scholarly journals The effect of plant-fungi interaction generalism on plant community productivity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jacob Thomson-Laing
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Carbon Flux ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Field Soil ◽  
Sterile Soil ◽  
Plant Fungi ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Plant Plant

<p>Plant-plant productivity relationships within ecosystem and community ecology are contentiously debated in the literature due to the numerous factors involved making conclusions hard to draw and disentangle. There are several widely established and supported plant-plant productivity relationships. Increasing species richness can allow for greater niche complementarity, which in turn increases overall above and below ground productivity. Plants with different functional traits can differentially affect a plant community depending on the arrival time of the plant. These priority effects allow certain plants to outcompete others and persist in a community across different temporal scales. Plant species differ in their ability to interact with certain species of symbiotic partners in the soil (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF). This interaction generalism of a plant species indicates the ability of a plant to host many or few AMF species (generalist or specialist, respectively). However, there remains a limited understanding of plant-fungi relationships especially with respect to community productivity and the temporal effects of adding contrasting types of interaction generalism into an established community. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the addition of an interaction specialist or generalist plant species into an established plant community on the overall community productivity. Three communities that differed in plant species richness were grown for 38 days at which point either a generalist or specialist was added. Community treatments were carried out in field soil, sterile soil and sterile soil reinoculated with viable field soil, separating the effects of plant niche-partitioning for plant-fungi interaction partners from the effects of niche-partitioning for other resources (e.g. soil nutrients). Community productivity was tested using different productivity measures; 1) carbon flux as the Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) of the community, 2) total above and below ground plant biomass, 3) neutral lipid fatty acid (NLFA) AMF biomarker, 16:1w5, extracted from total soil and total root mass to assess AMF biomass. It was difficult to disentangle the effects of species richness and interaction generalism on carbon flux in communities, with soil type clearly impacting these relationships. In all soil types, an increase in community plant richness had the greatest effect on carbon draw down and biomass productivity with respect to both plant and AMF biomass. In non-sterilised soil, interaction generalism, specifically the addition of a specialist alongside increased species richness corresponded to increased carbon drawdown. In the context of previous research, this study further highlighted the complexity of factors driving plant-plant-fungi relationships, but clearly identifies the positive role that species richness is having. Although the role of plant-fungi relationships in overall community productive remains unclear, this study provides a platform for future research to be undertaken.</p>

scholarly journals The effect of plant-fungi interaction generalism on plant community productivity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jacob Thomson-Laing
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Carbon Flux ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Field Soil ◽  
Sterile Soil ◽  
Plant Fungi ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Plant Plant

<p>Plant-plant productivity relationships within ecosystem and community ecology are contentiously debated in the literature due to the numerous factors involved making conclusions hard to draw and disentangle. There are several widely established and supported plant-plant productivity relationships. Increasing species richness can allow for greater niche complementarity, which in turn increases overall above and below ground productivity. Plants with different functional traits can differentially affect a plant community depending on the arrival time of the plant. These priority effects allow certain plants to outcompete others and persist in a community across different temporal scales. Plant species differ in their ability to interact with certain species of symbiotic partners in the soil (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF). This interaction generalism of a plant species indicates the ability of a plant to host many or few AMF species (generalist or specialist, respectively). However, there remains a limited understanding of plant-fungi relationships especially with respect to community productivity and the temporal effects of adding contrasting types of interaction generalism into an established community. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the addition of an interaction specialist or generalist plant species into an established plant community on the overall community productivity. Three communities that differed in plant species richness were grown for 38 days at which point either a generalist or specialist was added. Community treatments were carried out in field soil, sterile soil and sterile soil reinoculated with viable field soil, separating the effects of plant niche-partitioning for plant-fungi interaction partners from the effects of niche-partitioning for other resources (e.g. soil nutrients). Community productivity was tested using different productivity measures; 1) carbon flux as the Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) of the community, 2) total above and below ground plant biomass, 3) neutral lipid fatty acid (NLFA) AMF biomarker, 16:1w5, extracted from total soil and total root mass to assess AMF biomass. It was difficult to disentangle the effects of species richness and interaction generalism on carbon flux in communities, with soil type clearly impacting these relationships. In all soil types, an increase in community plant richness had the greatest effect on carbon draw down and biomass productivity with respect to both plant and AMF biomass. In non-sterilised soil, interaction generalism, specifically the addition of a specialist alongside increased species richness corresponded to increased carbon drawdown. In the context of previous research, this study further highlighted the complexity of factors driving plant-plant-fungi relationships, but clearly identifies the positive role that species richness is having. Although the role of plant-fungi relationships in overall community productive remains unclear, this study provides a platform for future research to be undertaken.</p>

scholarly journals Plant community diversity and composition provide little resistance to Juniperus encroachment

Botany ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (12) ◽  
pp. 1416-1426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C. Ganguli ◽  
David M. Engle ◽  
Paul M. Mayer ◽  
Eric C. Hellgren
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Oak Forest ◽  
Old Field

Widespread encroachment of the fire-intolerant species Juniperus virginiana  L. into North American grasslands and savannahs where fire has largely been removed has prompted the need to identify mechanisms driving J. virginiana encroachment. We tested whether encroachment success of J. virginiana is related to plant species diversity and composition across three plant communities. We predicted J. virginiana encroachment success would (i) decrease with increasing diversity, and (ii) J. virginiana encroachment success would be unrelated to species composition. We simulated encroachment by planting J. virginiana seedlings in tallgrass prairie, old-field grassland, and upland oak forest. We used J. virginiana survival and growth as an index of encroachment success and evaluated success as a function of plant community traits (i.e., species richness, species diversity, and species composition). Our results indicated that J. virginiana encroachment success increased with increasing plant richness and diversity. Moreover, growth and survival of J. virginiana seedlings was associated with plant species composition only in the old-field grassland and upland oak forest. These results suggest that greater plant species richness and diversity provide little resistance to J. virginiana encroachment, and the results suggest resource availability and other biotic or abiotic factors are determinants of J. virginiana encroachment success.

scholarly journals The invasive herb Lupinus polyphyllus can reduce plant species richness independently of local invasion age

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marju Prass ◽  
Satu Ramula ◽  
Miia Jauni ◽  
Heikki Setälä ◽  
D. Johan Kotze
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Plant Community Composition ◽  
Lupinus Polyphyllus ◽  
Local Invasion

AbstractThe ecological impacts of invasive species may change or accumulate with time since local invasion, potentially inducing further changes in communities and the abiotic environment. Yet, time since invasion is rarely considered when investigating the ecological impacts of invasive non-native species. To examine the effect of time since invasion on the ecological impacts of Lupinus polyphyllus, a perennial nitrogen-fixing herb, we surveyed vascular plant communities in the presence and absence of L. polyphyllus in young, intermediate, and old semi-natural grassland sites (ca. 5, 10, 15 years representing both time since lupine invasion and plant community age). We analyzed vascular plant community composition, vascular plant species richness, and the cover of various ecological plant groups and L. polyphyllus. In contrast to our hypotheses, we found no change in the mean cover of L. polyphyllus (about 35%) with time since local invasion, and an ordination did not suggest marked changes in plant community composition. L. polyphyllus was associated with lower species richness in invaded plant communities but this effect did not change with time since invasion. Invaded plant communities were also associated with lower occurrence of generalist, oligotrophic (low-nutrient-adapted) and copiotrophic (nutrient-demanding) species but no temporal dynamics were detected. We conclude that even the intermediate cover of L. polyphyllus can reduce plant species richness, but the ecological impact caused by this invader might not dramatically change or accumulate with time since invasion.

scholarly journals Below-ground plant species richness: new insights from DNA-based methods

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 775-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meelis Pärtel ◽  
Inga Hiiesalu ◽  
Maarja Öpik ◽  
Scott D. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Below Ground

Relating pine-litter intrusion to plant-community structure in native eucalypt woodland adjacent to Pinus radiata (Pinaceae) plantations

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Baker ◽  
Brad R. Murray ◽  
Grant C. Hose
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Radiata Pine ◽  
Plant Community Structure ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Eucalypt Woodland

Radiata pine (Pinus radiata D.Don) plantations are often found in close proximity to vegetation set aside for biodiversity conservation. We examined the intrusive effects of radiata pine beyond the confines of plantations by quantifying the penetration of pine litter (needles, cones, twigs and seeds) and wildings from plantations into adjacent eucalypt woodland in the Jenolan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve (south-eastern Australia). We then investigated the relationship between pine-litter intrusion and plant-community structure in adjacent woodland vegetation. We found significantly higher quantities of pine litter and wildings at all sites adjacent to plantations than at reference woodland sites that were not adjacent to plantations. At adjacent sites, pine litter decreased significantly with increasing distance from plantations. Alarmingly, native plant species richness declined and exotic plant species richness increased with increasing quantities of pine litter. Thus, there were fewer native plant species and more exotics in areas bordering pine plantations. Our findings suggest a potentially important link between the intrusion of pine litter and a loss of native biodiversity and facilitation of exotic-species invasion. We suggest the provision of a buffer zone around plantations in order to minimise intrusive impacts of plantations on native biodiversity.

The role of edaphic factors on plant species richness and diversity along altitudinal gradients in the Brazilian semi-arid region

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Maiara B. Ramos ◽  
Fabricio C. Diniz ◽  
Humberto A. de Almeida ◽  
Gilbevan R. de Almeida ◽  
Anderson S. Pinto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Edaphic Factors ◽  
Altitudinal Gradients ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract Unlike well-known global patterns of plant species richness along altitudinal gradients, in the mountainous areas of the Brazilian Caatinga, species richness and diversity reach their maxima near mountain tops. The causes of this unusual pattern are not well understood, and in particular the role of edaphic factors on plant community assembly along these gradients has not been investigated. Our goal was to assess the role of edaphic factors (fertility and soil texture) on plant community composition and structure on two mountains of the Brazilian semi-arid region. In 71 plots (Bodocongó site, twenty-one 200-m2 plots, 401–680 m asl; Arara site, fifty 100-m2 plots, 487–660 m asl) we recorded 3114 individuals representing 61 plant species; in addition, at each plot we collected composite soil samples from 0–20 cm depth. Significant altitude-related changes were observed both for community structure and composition, and edaphic variables. A canonical correspondence analysis allowed the distinction of two groups of plots according to species abundances, indicating a preferential habitat distribution of species depending both on altitude and soil variables. Although soil fertility was lowest at the highest altitudes, these areas had high richness and diversity. Conversely, the more fertile foothills were characterized by the dominance of generalist pioneer species. Despite the relatively short altitudinal range that characterizes the studied mountains, this study elucidates the role of edaphic factors on the floristic composition and species richness patterns on the mountains of the Brazilian semi-arid region.

scholarly journals Biodiversity of Terrestrial Ecosystems in Tropical to Temperate Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond L. Specht
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Unicellular Algae ◽  
Short Period ◽  
High Gamma ◽  
Number Of Leaves ◽  
Number Of Plant Species

During the short period of annual foliage growth in evergreen plant communities, aerodynamic fluxes (frictional, thermal, evaporative) in the atmosphere as it flows over and through a plant community determine the Foliage Projective Covers and leaf attributes in overstorey and understorey strata. The number of leaves produced on each vertical foliage shoot depends on available soil water and nutrients during this growth period. The area of all leaves exposed to solar radiation determines net photosynthetic fixation of the plant community throughout the year. In turn, the species richness (number of species per hectare) of both plants and resident vertebrates is determined. The species richness of unicellular algae and small multicellular isopods in permanent freshwater lagoons in Northern Australia may possibly have been increased by radiation released from nearby uranium deposits. Evolution of new angiosperms probably occurred in refugia during periods of extreme drought. When favourable climates were restored, the vegetation expanded to result in high Gamma Biodiversity (number of plant species per region) but with each major plant community having essentially the same species richness (number of plant species per hectare). The probable effects of pollution and Global Warming on biodiversity in Australian ecosystems, that experience seasonal drought, are discussed.

scholarly journals Effect of environmental gradients on diversity and plant community distribution in remnant dry Afromontane forest of Mount Duro, Nagelle Arsi, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-31
Author(s):  
Mengistu Teshome ◽  
Zebene Asfaw ◽  
Gemedo Dalle
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Community Type ◽  
Diversity Assessment ◽  
Bersama Abyssinica

Abstract For forest ecosystem management to be effective, explicit understanding of the species diversity-environmental relationship along elevation gradient is crucial. This study aimed at identifying and describing plant communities and also documenting their species diversity. Evaluation of relationships between selected environmental variables and species diversity was another objective of this study. Systematic sampling techniques were used to collect vegetation data in a total of forty two sample plots (size=20×20 m). Within main plots, four sub-plots of 5×5 m were established at four corners and – one sub-plot of the same size in the center. These plots were used for shrub and herb diversity assessment. Within each sample plot, all plant species were documented and their scientific names were identified. Environmental variables, such as: elevation, aspect and slope, were also recorded for each main plot. Species diversity was determined using Shannon-Wiener diversity index and evenness in R statistical software. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering method was used for plant community classification. The total of 44 plant species belonging to 30 families was documented. Four plant community types were identified with different diversity, evenness and species richness. These plant communities were: Afrocurpus falcatus-Ficus sur, Maesa lanceolata-Bersama abyssinica, Vernonia myriantha-Urera hypselodendron and Croton machrostachus-Tecleanobilis occurring at average elevation of 2521, 2429, 2329, and 2364 m asl, respectively. Maesa lanceolata-Bersama abyssinica community type exhibited the highest species diversity and evenness followed by Croton machrostachus-Teclea nobilis community type showing the fact that median elevation ranges were rich in species. Elevation and slope gradient explained significant variation in species richness in the studied forest. For effective conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of the forest ecosystem, further research on the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances and soil properties is recommended as a result of this study.

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