisms and consequently, influence microbial necromass formation. The impacts of these global change factors on microbial necromass are poorly understood despite their critical role in the cycling and sequestration of soil carbon (C) and nutrients. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to reveal general patterns of the effects of nutrient addition, warming, eCO2 , and drought on amino sugars (biomarkers of microbial necromass) in soils under croplands, forests, and grasslands. Nitrogen addition combined with P and K increased the content of fungal (+21%), bacterial (+22%), and total amino sugars (+9%), consequently leading to increased SOM formation. Nitrogen addition alone increased solely bacterial necromass (+10%) because the decrease of N limitation stimulated bacterial more than fungal growth. Warming increased bacterial necromass, because bacteria have competitive advantages at high temperatures compared to fungi. Other global change factors (P and NP addition, eCO2 , and drought) had minor effects on microbial necromass because of: (i) compensation of the impacts by opposite processes, and (ii) the short duration of experiments compared to the slow microbial necromass turnover. Future studies should focus on: (i) the stronger response of bacterial necromass to N addition and warming compared to that of fungi, and (ii) the increased microbial necromass contribution to SOM accumulation and stability under NPK fertilization, and thereby for negative feedback to climate warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxi Hu
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Systems Ecology Section, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Meilin Du
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun Chen
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Liehua Tie
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Shixing Zhou
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | | | - J Hans C Cornelissen
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Systems Ecology Section, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Congde Huang
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Forestry Ecological Engineering in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yakov Kuzyakov
- Department of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, Department of Agricultural Soil Science, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
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7
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Liu SX, An H, Zhang XW, Xing BB, Wen ZL, Wang B. [Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Addition on Soil Nutrient Content and Stoichiometry in Desert Grassland]. Huan Jing Ke Xue 2023; 44:2724-2734. [PMID: 37177945 DOI: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202205072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
In order to discuss the response of soil nutrient content, stoichiometric ratio, and dynamic nutrient balance to the addition of multiple restrictive nutrients, the correlation between available nutrients and total nutrients in soil, as well as the indication of soil total and available stoichiometric characteristics, were studied in a desert grassland subjected to 4 years of nutrient addition treatments. The Ningxia desert grassland was used as the research object to carry out nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition experiments. The experiment included four treatments:control (CK), N addition[10 g·(m2·a)-1], P addition[10 g·(m2·a)-1], and NP co-addition (10 g·(m2·a)-1 N+10 g·(m2·a)-1 P). The results showed that:① in the fourth year of nutrient addition, soil total nitrogen (TN) content was significantly increased. The N:P ratio was significantly increased by N addition, and soil organic carbon (SOC) content was significantly increased by P addition and NP co-addition. In the third and fourth years of nutrient addition, the soil available N:P ratio (AN:AP) was significantly increased by N addition; N addition and NP co-addition significantly increased the content of ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) but significantly reduced the soil available C:N ratio. P addition and NP co-addition significantly increased total phosphorus (TP) and soil available phosphorus (AP), whereas it significantly reduced the soil total and available C:P and N:P ratios. ② The interaction between N addition and P addition had a combined effect on NH4+-N, AP, available C:N, and AN:AP ratio of desert grassland. ③ The soil C:N ratio was relatively stable in desert grassland, soil N:P ratio was mainly limited by soil TP content, and the soil available C:P and AN:AP ratios were mainly limited by soil AP content. ④ There were cumulative effects of N and P additions on soil N, SOC, and inorganic nitrogen. N limitation in desert grassland was alleviated by N addition, whereas it was aggravated by P addition and NP co-addition. The variation coefficients of soil available stoichiometric characteristics were higher than that of soil total stoichiometric characteristics. Soil available stoichiometry was more sensitive to N and P addition than soil total stoichiometry in desert grassland, which could better reflect the effects of N and P addition on soil ecological stoichiometry and as a rapid indicator of soil nutrient status in desert grassland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Xuan Liu
- Breeding Base for State Key Laboratory of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration in Northwestern China, Key Laboratory of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in Northwestern China of Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Hui An
- Breeding Base for State Key Laboratory of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration in Northwestern China, Key Laboratory of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in Northwestern China of Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Xin-Wen Zhang
- Breeding Base for State Key Laboratory of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration in Northwestern China, Key Laboratory of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in Northwestern China of Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Bin-Bin Xing
- Breeding Base for State Key Laboratory of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration in Northwestern China, Key Laboratory of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in Northwestern China of Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Zhi-Lin Wen
- Grassland Experiment Station of Yanchi, Temperate Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Experiment Station in Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Ningxia, Yanchi 751506, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Grassland Station of Ningxia, Yinchuan 750004, China
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8
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Zhang HY, Lü XT, Wei CZ, Powell JR, Wang XB, Xing DL, Xu ZW, Li HL, Han XG. β-diversity in temperate grasslands is driven by stronger environmental filtering of plant species with large genomes. Ecology 2023; 104:e3941. [PMID: 36469035 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Elucidating mechanisms underlying community assembly and biodiversity patterns is central to ecology and evolution. Genome size (GS) has long been hypothesized to potentially affect species' capacity to tolerate environmental stress and might therefore help drive community assembly. However, its role in driving β-diversity (i.e., spatial variability in species composition) remains unclear. We measured GS for 161 plant species and community composition across 52 sites spanning a 3200-km transect in the temperate grasslands of China. By correlating the turnover of species composition with environmental dissimilarity, we found that resource filtering (i.e., environmental dissimilarity that includes precipitation, and soil nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations) affected β-diversity patterns of large-GS species more than small-GS species. By contrast, geographical distance explained more variation of β-diversity for small-GS than for large-GS species. In a 10-year experiment manipulating levels of water, nitrogen, and phosphorus, adding resources increased plant biomass in species with large GS, suggesting that large-GS species are more sensitive to the changes in resource availability. These findings highlight the role of GS in driving community assembly and predicting species responses to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Yang Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China.,Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China.,Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xiao-Tao Lü
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Cun-Zheng Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jeff R Powell
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xiao-Bo Wang
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China.,Center for Grassland Microbiome, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, and College of Pastoral, Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ding-Liang Xing
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhu-Wen Xu
- Department of Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Huan-Long Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xing-Guo Han
- Erguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Qi ZY, Lv YX, Liu W, Sun JM, Wang J, Pan QM. Mechanism for the restoration of degraded typical steppe by nitrogen and phosphorus co-addition. Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao 2023; 34:75-82. [PMID: 36799379 DOI: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202301.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
The reduction of soil nutrient content is one of the major reasons caused grassland degradation in China. Nutrient addition is thus considered as an effective measure for the restoration of degraded grasslands. However, over-fertilization can lead to decrease in plant diversity. To clarify the appropriate amount of nutrient addition and the underlying mechanism that promotes grassland restoration, we set up a nitrogen and phosphorus co-addition experiment in a degraded typical steppe of Inner Mongolia, and examined the responses at community, functional group and species levels to nutrient addition. The results showed that nutrient addition enhanced biomass while did not reduce species richness at the community level. The biomass showed a saturation response with the increases of nutrient addition, which approached saturation under the 12.0 g N·m-2, 3.8 g P·m-2 treatment. Species richness increased significantly under the lower nutrient treatments (N <9.6 g·m-2, P < 3.0 g·m-2) compared with the control, while the two high nutrient treatments did not alter species richness. At the functional group level, biomass and abundance of perennial rhizome grasses increased significantly with the increases of nutrient addition levels. Biomass and density of annuals increased significantly under high nutrient addition levels. However, the abundance and biomass of perennial bunchgrasses and perennial forbs were rarely affected. At the species level, six target species responded differently to nutrient addition. Biomass of Leymus chinensis was significantly increased due to the increase of population density and individual biomass. Biomass of Stipa grandis, Agropyron cristatum and Cleistogenes squarrosa change little. Biomass of Potentilla acaulis and Carex korshinskyi were reduced due to the decreases in individual biomass and population density, respectively. As a measure of restoring degraded grassland, nutrient addition could significantly increase biomass and species diversity, decrease biomass of the degradation indicator species, and increase biomass of perennial rhizomes grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Yan Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ya-Xiang Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Jia-Mei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Qing-Min Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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10
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Zama N, Kirkman K, Mkhize N, Tedder M, Magadlela A. Soil Acidification in Nutrient-Enriched Soils Reduces the Growth, Nutrient Concentrations, and Nitrogen-Use Efficiencies of Vachellia sieberiana (DC.) Kyal. & Boatwr Saplings. Plants (Basel) 2022; 11:plants11243564. [PMID: 36559678 PMCID: PMC9781205 DOI: 10.3390/plants11243564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrient enrichment is important for grasslands. This study aimed to determine how soils enriched with N and P influenced soil concentration correlations and affected the growth kinetics, mineral nutrition, and nitrogen-use efficiencies of Vachellia sieberiana grown in a greenhouse experiment. The soils used as the growth substrate were analysed and showed extreme acidity (low soil pH, 3.9). Nitrogen-enriched soils were more acidic than P-enriched soils. Exchangeable acidity was strongly negatively correlated with an increase in soil pH, with soil pH between 3.9 and 4.1 units showing the strongest decline. Plant saplings showed increased root biomass, shoot biomass, total biomass, and plant N and P concentrations when grown in soils with high soil P concentrations. Extreme soil acidification in N-enriched soil was one of the main factors causing P unavailability, decreasing sapling growth. Extreme soil acidification increased concentrations of toxic heavy metals, such as Al which may be alleviated by adding lime to the extremely acidic soils. Research implications suggest that soil pH is an important chemical property of the soil and plays a significant role in legume plant growth. Legume species that are unable to tolerate acidic soils may acquire different strategies for growth and functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naledi Zama
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
- Agricultural Research Council, Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X02, Irene 0062, South Africa
| | - Kevin Kirkman
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
| | - Ntuthuko Mkhize
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
- Agricultural Research Council, Animal Production Institute, Private Bag X02, Irene 0062, South Africa
| | - Michelle Tedder
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
| | - Anathi Magadlela
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
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11
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Cheng B, Liu H, Bai J, Li J. Soil Fungal Composition Drives Ecosystem Multifunctionality after Long-Term Field Nitrogen and Phosphorus Addition in Alpine Meadows on the Tibetan Plateau. Plants (Basel) 2022; 11:2893. [PMID: 36365345 PMCID: PMC9656404 DOI: 10.3390/plants11212893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
An ecosystem can provide multiple functions and services at the same time, i.e., ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). Above- and belowground biodiversity and abiotic factors have different effects on EMF. Human activities increase atmospheric nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deposition, but the mechanism of how atmospheric N and P deposition affect EMF in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau is still unclear. Here, we measured eleven ecosystem parameters to quantify EMF by averaging method and explored the impact of plant and microbial species diversity and abiotic factors on EMF after long-term field N and P addition in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau. Results showed that N addition reduced EMF by 15%, NP increased EMF by 20%, and there was no change due to P addition. N and P addition reduced pH, relative light conditions (RLC), and plant species richness and modified plant and fungal community composition. Structural equation model (SEM) analysis confirmed that fungal community composition was an important and positive driver on EMF. These results provided an understanding of how N and P addition affect EMF directly and indirectly through biotic and abiotic pathways, which was important for predicting the response of EMF to atmospheric N and P deposition in the future. Furthermore, the findings suggested that soil fungal composition was more important driving factors than abiotic factors in the response of EMF to N and P addition and the importance of the interactions between plant and soil microbial species diversity in supporting greater EMF.
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12
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Wang P, Fu C, Wang L, Yan T. Delayed autumnal leaf senescence following nutrient fertilization results in altered nitrogen resorption. Tree Physiol 2022; 42:1549-1559. [PMID: 35274706 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition could create an imbalance between N and phosphorus (P), which may substantially impact ecosystem functioning. Changes in autumnal phenology (i.e., leaf senescence) and associated leaf nutrient resorption may profoundly impact plant fitness and productivity. However, we know little about how and to what extent nutrient addition affects leaf senescence in tree species, or how changes in senescence may influence resorption. We thus investigated the impacts of N and P addition on leaf senescence and leaf N resorption in 2-year-old larch (Larix principisrupprechtii) seedlings in northern China. Results showed that nutrient addition (i.e., N, P or N + P addition) significantly delayed autumnal leaf senescence, and decreased leaf N resorption efficiency (NRE) and proficiency (NRP), particularly in the N and N + P treatments. Improved leaf N concentrations were correlated with delayed leaf senescence, as indicated by the positive relationship between mature leaf N concentrations and the timing of leaf senescence. Following nutrient addition, larch seedlings shifted toward delayed onset, but more rapid, leaf senescence. Additionally, we observed an initial negative correlation between the timing of leaf senescence and NRE and NRP, followed by a positive correlation, indicating delayed and less efficient remobilization during the early stages of senescence, followed by accelerated resorption in the later stages. However, the latter effect was potentially impaired by the increased risk of early autumn frost damage, thus failed to fully compensate for the negative effects observed during the early stages of senescence. Improved soil P availability increased leaf N resorption and thus weakened the negative impact of delayed leaf senescence on leaf N resorption, so P addition had no significant impact on leaf N resorption. Overall, our findings clarify the relationship between nutrient addition-resorption and the linkage with leaf senescence, and would have important implications for plant nutrient conservation strategy and nutrient cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peilin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, No. 768 Jiayuguan West Road Chenggguan District, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chen Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, No. 768 Jiayuguan West Road Chenggguan District, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Liying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, No. 768 Jiayuguan West Road Chenggguan District, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, No. 768 Jiayuguan West Road Chenggguan District, Lanzhou 730000, China
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13
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Hu J, Huang C, Zhou S, Kuzyakov Y. Nitrogen addition to soil affects microbial carbon use efficiency: Meta-analysis of similarities and differences in 13 C and 18 O approaches. Glob Chang Biol 2022; 28:4977-4988. [PMID: 35617026 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The carbon use efficiency (CUE) of soil microorganisms is a critical parameter for the first step of organic carbon (C) transformation by and incorporation into microbial biomass and shapes C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. As C and nitrogen (N) cycles interact closely and N availability affects microbial metabolism, N addition to soil may shift the microbial CUE. We conducted a meta-analysis (100 data pairs) to generalize information about the microbial CUE response to N addition in soil based on the two most common CUE estimation approaches: (i) 13 C-labelled substrate addition (13 C-substrate) and (ii) 18 O-labelled water addition (18 O-H2 O). The mean microbial CUE in soils across all biomes and approaches was 0.37. The effects of N addition on CUE, however, were depended on the approach: CUE decreased by 12% if measured by the 13 C-substrate approach, while CUE increased by 11% if measured by the 18 O-H2 O approach. These differences in the microbial CUE response depending on the estimation approach are explained by the divergent reactions of microbial growth to N addition: N addition decreases the 13 C incorporation into microbial biomass (this parameter is in the numerator by CUE calculation based on the 13 C-substrate approach). In contrast, N addition slightly increases (although statistically insignificant) the microbial growth rate (in the numerator of the CUE calculation when assessed by the 18 O-H2 O approach), significantly raising the CUE. We explained these N addition effects based on CUE regulation mechanisms at the metabolic, cell, community, and ecosystem levels. Consequently, the differences in the microbial responses (microbial growth, respiration, C incorporation, community composition, and dormant or active states) between the 13 C-substrate and 18 O-H2 O approaches need to be considered. Thus, these two CUE estimation approaches should be compared to understand microbially mediated C and nutrient dynamics under increasing anthropogenic N input and other global change effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxi Hu
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Congde Huang
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shixing Zhou
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yakov Kuzyakov
- Department of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, Department of Agricultural Soil Science, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
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14
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Cui E, Lu R, Xu X, Sun H, Qiao Y, Ping J, Qiu S, Lin Y, Bao J, Yong Y, Zheng Z, Yan E, Xia J. Soil phosphorus drives plant trait variations in a mature subtropical forest. Glob Chang Biol 2022; 28:3310-3320. [PMID: 35234326 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Earth system models are implementing soil phosphorus dynamic and plant functional traits to predict functional changes in global forests. However, the linkage between soil phosphorus and plant traits lacks empirical evidence, especially in mature forests. Here, we examined the soil phosphorus constraint on plant functional traits in a mature subtropical forest based on observations of 9943 individuals from 90 species in a 5-ha forest dynamic plot and 405 individuals from 15 species in an adjacent 10-year nutrient-addition experiment. We first confirmed a pervasive phosphorus limitation on subtropical tree growth based on leaf N:P ratios. Then, we found that soil phosphorus dominated multidimensional trait variations in the 5-ha forest dynamic plot. Soil phosphorus content explained 44% and 53% of the variance in the traits defining the main functional space across species and communities, respectively. Lastly, we found much stronger phosphorus effects on most plant functional traits than nitrogen at both species and community levels in the 10-year nutrient-addition experiment. This study provides evidence for the consistent pattern of soil phosphorus constraint on plant trait variations between the species and community levels in a mature evergreen broadleaf forest in the East Asian monsoon region. These findings shed light on the predominant role of soil phosphorus on plant functional trait variations in mature subtropical forests, providing new insights for models to incorporate soil phosphorus constraint in predicting future vegetation dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erqian Cui
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiling Lu
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoni Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huanfa Sun
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Qiao
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaye Ping
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuying Qiu
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihua Lin
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiehuan Bao
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yutong Yong
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zemei Zheng
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Enrong Yan
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Forest Ecosystem Research and Observation Station in Putuo Island, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianyang Xia
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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15
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Nepel M, Angel R, Borer ET, Frey B, MacDougall AS, McCulley RL, Risch AC, Schütz M, Seabloom EW, Woebken D. Global Grassland Diazotrophic Communities Are Structured by Combined Abiotic, Biotic, and Spatial Distance Factors but Resilient to Fertilization. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:821030. [PMID: 35418962 PMCID: PMC8996192 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.821030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Grassland ecosystems cover around 37% of the ice-free land surface on Earth and have critical socioeconomic importance globally. As in many terrestrial ecosystems, biological dinitrogen (N2) fixation represents an essential natural source of nitrogen (N). The ability to fix atmospheric N2 is limited to diazotrophs, a diverse guild of bacteria and archaea. To elucidate the abiotic (climatic, edaphic), biotic (vegetation), and spatial factors that govern diazotrophic community composition in global grassland soils, amplicon sequencing of the dinitrogenase reductase gene—nifH—was performed on samples from a replicated standardized nutrient [N, phosphorus (P)] addition experiment in 23 grassland sites spanning four continents. Sites harbored distinct and diverse diazotrophic communities, with most of reads assigned to diazotrophic taxa within the Alphaproteobacteria (e.g., Rhizobiales), Cyanobacteria (e.g., Nostocales), and Deltaproteobacteria (e.g., Desulforomonadales) groups. Likely because of the wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions and spatial distance among sampling sites, only a few of the taxa were present at all sites. The best model describing the variation among soil diazotrophic communities at the OTU level combined climate seasonality (temperature in the wettest quarter and precipitation in the warmest quarter) with edaphic (C:N ratio, soil texture) and vegetation factors (various perennial plant covers). Additionally, spatial variables (geographic distance) correlated with diazotrophic community variation, suggesting an interplay of environmental variables and spatial distance. The diazotrophic communities appeared to be resilient to elevated nutrient levels, as 2–4 years of chronic N and P additions had little effect on the community composition. However, it remains to be seen, whether changes in the community composition occur after exposure to long-term, chronic fertilization regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Nepel
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roey Angel
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elizabeth T Borer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Beat Frey
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Rebecca L McCulley
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Anita C Risch
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Martin Schütz
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Eric W Seabloom
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Dagmar Woebken
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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16
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Fan LL, Mekrovar O, Li YM, Li KH, Ma XX, Mao JF. Effect of Nutrient Addition on the Productivity and Species Richness of Grassland Along With an Elevational Gradient in Tajikistan. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:765077. [PMID: 34956262 PMCID: PMC8708349 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.765077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Grasslands provide key resource for the millions of people who are dependent on livestock in Tajikistan. Productivity and species richness (SR) are important characteristics of grassland ecosystems and are greatly affected by nutrient inputs. The effect that climate change might have on these characteristics remains unclear. Here, an in situ nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization experiment was conducted at four sites along with an elevational gradient (650, 1,100, 1,250, and 2,000 m) in western Tajikistan over 2 years (2018 and 2019) to examine the influences of nutrient availability and climate change on aboveground biomass (AGB) and SR; precipitation and temperature were also considered to analyze the responses. It demonstrated that enrichment with N, P, and their combinations significantly increased AGB along with an elevational gradient (p < 0.05). AGB increased as the concentrations of nutrients added increased. The maximum AGB, which was 2-fold higher compared with control, was observed when 90 kg N ha-1year-1 and 30 kg P ha-1year-1 were added. In addition, nitrogen addition alone stimulated greater AGB than P addition, although no significant difference was observed between these two treatments. Enrichment with N, P, and their combination had no significant effect on SR; however, SR significantly changed at different elevation. Elevation had direct effect on precipitation and temperature, which, in turn, resulted in variation in AGB and SR. Moreover, both nutrient and elevation had significant effect on AGB and SR, but there was no interaction effect of them. AGB and SR interacted with significant negative correlation. In the high-elevation area, plants grew better in the warmer year (2018); this indicates that grasslands in high mountain areas in Tajikistan might have higher productivity as the climate warms, which will positively affect the economic development of the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian-Lian Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Okhonniyozov Mekrovar
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yao-Ming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai-Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Xi Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Jie-Fei Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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17
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Kazanski CE, Cowles J, Dymond S, Clark AT, David AS, Jungers JM, Kendig AE, Riggs CE, Trost J, Wei X. Water availability modifies productivity response to biodiversity and nitrogen in long-term grassland experiments. Ecol Appl 2021; 31:e02363. [PMID: 33899307 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Diversity and nitrogen addition have positive relationships with plant productivity, yet climate-induced changes in water availability threaten to upend these established relationships. Using long-term data from three experiments in a mesic grassland (ranging from 17 to 34 yr of data), we tested how the effects of species richness and nitrogen addition on community-level plant productivity changed as a function of annual fluctuations in water availability using growing season precipitation and the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). While results varied across experiments, our findings demonstrate that water availability can magnify the positive effects of both biodiversity and nitrogen addition on productivity. These results suggest that productivity responses to anthropogenic species diversity loss and increasing nitrogen deposition could depend on precipitation regimes, highlighting the importance of testing interactions between multiple global change drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare E Kazanski
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
- The Nature Conservancy, 1101 West River Parkway, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415, USA
| | - Jane Cowles
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Salli Dymond
- Departments of Forestry Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota-Duluth, 1114 Kirby Drive, Duluth, Minnesota, 55812, USA
| | - Adam T Clark
- Institute for Biology, Karl-Franzens University of Graz, Holteigasse 6, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Aaron S David
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Jacob M Jungers
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Amy E Kendig
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Charlotte E Riggs
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Jared Trost
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
- Departments of Forestry Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Xiaojing Wei
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
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18
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Carrell AA, Schwartz GE, Cregger MA, Gionfriddo CM, Elias DA, Wilpiszeski RL, Klingeman DM, Wymore AM, Muller KA, Brooks SC. Nutrient Exposure Alters Microbial Composition, Structure, and Mercury Methylating Activity in Periphyton in a Contaminated Watershed. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:647861. [PMID: 33815336 PMCID: PMC8017159 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.647861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The conversion of mercury (Hg) to monomethylmercury (MMHg) is a critical area of concern in global Hg cycling. Periphyton biofilms may harbor significant amounts of MMHg but little is known about the Hg-methylating potential of the periphyton microbiome. Therefore, we used high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, ITS2 region, and Hg methylation gene pair (hgcAB) to characterize the archaea/bacteria, fungi, and Hg-methylating microorganisms in periphyton communities grown in a contaminated watershed in East Tennessee (United States). Furthermore, we examined how nutrient amendments (nitrate and/or phosphate) altered periphyton community structure and function. We found that bacterial/archaeal richness in experimental conditions decreased in summer and increased in autumn relative to control treatments, while fungal diversity generally increased in summer and decreased in autumn relative to control treatments. Interestingly, the Hg-methylating communities were dominated by Proteobacteria followed by Candidatus Atribacteria across both seasons. Surprisingly, Hg methylation potential correlated with numerous bacterial families that do not contain hgcAB, suggesting that the overall microbiome structure of periphyton communities influences rates of Hg transformation within these microbial mats. To further explore these complex community interactions, we performed a microbial network analysis and found that the nitrate-amended treatment resulted in the highest number of hub taxa that also corresponded with enhanced Hg methylation potential. This work provides insight into community interactions within the periphyton microbiome that may contribute to Hg cycling and will inform future research that will focus on establishing mixed microbial consortia to uncover mechanisms driving shifts in Hg cycling within periphyton habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa A Carrell
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Grace E Schwartz
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC, United States
| | - Melissa A Cregger
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Caitlin M Gionfriddo
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States.,Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, United States
| | - Dwayne A Elias
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Regina L Wilpiszeski
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Dawn M Klingeman
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Ann M Wymore
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Katherine A Muller
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Earth Systems Science Division, Richland, WA, United States
| | - Scott C Brooks
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
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19
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Henning JA, Kinkel L, May G, Lumibao CY, Seabloom EW, Borer ET. Plant diversity and litter accumulation mediate the loss of foliar endophyte fungal richness following nutrient addition. Ecology 2020; 102:e03210. [PMID: 32981067 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Foliar fungal endophytes are ubiquitous plant symbionts that can affect plant growth and reproduction via their roles in pathogen and stress tolerance, as well as plant hormonal signaling. Despite their importance, we have a limited understanding of how foliar fungal endophytes respond to varying environmental conditions such as nutrient inputs. The responses of foliar fungal endophyte communities to increased nutrient deposition may be mediated by the simultaneous effects on within-host competition as well as the indirect impacts of altered host population size, plant productivity, and plant community diversity and composition. Here, we leveraged a 7-yr experiment manipulating nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients to investigate how nutrient-induced changes to plant diversity, plant productivity, and plant community composition relate to changes in foliar fungal endophyte diversity and richness in a focal native grass host, Andropogon gerardii. We found limited evidence of direct effects of nutrients on endophyte diversity. Instead, the effects of nutrients on endophyte diversity appeared to be mediated by accumulation of plant litter and plant diversity loss. Specifically, nitrogen addition is associated with a 40% decrease in plant diversity and an 11% decrease in endophyte richness. Although nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium addition increased aboveground live biomass and decreased relative Andropogon cover, endophyte diversity did not covary with live plant biomass or Andropogon cover. Our results suggest that fungal endophyte diversity within this focal host is determined in part by the diversity of the surrounding plant community and its potential impact on immigrant propagules and dispersal dynamics. Our results suggest that elemental nutrients reduce endophyte diversity indirectly via impacts on the local plant community, not direct response to nutrient addition. Thus, the effects of global change drivers, such as nutrient deposition, on characteristics of host populations and the diversity of their local communities are important for predicting the response of symbiont communities in a changing global environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremiah A Henning
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA.,Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, 5871 USA Drive N., Room 124, Mobile, Alabama, 36688, USA
| | - Linda Kinkel
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Georgiana May
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Candice Y Lumibao
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA.,Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Eric W Seabloom
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Elizabeth T Borer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
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20
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Jessen MT, Kaarlejärvi E, Olofsson J, Eskelinen A. Mammalian herbivory shapes intraspecific trait responses to warmer climate and nutrient enrichment. Glob Chang Biol 2020; 26:6742-6752. [PMID: 33020977 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Variation in intraspecific traits is one important mechanism that can allow plant species to respond to global changes. Understanding plant trait responses to environmental changes such as grazing patterns, nutrient enrichment and climate warming is, thus, essential for predicting the composition of future plant communities. We measured traits of eight common tundra species in a fully factorial field experiment with mammalian herbivore exclusion, fertilization, and passive warming, and assessed how trait responsiveness to the treatments was associated with abundance changes in those treatments. Herbivory exhibited the strongest impact on traits. Exclusion of herbivores increased vegetative plant height by 50% and specific leaf area (SLA) by 19%, and decreased foliar C:N by 11%; fertilization and warming also increased height and SLA but to a smaller extent. Herbivory also modulated intraspecific height, SLA and foliar C:N responses to fertilization and warming, and these interactions were species-specific. Furthermore, herbivory affected how trait change translated into relative abundance change: increased height under warming and fertilization was more positively related to abundance change inside fences than in grazed plots. Our findings highlight the key role of mammalian herbivory when assessing intraspecific trait change in tundra and its consequences for plant performance under global changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Theresa Jessen
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Halle, Germany
- Department of Physiological Diversity, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Elina Kaarlejärvi
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johan Olofsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umea University, Umea, Sweden
| | - Anu Eskelinen
- Department of Physiological Diversity, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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21
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Holland AT, Bergk Pinto B, Layton R, Williamson CJ, Anesio AM, Vogel TM, Larose C, Tranter M. Over Winter Microbial Processes in a Svalbard Snow Pack: An Experimental Approach. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1029. [PMID: 32547512 PMCID: PMC7273115 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Snow packs cover large expanses of Earth’s land surface, making them integral components of the cryosphere in terms of past climate and atmospheric proxies, surface albedo regulators, insulators for other Arctic environments and habitats for diverse microbial communities such as algae, bacteria and fungi. Yet, most of our current understanding of snow pack environments, specifically microbial activity and community interaction, is limited to the main microbial growing season during spring ablation. At present, little is known about microbial activity and its influence on nutrient cycling during the subfreezing temperatures and 24-h darkness of the polar winter. Here, we examined microbial dynamics in a simulated cold (−5°C), dark snow pack to determine polar winter season microbial activity and its dependence on critical nutrients. Snow collected from Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard was incubated in the dark over a 5-week period with four different nutrient additions, including glacial mineral particles, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and a combined treatment of DIN plus DIP. Data indicate a consumption of dissolved inorganic nutrients, particularly DIN, by heterotrophic communities, suggesting a potential nitrogen limitation, contradictory to phosphorus limitations found in most aquatic environments. 16S amplicon sequencing also reveal a clear difference in microbial community composition in the particulate mineral treatment compared to dissolved nutrient treatments and controls, suggesting that certain species of heterotrophs living within the snow pack are more likely to associate with particulates. Particulate phosphorus analyses indicate a potential ability of heterotrophic communities to access particulate sources of phosphorous, possibly explaining the lack of phosphorus limitation. These findings have importance for understanding microbial activity during the polar winter season and its potential influences on the abundance and bioavailability of nutrients released to surface ice and downstream environments during the ablation season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra T Holland
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Benoît Bergk Pinto
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Rose Layton
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France.,ENOVEO, Lyon, France
| | - Christopher J Williamson
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Timothy M Vogel
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Martyn Tranter
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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22
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Paramjyothi H, Murphy BP, Lawes MJ, Rossiter‐Rachor NA, Richards AE. Does rapid utilization of elevated nutrient availability allow eucalypts to dominate in the tropical savannas of Australia? Ecol Evol 2020; 10:4021-4030. [PMID: 32489628 PMCID: PMC7244804 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Northern Australia's savannas are among the most fire-prone biomes on Earth and are dominated by eucalypts (Eucalyptus and Corymbia spp.). It is not clear what processes allow this group to dominate under such extreme fire frequencies and whether a superior ability to compete for nutrients and water might play a role. There is evidence that eucalypts are adapted to frequent fires; juvenile eucalypts escape the fire trap by growing rapidly in height between fires. However, non-eucalypts are less able to escape the fire trap and tend to have stand structures strongly skewed toward suppressed juveniles. The mechanisms that drive these contrasting fire responses are not well understood. Here, we describe the results of a controlled glasshouse seedling experiment that evaluated the relative importance of nutrient and water availability in determining height growth and biomass growth of two eucalypt and one noneucalypt tree species, common in northern Australian savannas. We demonstrate that growth of eucalypt seedlings is particularly responsive to nutrient addition. Eucalypt seedlings are able to rapidly utilize soil nutrients and accumulate biomass at a much greater rate than noneucalypt seedlings. We suggest that a seasonal spike in nutrient availability creates a nutrient-rich microsite that allows eucalypt seedlings to rapidly gain height and biomass, increasing their likelihood of establishing successfully and reaching a fire-resistant size. Our results extend our understanding of how eucalypts dominate northern Australian savannas under extremely high fire frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harinandanan Paramjyothi
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNTAustralia
- CSIRO Land and WaterWinnellieNTAustralia
| | - Brett P. Murphy
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNTAustralia
| | - Michael J. Lawes
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalScottsvilleSouth Africa
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23
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Abstract
Grasslands are a vitally important ecosystem, supporting a wide range of ecosystem services and high levels of biodiversity. As a consequence, they have long been a focus for ecologists, playing host to some of the world’s longest-running ecological experiments and providing the inspiration for many long-standing theories and debates. Because the field of grassland ecology is broad, encompassing many areas of ecology, this article picks some areas of particular debate and development to look at recent advances. The areas include relationships between diversity and productivity, ecosystem stability and ecosystem service provision, global change threats from nutrient addition, invasive species, climate change, and plant soil interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly J Stevens
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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24
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Barantal S, Schimann H, Fromin N, Hättenschwiler S. C, N and P fertilization in an Amazonian rainforest supports stoichiometric dissimilarity as a driver of litter diversity effects on decomposition. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 281:20141682. [PMID: 25320173 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.1682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant leaf litter generally decomposes faster as a group of different species than when individual species decompose alone, but underlying mechanisms of these diversity effects remain poorly understood. Because resource C : N : P stoichiometry (i.e. the ratios of these key elements) exhibits strong control on consumers, we supposed that stoichiometric dissimilarity of litter mixtures (i.e. the divergence in C : N : P ratios among species) improves resource complementarity to decomposers leading to faster mixture decomposition. We tested this hypothesis with: (i) a wide range of leaf litter mixtures of neotropical tree species varying in C : N : P dissimilarity, and (ii) a nutrient addition experiment (C, N and P) to create stoichiometric similarity. Litter mixtures decomposed in the field using two different types of litterbags allowing or preventing access to soil fauna. Litter mixture mass loss was higher than expected from species decomposing singly, especially in presence of soil fauna. With fauna, synergistic litter mixture effects increased with increasing stoichiometric dissimilarity of litter mixtures and this positive relationship disappeared with fertilizer addition. Our results indicate that litter stoichiometric dissimilarity drives mixture effects via the nutritional requirements of soil fauna. Incorporating ecological stoichiometry in biodiversity research allows refinement of the underlying mechanisms of how changing biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Barantal
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS-Université de Montpellier-Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier-EPHE), 1919 Route de MENDE, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Ecology of Guiana Forest ECOFOG UMR 745, INRA-CIRAD-CNRS-UAG-AgroParisTech, INRA Campus Agronomique, BP 16, Kourou Cedex 97310, France Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Heidy Schimann
- Ecology of Guiana Forest ECOFOG UMR 745, INRA-CIRAD-CNRS-UAG-AgroParisTech, INRA Campus Agronomique, BP 16, Kourou Cedex 97310, France
| | - Nathalie Fromin
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS-Université de Montpellier-Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier-EPHE), 1919 Route de MENDE, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Stephan Hättenschwiler
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS-Université de Montpellier-Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier-EPHE), 1919 Route de MENDE, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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25
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Matson AL, Corre MD, Veldkamp E. Nitrogen cycling in canopy soils of tropical montane forests responds rapidly to indirect N and P fertilization. Glob Chang Biol 2014; 20:3802-3813. [PMID: 24965673 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Although the canopy can play an important role in forest nutrient cycles, canopy-based processes are often overlooked in studies on nutrient deposition. In areas of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deposition, canopy soils may retain a significant proportion of atmospheric inputs, and also receive indirect enrichment through root uptake followed by throughfall or recycling of plant litter in the canopy. We measured net and gross rates of N cycling in canopy soils of tropical montane forests along an elevation gradient and assessed indirect effects of elevated nutrient inputs to the forest floor. Net N cycling rates were measured using the buried bag method. Gross N cycling rates were measured using (15) N pool dilution techniques. Measurements took place in the field, in the wet and dry season, using intact cores of canopy soil from three elevations (1000, 2000 and 3000 m). The forest floor had been fertilized biannually with moderate amounts of N and P for 4 years; treatments included control, N, P, and N + P. In control plots, gross rates of NH4 (+) transformations decreased with increasing elevation; gross rates of NO3 (-) transformations did not exhibit a clear elevation trend, but were significantly affected by season. Nutrient-addition effects were different at each elevation, but combined N + P generally increased N cycling rates at all elevations. Results showed that canopy soils could be a significant N source for epiphytes as well as contributing up to 23% of total (canopy + forest floor) mineral N production in our forests. In contrast to theories that canopy soils are decoupled from nutrient cycling in forest floor soil, N cycling in our canopy soils was sensitive to slight changes in forest floor nutrient availability. Long-term atmospheric N and P deposition may lead to increased N cycling, but also increased mineral N losses from the canopy soil system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Matson
- Buesgen Institute, Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, Georg-August University of Goettingen, Buesgenweg 2, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
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26
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Symons CC, Arnott SE. Timing is everything: priority effects alter community invasibility after disturbance. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:397-407. [PMID: 24634724 PMCID: PMC3936386 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 10/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Theory suggests that communities should be more open to the establishment of regional species following disturbance because disturbance may make more resources available to dispersers. However, after an initial period of high invasibility, growth of the resident community may lead to the monopolization of local resources and decreased probability of successful colonist establishment. During press disturbances (i.e., directional environmental change), it remains unclear what effect regional dispersal will have on local community structure if the establishment of later arriving species is affected by early arriving species (i.e., if priority effects are important). To determine the relationship between time-since-disturbance and invasibility, we conducted a fully factorial field mesocosm experiment that exposed tundra zooplankton communities to two emerging stressors - nutrient and salt addition, and manipulated the arrival timing of regional dispersers. Our results demonstrate that invasibility decreases with increasing time-since-disturbance as abundance (nutrient treatments) or species richness (salt treatments) increases in the resident community. Results suggest that the relative timing of dispersal and environmental change will modify the importance of priority effects in determining species composition after a press disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia C Symons
- Department of Biology, Queen's UniversityKingston, ON, Canada
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27
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Fornara DA, Banin L, Crawley MJ. Multi-nutrient vs. nitrogen-only effects on carbon sequestration in grassland soils. Glob Chang Biol 2013; 19:3848-3857. [PMID: 23907927 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [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: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Human activities have greatly increased the availability of biologically active forms of nutrients [e.g., nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg)] in many soil ecosystems worldwide. Multi-nutrient fertilization strongly increases plant productivity but may also alter the storage of carbon (C) in soil, which represents the largest terrestrial pool of organic C. Despite this issue is important from a global change perspective, key questions remain on how the single addition of N or the combination of N with other nutrients might affect C sequestration in human-managed soils. Here, we use a 19-year old nutrient addition experiment on a permanent grassland to test for nutrient-induced effects on soil C sequestration. We show that combined NPKMg additions to permanent grassland have 'constrained' soil C sequestration to levels similar to unfertilized plots whereas the single addition of N significantly enhanced soil C stocks (N-only fertilized soils store, on average, 11 t C ha(-1) more than unfertilized soils). These results were consistent across grazing and liming treatments suggesting that whilst multi-nutrient additions increase plant productivity, soil C sequestration is increased by N-only additions. The positive N-only effect on soil C content was not related to changes in plant species diversity or to the functional composition of the plant community. N-only fertilized grasslands show, however, increases in total root mass and the accumulation of organic matter detritus in topsoils. Finally, soils receiving any N addition (N only or N in combination with other nutrients) were associated with high N losses. Overall, our results demonstrate that nutrient fertilization remains an important global change driver of ecosystem functioning, which can strongly affect the long-term sustainability of grassland soil ecosystems (e.g., soils ability to deliver multiple ecosystem services).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario A Fornara
- Environmental Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
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